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Minimising business disruption from the unexpected – building business resilience

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How well equipped is your business to withstand business interrupting events such as fires, floods, network failure, data loss, supply chain failure etc?

This is the question that Boards, Investors, Customers and Insurers are asking more and more frequently. Yet, answering it with any degree of authority can be difficult. Actually becoming a resilient business can be time consuming, expensive and distracting.

This is why we were excited to meet Matt Hodges-Long and Richard Carman from Continuity Partner. They help businesses plan for the unexpected to minimise the disruption and damage it can bring to their organisation, both in the short and long-term.

Continuity Partner recently launched the world’s first fully managed Business Resilience service. This is designed to give business owners the resilience they require for their businesss, at an affordable (fixed) price and without distracting their teams from their day jobs!

In fact the Continuity Partner team have developed the following unique 3 step approach to build Business Resilience in an organisation. They are offering Absolute Security customers a 10% discount on their services.

1. Plan – in depth Risk Analysis, creation of Business Continuity plan and Risk Mitigation activity

2. Monitor – 24/7 monitoring of clients risks (premises, critical suppliers, regulators, reputation) to avoid incidents and react quickly to minimise impact

3. Respond – if the worst were to happen, the Continuity Partner team provide expert 24/7 Crisis Management and Business Recovery support.

We were really impressed with the Continuity Partner team and the service they provide. Business Continuity planning is too often left on the back burner which leaves businesses carrying too much risk.

For further information please contact Continuity Partner directly on 01252 560 331 or visit www.continuitypartner.com

Remember to mention Absolute Security to qualify for a 10% discount.

Pet friendly alarm systems

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In response to a recent enquiry we received, we thought it was worth debunking the myth that intruder alarm systems and pets don’t mix!

In actual fact there are many systems on the market which can factor in the family pet being on the premises and yet offer significant security protection for the property.

When designing a pet friendly alarm system solution, we discuss with the owner where the family pet is free to roam in the premises and establish the security system’s sensors to accommodate this.

At the same time we balance the needs of the pet with the importance of protecting the property and the family’s possessions.

Often owners are worried their pet will inadvertently set off the alarm when they are out, but different types of sensors can be used around the property to create a robust ring of protection without overly restricting the pet’s movements and freedoms.

If you would like to learn more about pet friendly alarm systems, please contact our sales team on tel. 01483 791500.

What are you leaving on show?

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Following a number of homes we have surveyed recently, we want to emphasise the importance of not leaving keys and security systems fobs on show through a property’s windows and doors. This greatly aids any intruder who is scouting around for properties to burgle and cars to steal.

Over the years we have come across many a case of thieves breaking in and then stealing the owners’ cars or quickly disabling the burglar alarm to make their thefts more easy.

Ideally, keep all keys and alarm fobs out of view and certainly away from the entry points to your property. A safe is good or a cupboard well away from doors and window.

For more information and advice contact our sales team on tel. 01483 791500

Sharing security insight and knowledge for crime prevention

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We were delighted to welcome a team of Surrey Crime Prevention Design Advisers to our offices recently. The event’s purpose was to share insight and knowledge. On our part, we were able to bring the team up to date in the latest security system technologies and techniques. The Crime Prevention Design Advisers also updated us on current crime trends and legal issues.

For example, from May this year, CCTV systems in residential properties (whose cameras take in views beyond that property’s boundary) now fall under Data Protection legislation. The impact of this being that the system’s owners will need to register with the Information Commissioner’s Office and suitable signage communicating the CCTV’s presence will have to be erected on the property.
For more information contact the Surrey Crime Prevention Design Advisers.

Summer holiday protection tips for your home

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It’s great that the summer is in full swing (well the sun was shining when we wrote this). Many people have already jetted off whilst others are looking forward to a holiday away and some much needed rest and relaxation.

To ensure your property remains safe whilst you are away, it’s important to undertake some simple security measures before you go. Properties which are obviously vacant for a number of days can catch the eye of burglars.

So here is a reminder of our summer holiday tips to help you keep things at home safe and secure:

1. Hide or lock away any visible valuables – go outside your premises, see what’s on view through the windows and then remove anything that may tempt an intruder. Consider investing in a safe to keep your valuables (including those of a sentimental value) protected.

2. Avoid a build-up of post if you’re going to be away for some time. Ask a friend or neighbour to pop in and clear this. If you are due to have anything delivered whilst your away arrange for someone to collect it or even cancel it before you go.

3. If possible, leave a car in the drive and invest in timer switches for lights, which give the impression you are in when you’re out.

4. Lock all side gates and switch your alarm on. Burglars love properties with easy exit routes. For added protection, why not get automatic gates or consider the tips we gave last month about defensive plants?

5. Consider CCTV – not only is it a great deterrent, new advances in technology mean you can view your home remotely over a secure web connection (even on your mobile phone) and check things are as they should be.

For more security tips or advice on how to protect your property whilst you’re away, contact our team on tel. 01483 791500.

Absolute Security welcomes Surrey Police’s new Crime Prevention Design Adviser

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Absolute Security were delighted to continue their support of Surrey Police’s Crime Reduction team by sponsoring a new car for the newly appointed Crime Prevention Design Advisor for the Western Division, Mike Jones.

On 7 July Sandy Busek – Managing Director of Absolute Security – handed over the keys to Mike. Mike’s role includes advising on CCTV systems to deter and detect crime, working with architects and planners to ‘design out’ crime at an early stage, and giving crime reduction advice to both local residents and businesses.

“With budgetary pressures in the public sector likely to intensify, we felt it was important to continue supporting Surrey Police’s crime reduction team’s great work” said Sandy Busek. “Over the years we’ve been proud to help Surrey maintain its status as one of the safest counties in the UK. By working with various agencies such as the Police we’ve been able to help business and home owners protect their properties from theft, fire and vandalism”.

