Office Security Guidelines

Industry standards and guidelines have become the lifeline for all kinds of industries and businesses in the recent business ecosystems across the globe. Guidelines for security in the office are one of the industry best practices commonly adopted by the businesses.

What Are Office Security Guidelines?

According to the United States Crime Record 2015, the total value of stolen property in the USA stood at more than $12.4 billion in which the value of office equipment was over $52.4 million. Office is one of the most important places to safeguard from external threats like burglary, data theft, business secrets exploitation and others; so a robust physical security based on office security guidelines should be in place.

Either to prevent or to alleviate the risk of security in the office, the concerned organizations issue the industry best practices for establishing a robust office security. Those office security suggestions are not legal bindings on the office owners to follow, but are desirable for establishing a good physical security in the office premises. Those office security guidelines are also very helpful to strengthen, revise and revamp the security mechanism in the future.

Physical Security Related Office Security Guidelines

The most important office security suggestions commonly adopted in the office security are listed below:

• A good intrusion detected alarm system should be in place
• Additional second layer security system should be in place for sensitive assets
• Strong perimeter and drop ceiling security mechanism should be adopted for sensitive areas
• Traditional tumbler locks should be avoided and modern electric locks should be used
• A good CCTV system – in line with privacy policy – should be in place
• Signs of different zones and unauthorized area access should be installed
• Multiple layers and zones of security for different sensitivity levels should be implemented
• A one-way passive peepholes are desirable in the office building for authorized physical security
• Public area should not have any data or internet connections
• Regular testing of the security systems should be done
• All employees should be provided with valid access cards, ID cards and badges
• Master key should always be safely locked
• Strict compliance of access control policy without any exception should be followed
• All communication equipment and closets should be protected and connected with alarm system
• Maintain a proper record of visitors and other people
• Regularly check for any update on office security suggestions in the industry

Getting Started with Security in the Office

Take the following steps for getting started with the implementation of office security suggestions at your office.

• Assess the security risks
• Evaluate the security vulnerabilities
• Figure out the suitable solution to those vulnerabilities
• Implement the desired solution
• Monitor the mechanism on regular basis
• Have regular testing of the security procedures
• Revise and revamp the procedures, if required

What Procedures Should Be In Place?

• Proper documents for the security operations
• Properly written security policy
• Visitor entry recording registers – electronic or manual
• Documented privacy policy
• System testing and maintenance plan

What to Consider for Office Security Guidelines?

• Security risk analysis
• Type of building and location
• Level of security required for the assets/people
• Existing security measures
• Possibility of future expansion
• Crime record analysis of the area
• Cost of the security measures