Courtesy Shepherd Communication and Security.
By Richard Ruzzo
When I hear that phrase from a new customer, I know from more than 13 years of experience in the communications and security business that it often means very different things to different people.
The term, “security,” has become a catchword encompassing a range of different issues and challenges being faced by the homeowner or business owner today.
As an expert in access control, surveillance, perimeter alarm systems, and “smart” home/office solutions, it’s my job to ask the right questions and drill down to what that potential customer really needs to make his/her home or business safe and secure.
For most people, “security” usually means cameras, which really means surveillance. Cameras are a great way to protect your business against costly things like shrinkage (employee or customer theft), low employee productivity, or unnecessary and sometimes nefarious insurance claims for trips and falls at your business or home.
Those issues usually occur inside the business or home. But, what about things that happen outside of your office building or home? For some customers, “security” may mean monitoring and protecting against what’s going on outside of the office or home. Has someone been spending too much time “aimlessly” wandering around your business perimeter or residence? Are they looking for patterns in your comings and goings? Are they, in fact, “casing” your home or business for future unlawful entry?
This type of security is just as important in preventing break-ins as it is in deterring incidences of vandalism, unwanted loitering, or “accidental” trips, falls or other types of injuries on your property that could raise your insurance rates.
Security can also mean perimeter alarm and access control for many customers. You may be a homeowner who, while not wanting to go so far as placing cameras around your property, may still want to install alarms on doors windows, out-buildings, or swimming pool gates on your property. That same homeowner may also benefit from having the ability to remotely lock and unlock doors as well as arm and disarm the system right from the convenience of their smart phone.
For still others, “security” may mean having control of interior environmentals in order to protect their products and inventory. Those customers will benefit most from having the ability to monitor and maintain proper temperature, humidity and lighting levels, both remotely and onsite using simple, yet highly efficient, control systems that can interface with your laptop, tablet or smart phones.
Your security needs may also include employing an external central station monitoring team to keep perimeter alerts, video surveillance and entry/exit monitoring records on your behalf. By providing 24/7 monitoring and recording, customers can rest assured that their property and assets are being safeguarded, even when they don’t have to time to personally monitor them.
In short, having a complete understanding of each client’s situation is vital when designing and building the best security system to meet their specific needs. So, the next time you think to yourself, “I could really use a security system,” for your home or business, think about exactly what “security” means to you.
Ruzzo is managing partner and chief operations officer at Shepherd Communication and Security.