When we talk about the security of the business, nowadays, it’s easy for us to focus on cybersecurity and your digital risk, but spending too much time with your head in the Cloud could make it easier to miss the physical threats to the business as well.
If your business has been targeted by a break-in or some other incident, then it might be too late for prevention, but there’s still plenty you can do. Beginning with investigation and fact-finding can put you on the right track.
Secure And Preserve
First, you want to make sure that any evidence is kept safe from further damage or contamination. Restrict access to the space where the crime took place in, allowing only authorized personnel who should ensure they do as little to disturb the scene as possible.
Avoid cleaning, moving items, or resetting any digital systems until you’re able to document everything. Write down all damages, take photos of the scene, and make a log of every step of the investigation from that point forward.
Use Your Surveillance
Modern AI enabled surveillance systems can prove invaluable in putting together the facts after a security incident. CCTV footage should be saved and reviewed to be able to better identify suspects and potential evidence.
Implementing AI enabled systems like automatic license plate recognition, or ALPR, can help you look through monitored vehicle data, including license plates, entry and exit times, and more, to narrow down suspects and their movement before and after the incident. Any control logs, visitor records, or alarm reports should be analyzed alongside them, contributing to a more complete picture of what happened and when.
Work With Law Enforcement
One of your first actions upon discovering a break-in or other security incident is calling the police. While you should begin your own investigation while waiting for them, you should make sure that you’re also ready to collaborate with them as best as possible, providing what surveillance footage, access logs, witness statements, and insights of your own you’re able to gather.
Maintaining open communication with the investigators can prevent misunderstandings and ensure that your own security team doesn’t end up stepping on their toes.
Learn And Adapt
It’s important to consider not just what you can do to investigate the incident, but what you can to prevent similar ones from happening again in the future. This means taking the time to conduct a full root cause analysis, finding the vulnerabilities in your security system that were exploited to allow it to happen in the first place.
Then, when you identify those gaps, you address them by updating your policies, improving your training, and investing in the right tools and AI enabled technology that might help you better secure your business in the future. This not only reduces your risk but provides some peace of mind to employees who might be shaken after the incident.
Just because you’re not able to prevent a crime from taking place on the premises doesn’t mean there’s nothing to be done. The sooner you can begin a thorough investigation process, the better your chances of finding those responsible.
