One of the smartest things you can do to protect your business, your employees and your customers is to install a commercial security system.  From theft to fire protection to employee supervision, a commercial security provides you with the peace of mind that you are doing everything you can to ensure a high level of safety.

But it’s easy to overlook the fact that your system must be maintained in order to perform correctly.  It can be tempting to install a system and then forget it.  However, the better option is to be proactive in regular maintenance.  If your system malfunctions, you may not know about it until an emergency has occurred – and then it will likely be too late.

Here are a few tips on maintaining your commercial security system:

1.  Run a test.  To determine if your system is functioning, simply pretend to be a burglar and attempt to break into your business.  Alert your monitoring company that you are going to be testing, and then check the performance of your components by arming your system and trying to get in through doors and windows, tripping motion detectors and by triggering motion-activated surveillance cameras.

2.  Keep components clean.  Keypads, smoke detectors, motion sensors and other parts of your commercial security system can be affected by dust and dirt buildup.  Schedule regular cleaning of these components.

3. Have a professional maintenance check. There are some aspects of your system that require a certified technician to evaluate.  Even if your test runs turn out well and you are keeping the components clean, the components of your system can still wear out or malfunction.  Each year, have a technician come out to look over your system to ensure it is performing up to standard.

At Best Security Products, we can help keep your commercial security system running smoothly so you can enjoy peace of mind.

Give us a call or email us at 1-800–988–2378 sales@bestsecurityproducts.com

One of the smartest things you can do for your business is install video surveillance cameras.  Security cameras can help in a variety ways.  Just their presence can scare away potential thieves, because once they see the cameras, they know they are being watched.

Business security cameras can also help you to keep an eye on your employees.  You can’t be at your business 24/7, but surveillance cameras will let you know if your employees are performing up to the standards that you have set for them.

And finally, business security cameras can give you peace of mind.  With remote access, you can look in on your building from your smart phone, tablet or computer.  Sometimes, you just need to take a quick look to make sure everything is okay – even in the middle of the night!

When you are ready to purchase a Honeywell security system, Honeywell and Best Security Systems can help.  Here are a few suggestions from Honeywell’s Camera Technology Guide.

You will need to determine what type of camera you want.

Here are some questions to ask yourself:

• Will your cameras be used indoors or out?
• Should it be a visual deterrent or discreet?
• Is there a particular look you prefer?

There are numerous camera types to consider for indoors and out—from PTZs, box cameras, mini domes and bullets:

	PTZ Pan/tilt/zoom cameras are very versatile. PTZ cameras can pan (move left and right), tilt (move up and down), and zoom in or out. Additionally, PTZ cameras can rotate 360 degrees to view an object directly below them. Indoor and outdoor options are available
	Box Box cameras are comprised of the camera body, lens and power supply. For indoor use, a mount bracket is required for installation. For outdoor use, a housing is required.
	Mini Dome Dome cameras are half spherical-shaped cameras. These cameras are usually used when discreet applications are needed. They can be vandal resistant, and indoor and outdoor options are available.
	Bullet Bullet cameras are stylish with a bullet-like shape. Some come with infrared lighting, and they can be used indoors or out

Best Security Products can help you choose the perfect camera system for your business.  Give us a call or email us at 1-800–988–2378 sales@bestsecurityproducts.com

It seems harmless enough.  You are about to go out with a friend for the evening, and before you go, you post a quick status update on Facebook.  We’ve all done it.

But that quick status update could result in a burglary.  That’s what happened to Keri McMullen, according to this report from CNN News.

Kerri was heading out to watch a show with her fiancé and posted her plans as a status update to Facebook.  However, one of her Facebook friends decided that Kerri’s evening out was a perfect opportunity to burglarize her home.

Sadly, Kerri made it easy for him.  He knew when she was leaving and had a pretty good idea of how long he had before she returned home.  By the time he and his fellow burglar finished, they took more than $11,000 worth of valuables.

This story has a positive twist though.  The reason Kerri was able to identify the burglar is because she had installed security cameras in her house.  The security camera provided an image recognized by others, and police were able to positively identify him.

Click the video to watch the report from CNN:

Let Kerri’s story be a warning for you.  Use social media with caution.  Here are a few statistics from the Prince William Virginia Police Department about how burglars use social media:

• Over 75% of convicted burglars believe that other burglars are using social media to find targets.
• Google Streetview is one of the most used tools of thieves, allowing them to case out likely-looking homes in complete safety.
• Social media tells potential burglars what you have, where you live and how long you are likely to be away from the property.

Please use social media safely.  Think before you post, and make sure your profile is set to be viewed only by people whom you can trust.

It is also a good idea to install video security cameras, just like Kerri did.  At Best Security Products, we can install and maintain your custom video surveillance system.

Contact us today at 1-800–988–2378 or sales@bestsecurityproducts.com