With the summer months traditionally associated with increases in break-ins and as we head into holidays, property vandalism and after-hours incidents, traditional security approaches can leave commercial real estate (CRE) assets exposed.
For commercial properties relying solely on security infrastructure that records incidents after they happen — or on costly guard patrols or full-time on-site security — there’s a good chance that your assets remain vulnerable to losses and operational disruptions.
If you’re one of many property managers who saw increased incidents this summer, fall is prime time to get ahead of planning for next year. The following are important considerations owners and operators must address, along with practical steps they can take to reduce risk.
• Assuming visibility is the same as protection. A camera that only records footage for playback becomes a passive tool that documents problems but it doesn’t stop them.
Instead of relying solely on security guards who can miss incidents during patrols, commercial properties should consider a system with virtual guarding capabilities that have broader real-time visibility and can take immediate action across multiple views at one time on the property.
This can offer precise threat detection that accounts for false alarms, incorporates live audio deterrence to stop crime and connects to law enforcement within seconds when needed.
Virtual guarding can be implemented to disintermediate guard costs or in conjunction with guards to enhance overall security for fractions of the cost.
• Assuming cameras are operational and working until you actually need them.
Camera technology done right is an entire ecosystem that includes servers, cameras, connectivity devices, internet, electric reliance and support technology to enable uptime. Similar to other server environments, they require health monitoring and proactive “break-fix,” also known as real-time maintenance.
Too often, CRE operators install security cameras and assume they’re working as intended, only to discover after a critical incident that they aren’t. A proactive approach that continuously verifies system health is essential to maximizing long-term security and return on investment.
• Time invested in pulling footage and dealing with incident aftermath.
Something we constantly hear in conversations with prospects is, “We have cameras, but nobody is watching them,” or “The issue is not just crime and vagrancy, but the time our team loses dealing with the aftermath.”
Many businesses install cameras for the appearance of security, but don’t have proper monitoring systems or the staff in place to make them truly effective. The challenge isn’t just that the incidents still occur, but the time that it takes teams to locate the footage for insurance and law enforcement documentation. This is often burdensome and can even delay or miss critical evidence.
A proactive and thorough approach is not only more effective but reduces time and stress put on property and asset managers dealing with them in real time.
• Prioritizing surveillance in the areas most frequented.
More customers entering through storefronts andmore back-entrance vendor deliveries are greatfor business revenue but create more operationalchallenges. Active “centers” change how commercialproperties operate, with the back entrance seeingincreased vendor traffic and operational exposure,while storefronts generate interest from potential bad actors.
Without structured and proactive oversight, these challenges become stress points for a property’s security posture. Building a thoughtful video surveillance design and proactive approach to mitigate current and future risks won’t create a perfect solution but they provide owners and staff with peace of mind knowing a solution is in place to address issues when they do arise.
• Safety concerns for staff members and customers near unhoused populations and criminals in urban areas.
Businesses are seeing an uptick in crime tied to urban encampments, convenience vagrancy and bad actors, resulting in decreased safety and satisfaction for staff and customers. Implementing the use of proactive video guarding with live audio-capable safety alert apps allow staff to feel safer during closing hours, with the ability to check in with security professionals in real time to share their exact GPS coordinates, send audio and video updates or use the live panic button in dangerous situations.
• Dumpster areas being treated like an afterthought vs. a security workflow problem.
Dumpster enclosures were built to hold trash, not to absorb the operational fallout of poor visibility, illegal dumping, nuisance activity and more recurring after-hours problems. What looks like a minor service zone often creates outsized risk.
By improving security workflows and therefore, visibility around one of the most overlooked parts of the property, operators can reduce recurring misuse, support cleaner operations and strengthen control over areas that often sit at the edge of staff’s attention.
• Only using video cameras for security purposes vs. operational business intelligence (proactively using footage as a data source for decision-making).
Today’s AI technology allows commercial leaders to go beyond traditional video surveillance, providing actionable operational intelligence that helps decision-makers save them time and money operationally, such as:
- Preventing and disputing false liability claims, such as alleged slip-and-fall incidents, with verified video evidence.
- Providing clear video documentation to support legal action against individuals who violate property policies or cause damage.
- Identifying and addressing repeat offenders or individuals involved in on-site incidents, including fights or disputes, to enhance safety and compliance.
- Car counting through all entrances and exits, creating knowledge of traffic flow, influencing rent revenue and preventative maintenance to save on expenses.
- Monitoring vendor Service Level Agreement (SLA) adherence to ensure ROI on contracts and to avoid reactive tenant and customer complaints.
In today’s increasingly complex security landscape, commercial property owners, property managers and operators can no longer consider security as “business as usual.” If your property’s cameras only record footage, they’re not working hard enough for you.
Those who rely on outdated approaches will remain reactive. Those embracing remote video monitoring, a managed system and an eye on future-proofing for operational efficiencies will be better positioned to protect their people, their properties and their profits.
