Seven ways your commercial real estate property can be safe quicker

Cameron Mazza, December 20 2022
3 mins

Cameron Mazza

Marketing Manager

As the security lead for a commercial space, you spend much of your time trying to increase the safety of tenants and visitors. And you probably (unfortunately, like most of us) are on a budget. Not everyone can afford security guards 24/7 or even full-time security camera monitoring. Whether you’re helping expand a growing retail chain, managing a large event space, growing your square footage for new tenants, or decking out your next hotel property, the goal is the same: stay secure, stay safe, and save time. 

If you’ve ever dealt with vandalism, theft, or damage to properties under your watch, you might have also dealt with the headaches that come with insurance claims. Or the stress around determining fault, identifying a perpetrator, or explaining what went wrong to management. A security incident is a headache and isn’t worth the regret of not building a preventative security plan. Being proactive to ensure it doesn’t get to that point is what we recommend, and here are some steps you can take today to save you from pain tomorrow.

1. Cover your public spaces with cameras

At the end of the day (or night), keeping a building or office space secure depends on visual insights into as many areas as possible. A security guard can’t patrol all spaces at all times, so cameras fill in gaps in personnel. But let’s be real—people get through security gaps and sometimes break into buildings. Having camera footage for evidence can be crucial to get paid back on insurance claims or pursuing legal action.

2. Security cameras can provide more than just video—so make sure they do

We’re talking audio analytics, we’re talking temperature sensing, we’re talking humidity monitoring. Some security cameras can now determine what a sound is with precision. There are also environmental sensors that detect temperature and humidity fluctuations, and all these capabilities have recently been integrated into cameras like the Ava Flex indoor security camera. By adding an online visual dashboard that can be accessed from anywhere, users will be able to compile and interpret data fast and from wherever they are. Finding the right camera comes down to finding the most valuable camera for your space—since not all threats can be seen.

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3. Make sure your cameras aren’t afraid of the dark

What’s the point of saving money on a security camera that doesn’t have night vision if you always have to keep your lights on? And with technology like intelligent AI-based light control, a security camera like the Ava Flex can use its LEDs to light up a scene whenever movement is detected. 

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4. Respond to incidents ASAP—sometimes even while they’re happening

Unless you’re a major business, university, or government office, security staff is unlikely to monitor your video feeds 24/7. Let’s face it—you need to sleep, and sleeping soundly means you have trust in your security system. Some intelligent video security platforms like Ava Aware have real-time alerts to tell you when an event occurs, such as if motion is detected after hours or if certain sounds (like glass breaking) are heard. This is a significant win for a hands-off security approach because you pay attention when your attention is most needed. Response times can be almost instantaneous with security event text alerts, stopping more damage from occurring or helping catch perpetrators before they get away.

5. Don’t assume you have to break the bank

Cameras cost a lot, but model pricing can be quite different. Finding an affordable camera that brings smart features can take time and effort. Remember: some features, like cloud storage and integrated analytics, may seem expensive at first, but they also provide business and operational value. Sometimes you can work with your business development teams to combine budgets or show your other business units the value of a smart camera system with integrated sensors. Or, if you’re ahead of the sensor trend, sync your deployment with your existing sensors to get the best bang for your buck—such as optimizing your HVAC using humidity and temperature data.

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6. Free up time for other tasks by making your security camera installation as easy as possible

Installation and provisioning can be dreadful or exciting, depending on your choice of security cameras. A cloud-based camera deployment can take literal minutes. Usually, it’s as simple as scanning a barcode to register the camera in the online platform and then plopping it on an uploaded map of your building. It sure beats standing on a ladder for an hour, hard-wired to your switch while you code the appropriate settings into your new camera.

7. Your video security footage should not be compromised by a baseball bat

Having cloud security cameras also promotes the highest levels of protection for data and footage because anything recorded is immediately uploaded and encrypted. So say some “clever thief” tries to destroy evidence with a grand slam hit to your camera; the joke’s on them. Cloud-based means storing footage in the cloud, accessible from anywhere, and with historical events searchable within seconds. 

A lot of cameras can do some of these things. But only one can do them all. Check out the Ava Flex wireless camera to learn more. It’s our newest security camera and the most affordable yet—but still with all the benefits of the Ava Cloud. And we’ve just started shipping the units to our customers. What’s more, with the latest Ava Aware 5.5 release, we integrate even more sensors to support your operational needs. 

Keeping safe is essential, and it’s not only hindsight that needs to be 20-20. Taking the steps today to grow your security and business can mean dramatically different outcomes the next time there’s a breach or break-in.