The Biggest Security Threats Facing Modern Office Buildings and How Businesses Can Respond

Modern office buildings are often enormous and contain lots of different entry and exit points. They may also house multiple businesses, with each one holding sensitive information that could have dire consequences if it fell into the wrong hands. Add the possibility of valuable resources or cash stored across the many offices within a building, and these structures become prime targets for a plethora of security threats. 

In days gone by, the biggest threats to office buildings were simple break-ins from petty criminals, but that’s no longer the major concern. Modern business has evolved to the point where there are several security risks that need to be addressed. 

Unauthorized Building Access

The average office building could have hundreds, maybe even thousands of people coming and going every single day. There’s a constant flow of foot traffic as people clock in and out of work – or delivery people make drop-offs, clients come in for meetings, and so on. It makes it easier than ever for someone without authorization to tailgate their way into a building by simply blending in with the crowd. Once inside, that person can steal both physical and digital items with very little pushback. 

Preventing this involves a two-pronged approach: 

• Access control systems
• On-site security teams

Access control systems can control who is authorized to enter a building with key cards, fobs, or biometric scanners. As demonstrated by Marksman Security, on-site security teams can then provide an additional layer by making sure someone doesn’t slip in or by flagging people who look shifty or out of place. The goal is to prevent people from getting any further than the front entrance point before they can do any damage. 

Cyberattacks On Management Systems

Nowadays, offices rely on building management software to run and maintain everyday operations. Without them, a lot of businesses would stop functioning. Anything from heating and ventilation to IT services and electronic access to the building can all be controlled and maintained via these electronic systems. Even elevators, alarms and the fire safety system rely on these technologies. 

The problem is that these systems rely on interconnected technologies and a shared network, which can provide weaknesses for cybercriminals to access remotely. If attackers want to, they can target the building’s network and render many of these much-needed technologies useless. The danger comes from them potentially disabling security systems, interfering with daily operations and even accessing sensitive information about the business or its employees. Devices need to be constantly updated and secured correctly in order to try to avoid this from happening. Out-of-date software, weak passwords and a lack of proper security can leave the whole office’s infrastructure vulnerable to attacks.

Physical Theft & Break-ins

Just because security technology has improved, so too have the methods in which criminals are able to access and enter targeted buildings. Physical offices can contain a number of valuable assets and information that can attract potential organized thieves. These can include physical items like laptops, cell phones and cash or information like confidential paperwork and intellectual property.

Thieves will usually target buildings outside of office hours and exploit any poorly secured entrances. If there’s any kind of security weakness, they will find and utilize it. They may not be an immediate threat to the business and staff if a break-in occurs out of hours, but employees can feel targeted and unsafe after finding out what has happened. Also, depending on what’s been taken, some personal information might have been taken, threatening staff privacy and any confidential information that could compromise the business. 

In order to protect equipment and property, businesses need to make the premises less attractive to criminals. Install extra security like high-quality CCTV to cover all entrances and exits, improve exterior lighting, use alarms and perimeter security and even consider security patrols outside of normal hours, especially anywhere that has a history of being burgled. 

Employee Misconduct 

Not all security issues come from external threats. There is a potential for any authorized individual to expose a business’s building to significant threats. Employees, visitors and contractors can all pose a threat, and it could be a complete accident or fully intentional depending on their motives. 

People could accidentally share confidential information with people outside the organization or accidentally damage important equipment that’s key to how the business operates, whilst they could also be stealing information, deliberately damaging equipment or allowing unauthorized personnel into areas they’re not allowed.

When hiring individuals, perform a background check to see if anyone has a history of sabotage in other roles to limit the threat of it happening to your business. Businesses need to provide clear security protocols and training to their employees and other authorized personnel when they enter the office to avoid any misunderstanding or accidental incidents. 

Poor Emergency Preparation

Not every security threat is a criminal one. Equipment failures, fire and other major emergencies can cause significant security and safety threats to office occupants. Offices are full of hazardous equipment and materials, and if treated and secured correctly and monitored, they won’t become a threat. However, all it takes is a small bit of negligence, and it can cause a major incident. 

Some items that can commonly cause risk include faulty equipment and lithium-ion batteries in laptops and bikes, failure of fire alarms, blocked security exits, faulty lighting and wiring; the list is endless. There are a lot of different things that can go wrong. Even the offices themselves can have complicated layouts, multiple floors or shared spaces, making emergency planning especially difficult, as well as getting employees to understand what to do in an emergency.

Preventing fires and other emergencies has to be a key part of office management, as well as the plan in case something does go horribly wrong. As a start, a plan should be in place to get everyone out of the building safely. Exits and escape routes should never be allowed to be blocked, and fire risk assessments should be done regularly to make sure the office is as low risk as possible. Businesses should ensure that who is responsible for fire safety is clearly assigned and that training is constantly up to date.

Security and safety have to be a top priority for every office-based business, regardless of size or industry. From cyber attacks and unauthorized access to poor emergency planning and employee misconduct, the types of threats are changing and are becoming more complex than ever. While it’s impossible to predict and prevent every potential incident, businesses can prepare in advance by investing in appropriate security, training, and regularly reviewing all their procedures. By being proactive and understanding the biggest threats, they are better able to protect staff and the business and ensure the office environment remains safe and secure.