Putting Security First: When You Should Change Your Business Locks

5 January 2015
 Categories: , Articles

Share

As a business owner, protecting your investments and keeping your employees safe are likely paramount concerns. Chances are you had your business space rekeyed or had new locks installed when you first moved in, but if you haven't thought about rekeying since then, it's time to give it some thought. Although it may not seem like a significant concern, there are a number of reasons why you should consider changing the locks on your office space. Here's a look at some of the most common reasons why business owners should change or rekey the locks.

Staffing Changes

One of the most significant reasons why you should consider changing your locks is changes in your staff. If you have an employee leave, particularly if that employee was a keyholder, it's in your best interest to change the locks. You have no way to know the individual didn't make a copy of the key at some point, so you need to be sure he or she cannot gain entry to the building again.

You may think you only need to worry about the locks if a member of management leaves. In fact, even your hourly employees can be a security risk. They may not have been given keys to the building, but there's no guarantee they never had access to one. Play it safe and change the locks when you have staffing changes or reason to believe that an employee who left was disgruntled.

Securing Contract Workers

If you had any contractors doing work in the building overnight, you may have provided the foreman or the supervisor with a key to get in after hours. Once the work is completed, you'll want to not only collect the key, but also change all of the locks on the building. Even if you know that the work crew was trustworthy, it's a security measure that you shouldn't overlook.

Lost Keys

Even the most organized employees risk losing a key sometime. If you've got an employee who has misplaced his or her key, you should recognize it as the risk that it is to your business. Even if you want to believe that it was just an absent-minded misplacement, there's no way to guarantee the key isn't in the hands of someone who's trying to gain access to the building. Call a commercial locksmith right away to rekey your locks, and consider adding some property security in the meantime.

Security Breach

If someone gains access to your building, whether through forced entry or not, you'll want to take some time to evaluate your security. One of the first things you should always do when it comes to securing your building after a break-in is to rekey the locks or upgrade your lock system to a new style.

After all, if there were signs of forced entry, you can't be sure the intruders didn't find a key in the building while they were there. If there were no signs of forced entry, that's a tell-tale indication that the culprits already had a key. Either way, you'll want to reduce the risks by changing all of the locks.

Routine Changes

Sometimes, the best plan is just to change your locks once a year. If you have the money to invest in the services of a locksmith every year, it's a great way to protect the building. Just set a date each year when you'll change the locks and stick with it.

If you want even more security, change the date each year. That way, there's no predictability in the schedule that a would-be intruder could capitalize on. And, having your locks changed once each year gives you the chance to capitalize on new technology and advancements in security.

When you create a business, you put a lot of time, effort and money into its success. As a result, you want to be sure that your business interests are as secure as they can be. With these tips, you'll know some of the key considerations about when you should change your locks to help control your risks. Hire a professional and click for more info.