Managing the consequences of a natural disaster or other emergencies is never easy, but it can be made more efficient with better preparation and follow up. Key and asset management systems are a valuable part of facility security, helping to protect staff, assets and areas and streamlining access for authorized users in both regular and emergency situations. When time is of the essence, these systems can also supply up-to-date and reliable information allowing personnel to react more quickly and proceed with established procedures regarding secure areas or valuable assets.

Managing a business, whether a small, family-owned company, a franchise operation or a branch office can be challenging—and it often is. Licensing regulations, paying too much for rent, labor or materials and poorly designed websites are just some of the issues that can adversely affect the business’s success. While there are no silver bullets to resolve these issues, management can minimize many of the problems through open communication, defined tasks and responsibilities, effective data collection/analysis and so on.

Security departments within an organization often tend to underestimate how much productivity is lost to manual tasks that could easily be accomplished with automated systems. Technology solutions are readily available to help security management free up employee time so they can focus on more valuable tasks that help ensure safety and security. In considering these options, ROI is often a determining factor.

With the year drawing to a close, the busy season is in full swing for many organizations including retailers, travel agencies and schools. Additionally listed among this group are property management companies who often have the added seasonal duties of home/rental management for “snowbirds.” Tasks range from prevention services such as checking the vacant home for unwanted pests to arranging cleaning/repair services for winter residences.

A number of recent articles have put forth the proposition that the password as a security measure is dead. The reasons listed are many, including how easily they are forgotten, the password is weak or easily guessed and how quickly cyber criminals can get around them. Not mentioned in these articles but posing a similar challenge is the use of PINs or smart cards as security measures.