Why Administrators Need Facility Security Assessments Now

For building owners and facility managers, there is light at the end of the pandemic tunnel.?

In a recent "virtual" town hall meeting attended by business professionals, Mike Bloomberg, an American businessman and billionaire, said offices are not going away after the pandemic passes. He indicated that companies will still need central locations for staffers to gather, work together, and collaborate.?

He also added that business owners that initially thought they could allow their staffers to work remotely on a permanent basis are now reconsidering their positions. "Everyone, including the employees, is now realizing they are losing touch with each other and the company. Remote, permanent remote working, simply will not work."

Recent studies support his conclusion, such as one recently published by Cushman & Wakefield, the world's largest property management company. They conclude that offices serve "a vital purpose as an inspiring destination that strengthens cultural connections, learning, and bonding with customers as well as colleagues."

However, this upbeat look into the future does not suggest a change is right around the corner. Many staffers are still hesitant to go back to their offices. Additionally, both Bloomberg and Cushman & Wakefield suggest that the number of staffers returning to the workspace may never be the same. Some staffers may continue to work remotely, part-time, or full time. However, ultimately the number doing so will likely dwindle.

This means we could expect to have several partially - if not totally - empty office buildings sitting around the country for months to come. This provides building owners/managers a unique opportunity to assess their current building security, and ensure their property is safe while partially or totally empty.

Further, this is also an opportunity to verify that measures are in place to help safeguard buildings and the people that use them once the facility is re-occupied as the pandemic lifts.

Typically, this involves conducting what is commonly referred to as a security assessment. While in-house security personnel working for an organization or a management company can conduct such an assessment, invariably, it is wise to have a new set of "eyes" brought in to review the facility's security situation. All too often, security breaches are quickly noticed by outside security consultants that are ignored or simply not seen by those working in or using a property regularly.?

?Conducting a Security Assessment

Facilities face endless security risks that threatens the security of people and property. These risks can vary considerably, and some are unique to different types of facilities.

For instance, hospitals today have many specific security concerns that would not be shared with, for example, a commercial office building.?While most medical facilities are trying to remain open to visitors and family members as much as possible during the COVID pandemic, many are now regulating the number of visitors to the hospital or banning them entirely. Not only because hospitals are crowded with COVID patients, but they are finding that the tension on the streets of America has found its way into their medical facilities in one form or another. ?

This situation is being repeated in all types of facilities. ?To protect people and property, among the items a security assessment would investigate are the following:

?Site Information.?A facility located in a heavy crime area, for instance, may be more of a target for break-ins, burglaries, vandalism, street unrest, and other unsavory activity than one located in an area with less crime. But site information would also investigate such things as emergency response issues. How quickly can emergency personnel arrive at a property should there be a threat? Consider the facility’s distance from major roadways, typical traffic patterns, and clearly visible signage.

?Site appearance. Facilities that are not well-maintained often attract more crime. This is one reason many police departments recommend that building owners/managers remove graffiti as soon as it is discovered. Graffiti on a property tends to attract more graffiti. Further, if the property appears to be neglected, it could also become a target for vandalism and problematic activity.

Management Policies. Does the organization have steps in place to deal with a security breach? In today's world, this would include not only violations such as break-ins or robberies but also shootings or terrorism. Always remember the following: anything that can happen just about anywhere can happen in your building. Because of this, you need to have plan in place to protect people and property.

?Emergency Preparedness. Practices and plans must be in place not only to handle crime situations or the threat of crime, but to handle weather emergencies like tornadoes, earthquakes, power failures and lockdown conditions. Are drills established and practiced for such situations? Are evacuation plans posted? Do people understand what is expected should there be a lockdown?

Physical Security. Physical security typically starts at the front door, and often before anyone even reaches the front door of a property. ?Is the property gated? Gated properties tend to be safer than those that are not gated. Must building users and visitors check in with door people when entering the property? Do building users have identification badges with them or go through metal detectors when entering the property? With COVID, are technologies in place to monitor the temperatures of large numbers of people entering the facility?

Outdoor Security. Are there hidden areas around the facility that might invite crime? Is the property adequately well-lit at night? Are high definition "smart" cameras installed as well as "zero-light" camera systems? Smart cameras are triggered by movement. Zero-light cameras can take crystal clear images day or night.

Access control.?How easy is it for staffers as well as vendors to enter the building, day or night? What protective measures are in place and how often are these measures updated? Larger commercial facilities in major cities often have several access control measures in place. However, facilities in less populated suburban areas may have very few. Remember what we said earlier, "anything that can happen just about anywhere can happen in your building."

Cyber Security. The migration to remote work was born of necessity. But it happened so quickly that many IT professionals did not have time to implement data security programs that would allow staffers and their employers to work together safely and securely from home.?Cyber security, always an issue, is even more of a concern today. Steps must be taken to ensure remote workers can interface freely and securely with corporate databases and information sources.

Crisis Communications.?Managers need to know whom they must call and what steps they must take in case of an emergency. Failing to act promptly and properly in a crisis can put people and property assets at greater risk. Further, lack of a communication strategy often increases the likelihood of lawsuits, job loss, profit loss, fractured employee morale, and loss of trust in an organization and a facility.

Future Security

Most of the items discussed here can be implemented while the property is not in use or used marginally. However, once it is in operation, these and many other measures should be in place, most of which relate to what the security assessment has uncovered.?

Also, keep in mind that security assessments are not one-time projects.?Invariably, they need to be revised and updated as situations change and response practices evolve.?This is especially true when it comes to cyber security issues.

Finally, one big shift that should take place once a security assessment has been completed is for building owners to move from a "reactive" stance toward security to a "proactive" stance.?Times have changed.?Years ago, building security meant little more than having a guard stationed at the front door.?That will not suffice in today's world, making the need for a security assessment all the more necessary.

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Johnathan Tal is CEO of TAL Global.?Based in Silicon Valley, TAL Global is a leading risk management, security consulting, and investigative agency serving clients all over the world.?The company has a large client base, with a focus on the High-Tech, Hospitality, Manufacturing and Financial industries.?He can be reached through his company website at?www.talglobal.com?