ED 47: January-February 2013

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22 Co m m E n ta r y Securing Productivity For your BuSineSS In today’s digital world, the ability to leverage on technology is instrumental in driving productivity & operational efficiency in business. Likewise, technology in physical security has also evolved and is intricately intertwined with IP (internet protocol). This technological convergence means security solutions now go beyond protect, and are also equipped with functions that will help business drive productivity and run processes more efficiently. Before embarking on a security solution project however, it is important to understand your own security requirements and other concerns, as there is no one-size-fits-all turnkey solution for each enterprise’s security. getting Started Every business has different needs in terms of the level of security that is required. The security needs of a retailer would be very different compared to a transportation and logistics company. The retailer business would need an access control solution to track time and attendance, a surveillance solution to monitor their point-of-sale (POS) and electronic article surveillance (EAS) to protect themselves against theft. A transportation and logistics company on the other hand would be interested in a vehicle tracking solution to monitor their vehicle fleets, protect against vehicle theft and track fuel consumption. Secondly, it is also important to take scalability into consideration. There are many security solutions out there but SME owners are encouraged to take a more mid-to-long term view in order to ensure that the security solution is able to keep pace with the business as it grows. Lastly, SMEs should be mindful about the need to integrate the different security systems that they need. They should consult security professionals in ensuring the different systems “talk” to each other. In the event of any breach, the necessary reports and/or footages can be pulled to give a holistic picture of what actually happened. an open Mindset Businesses need to realise that security is to be treated as a business issue and re-think their approach to security. It is critical for business to adopt an open mindset in embracing holistic security management for their organisation. The ability to respond swiftly and effectively in security emergencies will be critical to saving thousands of dollars in damage and loss for your organisation. Ja n | FE b <strong>2013</strong> En t r E p r E n E u r s’ Di g E s t The key is not to hunt for the most expensive and feature-rich solution but to get a correct assessment of the business needs before developing a security strategy. For instance, some businesses still have the wrong perception that it is highly costly to subscribe to a 24/7 monitoring service. In the market today, such services are available for less than $100 per month. This is definitely a small investment in exchange for the peace of mind knowing that there is a team of trained professionals who are looking after your business round the clock. Security and Business productivity We have a customer who is in the food and beverage business. The key concerns the business owner faced were whether his restaurant will start operating on time and to ensure that the hygiene levels of the kitchen are consistently maintained at high
standards. With the help of integrated security systems, the business owner is able to address the concerns through the SMSes received when the staff arms or disarms the system. In addition, having remote viewing via the surveillance system allows sanitary checks on the cleanliness of the kitchen area without having the need to deploy manpower to do regular checks. Through the adoption of security solutions, the head office now operates with better efficiency and more importantly, the business owner has complete control over all his restaurants without having to be physically on site, resulting in the achievement of optimal productivity. improvements in Security The concept of office security has gone beyond basic intrusion detection. Advancement in technology has enabled the integration of both security and Office IT systems. While fulfilling its traditional security functions, integrated security solutions can now make an impact to business growth and productivity. office automation In addition to protection of office premise, SME owners can control office automation equipment remotely thereby improving energy management & monitoring of their premise. This gives greater control to SME owners anytime, anywhere. Surveillance Solution Surveillance solutions have also evolved beyond just closed circuit television. It can now perform the role of a “virtual policeman” – security monitoring centre can do a situation assessment by remotely accessing the security cameras in the event of a suspected intrusion. Secured access In many instances, access to certain parts of the office will have to be restricted to selected personnel. Technological advancement in security is able to help bar access to such locations and can be beefed up to even point and grant access to a specific path, so that visitors or staff will have to go through a dictated route in order to reach the eventual meeting point. In addition to intrusion detection, today’s security functions include SMS Notification, Events Supervision and Mohammad Salim regional general Manager, South-east asia tyco Fire, Security & Services pte ltd Co m m E n ta r y even AC Power Loss monitoring which informs customers in the event of a power loss to the equipment. SMe Security trends Criminals are getting smarter and more sophisticated in overcoming basic security systems to commit crime. SMEs need to recognize that security technology must form part of their IT infrastructure and policy. For example, an access control system is not just about guarding against unauthorised entry. It can also perform time and attendance management to assist in managing overtime pay, employee productivity and workforce management. In short, it is now the digital age, and will remain so for a very long time. Finally, with the exponential growth of mobile devices, it is critical to leverage on business mobility to keep enterprises agile enough to respond to critical business situations. Business owners can now remotely turn on their security system from wherever they are, watch over their business premises, track the opening and closing hours and get real time notifications when any abnormality happens. An Engineer by profession, Mr. Salim has almost 30 years of experience in the Petrochemical, Oil & Gas and Security Industry covering Asia and North America. Ja n | FE b <strong>2013</strong> En t r E p r E n E u r s’ Di g E s t 23
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ED 47: January-February 2013

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