Office Hours Number
Blog Layout
The Benefits of Physical Security
Jul 21, 2023
Physical security is a key component of a solid health and safety regime. It combines physical and procedural measures to protect your people, technology, data, equipment, property and physical / digital assets.
Physical security can help protect businesses from threats including:
- personal and property crime
- industrial and natural disasters
- traffic accidents
- workplace violence and
- civil disturbances.
What does physical security look like?
Two main components of physical security are Access Control and Monitoring.
- Access control includes measures such as gates, protective screens, doors with electronic access entry, guards and fencing.
- Monitoring covers surveillance including CCTV, environmental management and patrols.
These components allow for confirmation of a threat, can be linked to alarms and illicit a real time response, should perimeters or safe levels be breached.
CityWatch Security can assess your space and tailor both access controls and monitoring solutions to your site and budget. Where budget is of concern we can, where possible, also offer rental agreements or equipment upgrades.
What does physical security look like?
CityWatch offers cutting edge security ecosystems that keeps your employees, customers, and the public safe.
Simply put, our user-friendly systems:
- Deter criminals and mitigate risk
- Alert you to harmful environmental changes
- Contribute to reducing accidents
- Help businesses comply with Australian standards and OH&S requirements
- Protect your people, equipment and data
- Allow businesses to continue delivering services without disruption
- Prevent unauthorised people accessing your staff, premises, information, or assets
- Encourage trust and confidence from people and organisations you work with
- Provide data and evidence for insurance assessors.
Physical security use deterrent capabilities and an immediate response to prevent damage, injuries and costs from blowing out when a threat affects your business.
The benefits to your business, customers and staff are numerous. You can learn more by engaging one of our experts to perform an assessment on your site.
Please call 03 9250 4000 or email info@citywatchsecurity.com.au
SAFEGUARDING OUR SCHOOLS: THE IMPACT OF ACCESS CONTROL ON SECURITY IN AUSTRALIAN EDUCATION
Navigating the Mobile Frontier: Duty of Care in Mobile Technology Security
Elevating Security: SEVEN Easy Steps to an Upgraded Video Surveillance System
Securing the Future: Enhancing School Security with Cloud-Based Systems
In 2023 CityWatch Security faced a number of issues including: vaping as a fire hazard and a risk to school safety; compromised camera systems due to unsecured, overseas based cloud storage and; the use of cameras in privacy-sensitive areas. Our team faced these issues head on, offering sophisticated yet user-friendly solutions (including a locally-based cloud system) to over 180 sites across Australia. In this final week of 2023, we look toward 2024 and anticipate five challenges it will bring us; 1. Remote Workforce: More and more employees are working from home or in hybrid roles. Remote work leads to access governance, threat detection and response protocols needing to work even harder, to account for remote anomalies. These include browser-based context and storage. With remote work cyber security risks can become more difficult to identify, with the added roadblock that employees may find themselves waiting for access so they can continue their work. 2. Mobile Device Security: The importance of mobile security and education within business has reached unprecedented levels. Mobile devices, either corporate owned or as part of a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) strategy, can present a vulnerable access point that is often-overlooked or discounted. It is crucial to implement effective security controls and provide comprehensive education to end-users regarding potential threats. As technology rises to meet contemporary challenges, the mobile era should introduce a new security paradigm designed to tackle existing threats. 3. More Sophisticated Phishing: The utilisation of generative AI tools, like ChatGPT, allows online attackers to adopt more intelligent and personalised strategies. We expect to see a surge in the prevalence of things such as deepfake attacks, making it far more difficult to tell when an interaction is legitimate. Addressing this challenge will primarily involve fostering organisation-wide awareness and education. Additionally, the role of AI and implementation of a zero-trust approach are anticipated to play an increasingly significant role in the response to these threats. 4. Less Than Zero Trust: Zero Trust is a concept that emphasises the need for continuous verification; it works on the basis that no activity can be assumed to be legitimate without a multifaceted verification system. In 2024, we expect Zero Trust interactions to evolve from a purely technical model to a more comprehensive approach, backed by continuous AI-powered real-time authentication and activity monitoring. At some point it will mitigate risks presented by remote workers and external organisations. The logistics of Zero Trust will continue to change as systems grow in complexity. 5. Posture Checks/Management: The cybersecurity equivalent of a medical for digital assets, digital asset collections, and entire businesses; Posture Management’s primary objective is to identify and address negative outcomes before they escalate into significant issues. A review of systems and controls safeguarding digital assets, can help ensure the optimal health and security of their digital infrastructure. This process generally starts with the discovery and inventory of these assets. These challenges may be too much to think about with the holiday period coming up. But we would advise tackling them head on in the new year, as you resolve to secure your business, staff and assets. Give us a call on 03 9250 4000 . CityWatch’s HQ returns to the office on January 2 nd .
