One of the many challenges of office relocation is getting your new commercial security systems up and running. You worked hard to install your old system, and it paid off, so you know you’ll need one that’s just as good or better than that. At the very least, you need to consider your new office security systems while you’re planning your move – don’t make it an afterthought. At best, you’ll have your security cameras and access control systems planned out well before you start packing.
1. Location, Location, Location
Your new site’s security needs will be different than your old building’s. The area’s crime rate might be different, your building may be a bigger target, you might have more doors. You may want the same level of security, but your camera angles and access points will change. The differences require you to plan your new business security system beforehand – you can’t just grab your system and plug it in.
Security should be a factor in your move, but it might even be determining your move. You may not want to decide on your new location until you’ve looked over the risks and threats of an area or street. The local police department can provide you with a risk assessment report on request, and crime statistics for the general area are also available from a variety of sources.
2. Use The Existing Systems
Just because you can’t bring your old system with you during an office relocation doesn’t mean there isn’t one already in your new office. If there is one, it’s already been tailored to that space, so you only need to worry about making it work for you. Repairing and reactivating an existing security system is a lot cheaper and easier than installing one from the ground up.
3. Burglar Alarms
Glass break, window, door, and motion sensors are standard systems for commercial alarm systems. Your new office may or may not need any of these, but don’t just assume similar sensors will do the job in similar places. During an office relocation make sure every sensor and keypad has a reason to be there.
4. Access Control
By definition, if your access points change, so will your access control. During an office relocation you need to consider that the doors won’t have the same locks, so at the least you’ll need to rewire your system into the locks. At most, you’ll need new access control systems. The transition will be a little easier if your business is small or you use cloud-based access control – if not, you’ll have to move your entire server. You may just want to wipe your database and start over, but make sure your employees are informed and have their new credentials when they need them.
5. Security Cameras
Even if you decide not to upgrade your cameras and take your old ones, they’ll have to be installed from scratch. Because they’ll be on a different network, you’ll need to update the settings, too. Your NVR or DVR will likely have to be reset, as well. If you plan on remote viewing your security feeds, you’ll also have to set up port forwarding and DDNS again. As with any surveillance system, this is best left to professionals to ensure you don’t have blind spots.
6. Upgrading Your Security
If you’ve been in your old office for a while, your security equipment might be a little out of date. You might want to consider updating your security system, especially if you’re moving to a bigger building. Newer equipment could last longer and will increase security. You can also take this opportunity to tune your security system by adding more of what you liked and changing what you didn’t from your old system. Or you might just leave your old system behind and install a brand new one from the ground up.
Upgrading doesn’t mean you have to expand your system. If you’re moving into a smaller office, you might not need as many cameras or sensors. Fewer doors means fewer access control systems. Maybe you can get a PTZ camera to replace a few of your old stationary ones. You might get a few low-light or night-vision cameras to see better when the lights are off. On the other hand, if you own the new building, you’ll need outdoor cameras in addition to your indoor ones.
7. Other Security Measures
You also need to secure your business during your move, of course. Among the necessary precautions are securely sealing boxes, keeping a close eye on your property, managing employee and mover traffic, and disposing of old data. Office relocation is a great time to cut down on clutter, but you have to make sure the data is gone – shredding documents and wiping hard drives ensures no one can use your discarded information. You want to make sure none of your company’s property is damaged, and you don’t want to lose anything during your office relocation.
Get Safe and Sound
Moving into a new office requires a lot of planning and forethought, and you can’t overlook security any more than you can overlook moving your data, furniture, or employees. Consulting with professional security installers makes the transition much smoother, from planning to installation and repairs. If you’re interested in a commercial security system, whether you’re upgrading your current system or planning a move to a new office, give Safe and Sound Security a call for a free security consultation.
