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 FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting Program’s 2019 Report, the total value losses as a result of larceny-theft in the USA was estimated to be at $5.9 billion in 2019. The office is one of the most important places to safeguard from external threats like burglary, data theft, business secrets exploitation, and others. A robust physical security based on office security guidelines should be in place to mitigate risk and protect key assets.

To either prevent or alleviate the potential risk of security breaches in an office, the organization concerned should issue documentation around industry best practices and overall standards. These office security suggestions would not be legally binding per se, but would set a standard for procedures to be followed for all personnel. Establishing good physical security on office premises means defining and upholding the standards for safe operations. 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 detection alarm system should be in place.
• An additional layer of the security system should be in place for more sensitive assets.
• Strong perimeters and a drop-ceiling security mechanism should be adopted for especially sensitive areas.
• Traditional tumbler locks should be avoided in favor of more modern electric locks to enhance both strength of security and automatic response to any breach.
• A good CCTV system – in line with privacy policy – should be in place.
• Signs indicating different zones and unauthorized area access should be placed to guide access.
• Multiple layers and zones of security for different sensitivity levels should be implemented, and a door access control system for the office should be considered.
• One-way passive peepholes are desirable in the office building for authorized physical security.
• Public areas should not have any accessible data or internet connection.
• Testing of the security systems should be carried out on a regular basis.
• All employees should be provided with valid access cards, ID cards, badges, or digital credentials.
• Master keys should always be safely locked.
• There should be strict compliance with the access control policy without exception.
• All communication equipment and closets should be protected and connected to an alarm system.
• Maintain a proper record of visitors to the premises.
• Regularly check for any updates 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 protocol at your office.

• Assess security risks
• Evaluate security vulnerabilities
• Figure out a suitable solution to those vulnerabilities
• Select and share the solution with your colleagues
• Monitor the processes on a 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 in place
• Properly written security policy
• Visitor entry recording registers – electronic or manual
• A documented privacy policy
• System testing and a corresponding maintenance plan

What to consider for office security guidelines?

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