4 Ways To Improve COVID-19 Retail Security

September 22nd, 2020

Unfortunately, the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic throughout the world has dramatically changed life everywhere. It's meant some significant changes for many businesses, including retail ones. However, as life slowly transitions into a new kind of normal, there are still many security considerations to keep in mind.

Security cameras, for example, are an effective means for crime prevention but now there are new factors to consider as well. It's not just enough to have conventional security measures in place; for the safest possible environment, some COVID-19 security measures can help too. Here are a few of the things you can do to have a safer business both against crime and COVID-19.

Thermal Cameras

It's a high tech solution, but it's also one that's proving useful in high traffic areas, such as airports. One of the chief symptoms of COVID-19 is a fever. People who run fevers give off more heat than usual, and this is something that can readily be detected by thermal cameras.

Of course, it's important to remember someone running a high body temperature isn't necessarily confirmed to have COVID-19, since jogging, or any other strenuous exercise, for example, can achieve the same effect. However, this provides additional information on which to act.

Reduce Merchandise Handling

This is always a good security measure, to begin with, but in the era of COVID-19, it can sometimes mean the difference between health and disease transmission. The COVID-19 virus is transmitted through moisture droplets, including sweat.

If someone is infected and touches a lot of the merchandise, there is a chance of the live virus remaining on that merchandise, endangering staff, and other customers.

Manage Customer Traffic

This is another strategy that is essential to adequate security but has now become even more critical in the pandemic period. Shoplifting and other theft are much easier to do in a crowded—or better yet, overcrowded—space.

However, in a less crowded space, shoplifting is much more challenging to achieve, especially with security cameras monitoring. Now, with every customer being potentially infected with COVID-19, retail areas mustn't be crowded. Ignoring social distancing both increases the risk of crime and infection.

Cybersecurity

For many businesses, it's possible to move some transactions online, but this brings its own risks. Cybersecurity is a significant issue because an online purchase means customers surrendering confidential financial information, such as bank accounts, credit card numbers, and other important consumer data.

Ensure that firewalls are up to date, password access to your network uses "strong" passwords that can't be easily guessed, and that you and your employees ignore "social engineering" attempts to get through the security "back door." The use of a "free" USB stick, for example, may embed a virus in a system that is otherwise inaccessible online.

If you have a business and you want a more secure retail or commercial property, we can help. Just contact us and let us know what kind of security arrangements you're concerned with. We can assess your situation and provide an action plan to get you there.