He added “Mike has a sizeable patch to cover and will be doing essential work in guiding people on how to deter and prevent crime. We believe that he should have the right resources to help local residents and businesses combat ever-more sophisticated criminal activity”.

The picture shows Mike Jones being presented his car by Sandy Busek (Managing Director) of Absolute Security.

Military technology now available for discreet perimeter protection

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We were impressed by a recent demo we watched from the Sentinor team recently.

One of their areas of speciality is outdoor perimeter security and protecting properties, assets, land and livestock from theft and poaching. They have been called in to aid the likes of nature reserves, equestrian centres, farmland as well as high value property.

With a background in protecting the armed forces in covert operations, many of the Sentinor products are highly discreet but are gaining the interest of businesses and property owners keen to protect their property and livestock.

One in particular caught our eye – their Cobweb product range is a quick to deploy, unobtrusive perimeter protection system for short-term requirements such as festivals, events or to protect life stock when put out to pasture.

It comprises a transmitter which is armed with a discreet Break-Wire ‘Spool’. This is extended around the perimeter of the site and any break in the wire immediately activates an alert. The sensors in the system are resilient and undetectable by any known electronic means.

The transmitter can provide GPS location of the break and tracking. It also has a tamper alarm, radio signal strength indicator and power information.

As Cobweb products were originally designed for military use, they are able to be used in a variety of environments including forests, woods, urban areas, areas covered by snow and even deserts.

If you would like to find out more about Sentinor perimeter protection for your property or land, please contact Andy on 01483 791500.

Helping preserve heritage and listed properties

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One of the security issues we like to solve for owners of heritage and listed properties is how to harness the benefits of modern security technology, without affecting the historic features of their property.

A recent example touched on just this requirement at a sizeable National Trust property in Kent.

We were asked to upgrade the existing fire detection system across the site, to give more precise information about the exact location of a fire in an alert. The importance of such precise pinpointing of a fire’s location in a heritage/listed property has been emphasised all the more by the recent fire at Clandon Park.

For those with a technical knowledge of fire detection systems, this project meant moving from a conventional fire detection system to an addressable one. But with this requirement there was a need for minimum wiring and disruption to the fabric of the building during the system’s installation.

The new system we designed and installed did indeed enable the Trust to gain a more intelligent fire detection system at this site. It was designed to quickly give vital and highly precise diagnostics to support a prompt evacuation of the affected area and alert the emergency services to the exact location of the fire.

At the same time we were also able to minimise any additional cabling and disruption to the heritage building and its features by creating an addressable loop in the site’s fire detection system.

To find out more contact Andy Rees on tel 01483 791500

New LED Security Lights Save Electricity Bills

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A long awaited development has just arrived for security lighting. It’s the availability of LED lights which run on significantly less electricity than traditional bulbs. With the darker nights many home and business owners can now protect and improve their property without clocking up a large electricity bill.

Security lighting is a great deterrent to intruders. It’s also popular for convenience issues – such as helping light the way around your property when you put the bins out at night or arrive back late from work.

LED bulbs last longer (between 5 and 10 years compared to traditional bulbs which on average last less than a year).

Let’s take a look at savings in a typical example…

Traditional security lighting (based on a property with 6 lights) could total up running costs of £624 per year if you factor in electricity used, replacing the bulbs and the cost of bringing out an installer to undertake replacements.

LED lighting in the same property gives running costs of just £24 per year (electricity). With their longer lifespan, the bulbs don’t need to be replaced so frequently. When you factor in the cost of the new LED security lighting it is estimated that, given the savings made, the systems start paying for themselves in the first 2-3 years. The reliability of the LEDs bulbs are also proving very popular.

If you’d like to discuss switching to greener, LED security lighting, contact Andy or call them on 01483 791 500.

Corporate Integrated Security Systems

Should you go for a monitored alarm system… or not?

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We’re often asked by customers whether they should sign up to a monitored alarm system – or not. Remote monitoring enables an immediate response if your burglar alarm, fire alarm or CCTV system generates an alert.

Whilst alarms and CCTV systems offer a good deterrent to intruders, if no one is able to respond to their alerts their effectiveness in protecting your property and possessions can be undermined. For the unfamiliar, remote monitoring links your alarm or CCTV system to a remote monitoring station via your phone line and the mobile network. In the event of your alarm being activated this station immediately notifies your nominated key holders and, if appropriate, the emergency services.

But do you really need to build that added level of protection into your security system? Here are three simple questions that we recommend customers consider when deciding whether to remote monitor or not.

1. What is the value of my possessions and assets that are being protected?
If your possessions are highly valuable or hold tremendous sentimental value then a remote monitoring system will bring that added protection you need.

2. What’s my lifestyle pattern?
If you are away from the property fairly frequently, or your pattern of being in and out of it is very regular (so a burglar on reconnaissance can identify when to break in), then remote monitoring makes more sense. If you’re at the property most of the time, then remote monitoring might not be so essential.

3. My property’s location
If your property has plenty of neighbours, who are happy to respond if your alarm goes off, then remote monitoring need not be high on your agenda. If you are lucky to have good neighbours talk to them about setting up a mini neighbourhood watch and supporting each other’s security arrangements. On the other hand if your property is isolated or you can’t draw on the help and support of your neighbours, then remote monitoring will give you the additional back-up you need.

For more information about remote monitoring services, contact our sales team on tel 01483 791500.

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Absolute Security Systems Ltd

5 Langham Park, Catteshall Lane
Godalming (nr. Guildford)
Surrey GU7 1NG

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