The holiday season is in full swing. For many, that means extended periods of time off to spend with family, especially as we approach the end of the year. From college and school campuses, to warehouses, manufacturing facilities, and beyond, facilities may be left unattended for extended periods of time—and for criminals that spells opportunity.
Thieves and vandals love to strike when targets are empty. The holidays present the perfect opportunity. While facilities managers and other staff spend time at home or travel to be with family, criminals are busy at work scoping out their mark and moving in. Without proper security strategies and processes in place, this could mean disaster for facilities managers and their teams.
You don’t need to be caught off guard this holiday season, and you certainly don’t need holiday grinches to spoil hard-earned time off. Here are three elements of any sound physical security strategy to double down on this holiday season so that you can be merry and ensure the facilities you’re tasked with running remain secure:
1. Make a Security Plan and Check It Twice
While it may seem like a “common sense” task, many neglect the importance of having a formal security coverage plan in writing. With employees taking time off throughout the month, and especially the last week of the year, it’s important to understand the following:
- Who is responsible for conducting regular sweeps of the facility?
- Who will be the primary and secondary contacts if a security incident occurs?
- Who is responsible for contacting your security provider or the authorities if necessary?
- If an incident occurs, is there a process in place for a timely and effective response to minimize disruption?
If you already work with a video monitoring provider or other security vendor, it’s important to have contact information updated on their end as well. In the event an incident happens while you are away, your security provider will be able to do their job better if they can get in contact with the appropriate people, no matter where they are.
2. Remote Video Surveillance: The Best Present of All?
Gone are the days of record-and-store video surveillance systems. Today’s remote video monitoring (RVM) solutions are so much more than a vehicle for providing video evidence after a security incident occurs. RVM allows facilities managers to check in on their sites remotely in real-time, from their smart phone, tablet, or computer. This not only comes in handy when checking in from afar, but also when you’re on-site and can’t be everywhere at once. Pull up a live feed and notice a parked car when no one should be there? Or see someone walking towards a door late at night? RVM provides the capabilities to spot suspicious behavior from anywhere.
Additionally, facilities managers can use this technology for a dual purpose beyond security, making it one of the most versatile gifts of all this season. When winter weather strikes, just pull up the camera feed to check conditions and see what type of response is needed (e.g., does the parking lot need to be plowed?) so you don’t have to drive over there and leave the comfort of your home.
3. Consider AI Your Holiday Helper
Sure, artificial intelligence (AI) is a neat tool helping draft emails and enhance search engine capabilities. But did you know it is also helping drive today’s most effective physical security capabilities? AI-powered RVM solutions can spot suspicious behavior and alert trained staff in seconds, enabling crime deterrence before it ever becomes a problem.
When AI is paired with video surveillance solutions, truly proactive crime deterrence and response can be achieved. This is an especially powerful tool if you are taking time off and are not able to be on-site or lack the presence of security guards. And because AI can be customized, working with the right security experts allows you to create a solution tailored for your facility and enables the system to become more accurate over time.
This holiday season, take time to relax—without having to worry if thieves and vandals are about to strike! Having the right security strategy in place now will go a long way towards keeping your facility secure later. And while this time of year presents unique challenges, remember that physical security should always be a top priority and never gets to take a holiday off.
Jeremy White is the founder of Pro-Vigil, a provider of AI-enabled remote video monitoring solutions.
Make sure to sign up for Facilities Management Advisor’s upcoming webinar, “OnSite Insights: Top Predictions for Building Security in 2025.” More info and FREE registration are available here.