The owners and managers of our nation’s buildings have been charged with growing responsibilities for building security issues and the safety of building occupants. The managers of all buildings, whether they are government, public, commercial or multi-unit residential, must address the potential for threats to their facilities.

FocusMicro provides a wide array of consulting services and technological products to help facility owners and managers implement safety and security strategies. Building safety and security cannot be satisfactorily addressed by any one single strategy or tactic. The overall wellbeing of a building’s area perimeter, structure and interior spaces are best ensured with the implementation of a comprehensive security program that addresses all of the characteristics of an individual building. Some of the characteristics to be considered are:

Structure characteristics Low rise / high rise single entrance / multiple entrances Building age Standalone / business complex / strip mall Structure use Public / semi-private / private Commercial / industrial / public service / retail / residential Foot and vehicle traffice volume Regular users / visitors Destination / casual walk-through

Sensitive systems HVAC Electrical Communications Geographic location City center / major thoroughfare Business / industrial area Hills / flat / bowls Community Presence Preceived value to community Upscale / urban / recovery Accessibility Screened / unscreened Regular hours / expanded hours

Security Technology

Technical advances made in recent years have completely redefined the security landscape. Video surveillance systems that produced grainy, black and white still photos never produced images that were of much use to law enforcement officers. State-of-the-art Digital Video systems from FocusMicro both meet and exceed the expectations of security professionals. Producing crisp, clear color video images, FocusMicro Digital Video Servers allow users to view current video monitoring as well as video history from any computer with an Internet connection or company LAN / WAN access.

FocusMicro Digital Video Servers can be integrated with multiple other FocusMicro Digital Security Solutions, including License Plate Recognition technology, Access Control systems and Perimeter Motion Scanning. All security programs that have not been reviewed within the past 12 months will benefit from an analysis of the technology available from FocusMicro.

Program Goals

There are several concurrent goals that a comprehensive security program will need to address:

To accomplish these goals, one of the most valuable allies that a building owner or manager can have is an integrated Digital Security Solution from FocusMicro that includes a Digital Video CCTV component.

• Occupant Safety

  The threats to occupant safety are wide spread and varied, originating from both Environmental sources and Target sources. Examples of Environmental sources are: a gathering point for illegal activity such as drug dealing, high profile attractive targets for burglary and random acts of violence such as hate crimes, drive-by shootings and non-specific vandalism. Risks originating from Target sources include robbery, terrorism and personnel specific crimes.

  Threats from both Environmental and Target sources can be minimized with overt surveillance and access control systems. Perpetrators of both types of actions are premeditated in their activities, desiring to be successful and blameless. An open, demonstrated program to supervise an area, record the activities that occur and prosecute criminals is a strong deterrent to illegal activities. FocusMicro Digital Video Servers provide a crisp, clear record of all events 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. As part of a comprehensive security program, integrated Digital Security Solutions can help protect your building and its occupants.

• Property Loss

  Property loss can occur from both internal and external sources. Losses occurring due to outside forces such as breaking and entering, vandalism, shoplifting and acts of terrorism will leave building and business owners feeling violated and unprotected. However the losses that occur due to internal sources such as employee theft and embezzlement not only generate a sense of betrayal in owners, but account for far greater financial damages than the infrequent outside incursion.

  A security program that includes Digital Security Solutions from FocusMicro will not only act as a deterrent to external elements looking for an easy target, but will dramatically reduce the shrinkage and vandalism conducted by building residents and employees. Utilizing a combination of overt and covert systems, building owners and managers can create an environment and culture that discourages negative behavior by occupants and promotes social responsibility.

• Property Valuation

  Protecting the value of a property is the result of an extended program conducted over a protracted period of time. Property values typically do not shift overnight, but are a slow evolution (or devolution) over years. Within the scope of property management and building security, the valuation of a property can be protected with a comprehensive security program.

  Property managers need to create an environment that deters or eliminates illegal activities. Keep the building interior, perimeter, parking lots and surrounding grounds clean, maintained, well lit at night and under Digital Video surveillance. These practices will discourage vandalism, shoplifting, breaking and entering, drug trafficking and unnecessary loitering. Where practical, integrate Digital Access Control systems with Digital Video surveillance to increase the control and record of persons entering and leaving the building.

  In commercial buildings, residents, employees, business owners and managers who are safe and prosperous will result in low vacancy rates and premium lease values. In company occupied facilities, employee turnover will be minimized while customer perceptions will be positive. In public buildings, the less desirable elements of society will go elsewhere, leaving the community at large to enjoy and utilize the resource.

• Reducing Liability

  Building owners and managers are being held more accountable for the safety of their occupants than ever before. More cases are being brought to trial that raise the issue anticipating an illegal event. These cases hold the building management liable for damages arising from actions that could have been foreseen or predicted given the nature of the business, building location or other environmental conditions. However recently, the litigation arena has become even more perilous for building owners.

  In previous cases, the plaintiffs must have demonstrated a “prior similar act” to have occurred, to prove that the action in question could have been anticipated. More recent cases have adopted a new posture, citing the “totality of circumstances” which holds building owners and managers responsible for actions that could have been foreseen without any prior criminal activity.

  The major defense against such a legal action is a comprehensive security program that is regularly reviewed and updated. A well planned and executed security program is both proactive and responsive, anticipating and forestalling criminal events while remaining dynamic to account for experiences that do occur. FocusMicro can provide all-inclusive security consulting services, aiding clients in the development and implementation of a security program that not only minimizes the building owner’s liability, but protects the building and its occupants as well.

Property Management Security Programs

There are several aspects to a well planned and implemented security program. There is no formula or ‘boiler plate’ approach; each program is as unique as the building and facilities that it serves. All buildings must deal with a wide variety of threats. There is no one single answer, nor can any guarantees be made that all threats can be eliminated or prevented.

A professional security review and the implementation of a detailed and comprehensive security program is essential. A program that includes FocusMicro digital technology as a key component of the plan will significantly improve the overall effectiveness and efficacy of security measures and reduce the likelihood of a security incident. To schedule a review of your building’s security preparedness, contact your FocusMicro sales representative today.