Have You Tested Your Security System?
Friday, November 20, 2009 16:05
This past month I have been working with a business regarding some physical security improvements, and one of those items was a security or intrusion alarm system. It got me thinking about businesses that I deal with who usually ask me about why a certain element of security they have implemented, such as security systems, is not working. Most of the time when I look at their particular situation, one or more elements of the security system does not fit their needs. Usually this is not discovered until the system has been installed and paid for, leaving the business with a system that does not fulfill their needs and sometimes results in the system not being used after a period of time. This results in wasted time and money for the business owner as well as poor or nonexistent security.
Testing Your Security Alarm System
To improve security, increase the results of your security system, and save money over the long term, a business should look at testing a physical security system. I have found that most small and medium- sized businesses could avoid most of the problems they experience with their security systems by testing of their security system during three main phases:
- During the selection phase or before the system is purchased and installed.
- After the system is installed to verify that it works as specified.
- Ongoing testing to make sure the system is maintained in operable condition.
Testing during these different phases allows the business to determine if the security system provides specific features that are needed to protect the business. Also, it helps determine if the security system is set up correctly and if the system operates properly and as the business expected it to. It is not necessary to test each feature of the system but just those that you intend to use now or in the future.
The three basic testing phases will work for most security alarm systems in the majority of small and medium-sized businesses, but depending on the individual needs of the business, additional testing of the system may be desired. A business may want to test more complex or larger security alarm systems at different times during the installation process to make sure different elements of the system are working correctly before the whole system is installed. It is much easier for changes and modifications to be made on a complex system as it is being installed than after the whole system is completed. Also, it is usually easier to determine where the problem may be before a number of what I call subsystems or parts of the system are working together. This is something you will have to judge depending on the system you have decided to purchase and install.
Most of the time a business will be hiring an installer, usually the business that sold the security alarm system, to install the system. Since this is usually the case, make sure you discuss the issue of testing before you purchase the system because most installers I have dealt with do not usually recommend testing to their customers. It will have to be something you request. It may be something that you may want to build into to request for proposal.
Pre-Purchase Security Alarm Testing
Even small security systems can be quite complex now and different components can be used in different ways to meet the needs of the business. A vendor may never have sold or installed a security system exactly like the one you want set up. Since one size does not fit all, a business should request a test at the vendor’s facility or at your own place of business prior to deciding on or purchasing a security system. This testing can only be done after the design of the system has been completed.
Pre-purchase testing is done by having the vendor assemble the components of the security system and run a test to make sure all the components work together and that the features of the individual components and the whole system meet your security needs. Basically, it should answer your questions regarding whether this system meets your security needs and provides the features you requested. The depth of this type of testing will most likely be determined by the complexity and size of the security system.
I would also recommend that any security system components that are to be used outside a structure be tested at the location they will be used to make sure they work adequately in the environmental conditions at the location. I have seen numerous times that a component of a security system is selected based on the features and specifications of the component only to not work properly after being installed because of some condition such as heavy fog in the area, vibration from heavy traffic and a variety of other environmental conditions that may not be noted by the vendor.
There are good vendors who sell and install quality systems, but there are also some out there that sell components based on what they are familiar with or that have the highest profit margin. I would always recommend a business request some on-site testing of the proposed security system before a final decision is made to purchase it. This, in my opinion, is probably the most critical testing phase for a business. It is better to spend a little more time on selection and testing than to spend money on a security system that does not provide the level of security that you desire or need.
After Installation and On-Going Testing
After the security system is installed and functioning, the system should be tested to determine that all components and features of the system are installed and configured correctly and that they function as intended. This testing usually occurs after the system is installed, but a monitoring phase should also extend out over a short period of time such as a couple weeks to make sure the security system is functioning correctly.
This phase of testing and monitoring of the security system really helps identify any problems with false alarms or 
nuisance alarms based on use and environmental conditions. It also identifies any problems with the current configuration or location of individual security components. I have found it best to initially test the security system after installation and then continue to monitor the system for a couple weeks after installation to help identify any problems. This time of close monitoring also allows employees to become familiar with the system and how it is supposed to function.
As far as on-going test, I would recommend a couple of items. First, you should consider an on-going maintenance agreement with a reliable vendor. This will allow, depending on what is built into the maintenance agreement, periodic servicing and preventive maintenance of the security system components. Also, as a business you should inspect the security system or hire an inspector on at least an annual basis to make sure the security components are functioning as intended and that the security system still meets the security needs of your business.
Testing during any phase can be done using scenarios that cover ways that a criminal may try to break into your business or other possible security scenarios that you are concerned about. A couple well- planned scenarios should cover most usage requirements for the proposed security system.
Testing a security system may not be something that most businesses think about when discussing security, but it is a critical component in making sure that you have a security system that does and continues to provide the level of security that you need. Please leave a comment letting me know if this type of security information is helpful in protecting your business from the many risks that you face on a daily basis.
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