What to Expect During a Security Audit

We have customers approach us in many different ways in order to set up security measures. Some folks have a very specific need and know exactly what they want us to do for them. Others have a more vague idea of what they want, and wish to receive professional advice. Of course, we also have people call us from different types of applications. From installing home security, to securing retail shops and other types of businesses, we do it all. However, despite the variety of products and applications we work with, we have a consistent process that we follow when we work with customers to design their security plan. In this post, we share our security audit process so you know what to expect.

First, we’ll explain in some detail who calls us for these audits, and why. From there, we’ll share the types of questions we need answered in order to create a security plan. Then, we’ll review some of the security threats we look for when we complete any customer visit. Finally, we’ll detail the ways we ensure that your security experience fits your expectations and security needs. Now, let’s dive in and see why we receive so many calls for security audits in the first place!

Who Needs a Security Audit?

At this point you might be thinking, “Who needs a security audit?” For starters, the term sounds somewhat official and potentially overwhelming. Furthermore, in today’s day and age of internet-accessible information, inviting a security company to look at your home or place of business when you have information for anything you might need at your fingertips might sound unecessary. However, our customers end up finding this process extremely valuable!

First and foremost, we always have to create a plan for installing the desired equipment. For example, we can design routes for any wiring that we need to complete and map out other equipment locations. Moreover, sometimes we can find more efficient ways to complete jobs than we could have if we arrive at a job sight unseen. We often find ways to complete our work that might have escaped someone who doesn’t install security full time.

Finally, we can educate you about every solution we have available for your security issues. We have a full arsenal of unique security products and approaches that can create a better security experience than expected. Perhaps we can find a way to incorporate locks into your burglar alarm system for added security. Or maybe we can create surveillance coverage for your property with less equipment than you anticipated. No matter the result, we always like to perform a complete walkthrough before installing your security measures. Let’s now take a look at some of the questions we ask during any full security audit.

Answering Basic Security Questions

Because of our desire to create a security plan to fit your needs, you can expect us to ask several questions when performing a site survey. This greatly helps us create the proper security approach. For example, we always ask customers about how their security concerns compare while both home and away from the house. We also ask about their complete family living situation, including kids, pets, and elderly family members. We also ask if they wish to control their security remotely. The responses we receive to these questions greatly changes how we design our security measures. The types and quantities of equipment we use depend solely on the answers to these important queries!

Additionally, we also want to get a feel for our customers’ experience with security-related matters. For instance, we ask customers if they’ve worked with the types of security equipment we’re installing. This tells us how much we may need to train them and help with equipment selection. We also inquire about security-related incidents from the past. After all, if you’ve experienced a crime at your home or business, we’ll want to provide extra security and peace of mind against a repeat offense.  At this point, you have a good idea of the questions we use to frame our security audit. Next up, we’ll shift our focus to how we look to patch holes in your existing security situation.

Finding Your Security “Holes”

When we perform a security audit, we view your property through the eyes of a criminal. By this, we mean that we seek out and attempt to address areas that provide easy shelter and entry for uninvited guests. This includes a wide range of potential threats that we must address through an equally wide range of solutions. For starters, we assess the outside of your property. In particular, we look for easy places for criminals to hide while they find a way to enter your home or business. We can address these spots by adding security lighting and even cameras to surveil your property. Additionally, we recommend maintaining neat landscaping around your property to help lessen this concern.

We also make sure to buttress likely points to breach your dwelling or place of work. For example, we install top-notch locking hardware on your main doors. Moreover, we can also install security contacts to detect criminals trying to get in through windows or other entry points. Finally, in addition to adding security around entry points, we also like to shore up areas of specific concern within your property. Managers’ offices and rooms with valuables deserve extra reinforcement. This can take the form of upgraded locking equipment or even electronic access control systems. Now that you’ve seen how we conduct our portion of a security audit, let’s see how your desired security experience changes our approach to executing a security plan.

Customizing Your Security Experience

In addition to asking security-specific questions during a security audit, we also inquire about your desired experience and expected usage habits regarding your security equipment. This can have a significant effect on how we go about creating our security plan. For example, if you want to take a “set it and forget it” approach to your security, we can install equipment with little thought to user interface or ease of programming. On the other hand, some customers utilize a very hands-on approach to their equipment. In these cases, we choose devices with easy-to-understand control features.

In most cases, we can also set you up with the ability to use your smart phone or any internet-connected device to control your security remotely! This type of security often takes the form of smart devices. We can equip you with smart locks, smart cameras, smart lights, and many other security-related appliances. Smart products use your existing network or a specialty mesh network that we install to allow you to log in and control them remotely. Additionally, our Alarm.com powered security systems also come with interactive alarm monitoring! This means that you can arm and disarm your security system from anywhere in the world. Furthermore, you can also add and delete user codes and create valuable security alerts. Modern security technology has made it easier than ever for us to provide you with the security experience that suits you best!

Putting a Security Audit to Work for You

We hope that this post helps you see the value of a security audit, and how we use the information gathered in the process. Moreover, we also encourage you to contact us with any questions this post may raise for you. We will happily answer any and all of your security-related inquiries. Furthermore, we also invite you to schedule a security walkthrough of your own. We perform audits and equipment quotes completely free of charge or commitment. Of course, this offer goes out to both residential and commercial security customers alike. While on site, we can address any security concerns you may have. Additionally, we can make suggestions of our own based on our observations of your property. Together, we can create a complete security plan to keep your property — and everyone on it — as safe and secure as possible!