The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on almost every aspect of business as we know it today. When it comes to the workplace, it’s influenced a number of things, including the way we work (where we work from and the hours we work) and how we use our office spaces.
Each of these changes – no matter how seemingly small on the surface – is having an effect on commercial office security. This is bringing about the need for new and adapted security measures to ensure safety and minimise risk.
So, what’s influencing risk?
1. Rise of hybrid working
The rise of hybrid working is arguably the greatest culture change to the way we work, with the proportion of hybrid workers continuing to rise post-pandemic, and 84% of workers who had to work from home as a result of the pandemic lockdowns saying they plan to carry out a mix of homeworking and office working in the future.
As a result, there are often less workers in commercial offices at any given time, and patterns of working can sometimes be unpredictable due to this increased flexibility. However, simply decreasing available office space to reduce overheads isn’t always the best solution, especially without any real data into how the space is being used.
When offering hybrid working, having effective access control systems in place is key to maintaining building security – as it restricts access to authorised personnel and also monitors who’s in a building at any given time, which is invaluable in the event of an emergency.
Modern access control systems can also generate reports, which give insight into how your office space is being used. This will let you know the number of people using your physical workplace on a daily basis, so you can make informed, strategic decisions regarding downsizing where necessary.
Hybrid working models can also mean offices are unoccupied for longer periods of time than before the pandemic, meaning effective CCTV and intruder alarm systems are even more important.
2. The impact of facemasks
We’ve all tried – and failed – at unlocking our smartphones with Face ID while wearing a face mask. For businesses operating with facial recognition access control or door entry systems, it can be equally frustrating, as less advanced systems will often fail to recognise a person’s identity without the full face in view.
However, following extensive research and development on the back of the pandemic, modern biometric access control systems are now more advanced in recognition rates for individuals wearing face masks. This is strengthening the effectiveness of office access control systems in the post-pandemic era.
3.The need for remote access to security systems
Whether you’re looking to access, set or disarm intruder alarm systems from offsite, or permit entry through door entry systems when no one is physically sat at the reception desk, remotely accessibly security solutions are becoming increasingly important in the post-pandemic workplace.
Cloud-based security systems enable remote access, via a smart phone, for example, meaning you can ensure office safety, anytime, from anywhere.
Amongst myriad other benefits, remote security systems will ensure access to your site isn’t disrupted while people work remotely, deliveries are still accepted and CCTV is still regularly monitored.
Ensuring your security systems evolve alongside your business
Continually reassessing your workplace security measures as working patterns evolve is key to maximising safety.
For support in assessing how effective your commercial security measures are for the modern, post-pandemic workplace, get in touch to book your free, no-obligation site survey.
