If you own a retail store, manage a warehouse, or conduct religious services, the holidays are reliably busy and stressful. Many teams earn most of their annual income in Q4, and wrongdoers, unfortunately, seek to take advantage during this profitable time of year.
We’ve compiled this short list of tips to help you prepare for security risks typical of the holiday season. Learn more about holiday security challenges, and be sure to plan ahead. If you think you might need additional armed or unarmed guards on-site during this busy time of year, it’s in your best interest to connect with a reliable security service in your region today.
1. Practice Safe Travel
AAA projects 80 million Americans will travel this Thanksgiving alone, a substantial increase from pandemic travel numbers. If congestion combines with inclement weather across the country, transportation networks will be stretched, and many organizations will be left vulnerable.
If your team’s security depends on supply chains or transportation, you may want to take steps in advance to prevent a worst-case scenario. For example, airline delays could lead to hotel backlogs, with people and their belongings overwhelming staff. Thieves can take advantage of situations like this, and many businesses find themselves in need of additional security guards quickly. Connect with a security provider in advance, and have a plan in place to get extra security if needed.
2. Protect Those Packages
Online shopping is predicted to hit a record $240.8 Billion this holiday season. Porch piracy is also expected to scale up, leaving many businesses and individuals rightfully concerned. Be sure to safeguard your deliveries by scheduling when someone is available to receive them, and tracking valuables at all times.
If you manage a warehouse or business with high-volume shipping and receiving, make sure you have a security plan in place to protect your shipments over the holidays. Install cameras in high-risk areas, and deploy security guards as needed. This is especially important if your company shuts down operations for any length of time, as critical inventory could be left vulnerable.
3. Train Your Team
Every member of your team must be aware of your holiday security measures. Most importantly, employees need to know how to report security risks and who to report them to. Communication is essential, especially when you are shorthanded due to folks taking time off. If your team includes seasonal or temporary employees, be sure to brief them on your security protocols and who to contact in case of an emergency.
Adding on-site security guards can reduce risk and prevent loss, but you’ll need to ensure your team members are aware of the guards’ presence and can coordinate on-site. If your security requirements demand multiple on-site guards, having a designated site supervisor can help speed communication and shorten response times.
4. Safeguard Your Data
The holidays witness a reliable spike in online scams and wrongdoing. When conducting e-commerce over the holidays, be sure to have a security suite that includes a firewall, anti-virus, and anti-spyware software.
If your organization houses vital data on-site, you may consider additional security guards to help protect your digital assets. Often, offices will be left empty during the holidays, and ambitious wrongdoers could take advantage. Adding on-site guards can help decrease physical security risks to your housed data.
5. Contact The Guard Alliance
We are already seeing a significant increase in requests for security and fire watch guards in the lead-up to the holidays. Our team members nationwide are ready to help safeguard our customers and your communities. We strongly encourage folks in our network to be proactive – assess your security needs before the busy season peaks, and reach out to us in advance for additional guards.
Please contact us immediately if you require on-site or vehicle patrol security guards today, and stay safe this holiday season!