CityWatch Guard Profile: Les B
site Security for tradespeople
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics in 2017-18, 563 600 people (4.2 per cent of working people in Australia), suffered a work-related injury or illness. Sixty per cent of these resulted in an employee taking some time off work, while 27 per cent of injured parties received workers’ compensation. Gaps in procedure, a lack of PPE/infrastructure and exposure to hazards can lead to harm. Such situations put staff out of action, with employers facing worker’s compensation claims, low morale and a loss of reputation. A majority of costs related to workplace incidents were accounted for indirectly, in ways such as lost productivity, loss of income, an overall effect on the workplace community and quality of life.
Martha Cove Guard Natasha M making sure her paperwork is up-to-date.
We dedicate this April’s blog to Stress Awareness Month and what CityWatch, as a company, do to ensure our staff are incentivised and supported. The 2023 theme for Stress Awareness Month is Anxiety. WorkSafe Victoria states that “Work-related stress describes an employee's stress response to work-related factors”. As a company compliant to the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 (OHS Act) CityWatch strives to provide and maintain a safe, supportive working environment that reduces health risks. CityWatch’s management consult with our employees to identify hazards and risks associated with work-related stress, thus identifying where we can reduce anxiety. Collecting data through our reporting system, we address matters that directly affect or are likely to affect the health and safety of our employees. Why we believe it is essential to be aware of stress As a company CityWatch encourages motivation and professionalism in our staff. This can only occur when our employees feel not only appreciated, but also capable and safe. As an employer we attempt to offer a workplace with a progressive, empathetic and constructive approach to mental health. This means being aware of and open to addressing situations/providing support, particularly where stress levels can potentially blow out. CityWatch is aware that ongoing stress affects performance, well-being, confidence and motivation in a negative way. If not resolved, stress can lead to out of character changes that may affect the quality of our team’s work. The behavioural impacts of stress can manifest in: a decrease in concentration/attention to detail diminished performance impulsive decisions a marked increase in substance consumption difficulty in decision-making unpredictable mood swings and irritability absenteeism damaged relationships and conflict Physical impacts may include: headaches tiredness slower reaction times lowered immune defences increased accidents and injuries Stress can exacerbate psychological conditions such as: anxiety and depression Situations that may cause stress Factors that contribute to work-related stress can be organisational and environmental; such as a lack of role clarity, ineffective/time consuming procedures, inconsistent application of procedures, bias in the workplace, a lack of support from management, overwork and uncomfortable working conditions – heat, a lack of air quality and loud noise over long working hours. How CityWatch recognises and addresses stress in the workplace
BROWSE OUR WEBSITE
CONTACT INFORMATION
Office Number: 03 9250 4000
Email: sales@citywatchsecurity.com.au
Address: Level 1 225 Brunswick Road, Brunswick VIC 3056
Hours of Operation:
Headquarters
MON – FRI 8:00AM – 5:30PM
SAT – SUN CLOSED
Control Room: Open 24/7
After Hours number: 1300 665 300
OUR LOCATION
Licensed by ASIAL (Australian Security Industry Association Limited) in every state by the state
ISO Environmental Quality Compliance 14001:2015 | ISO Quality Assurance Compliance 45001:2018 | ISO Integrated Quality Management Systems Certification 9001:2015