News

Document Storage with professional Sector Security

As an experienced provider of security solutions for private commercial, industrial and public sector enterprises, leading North West company Sector Security has extended its operations to include secure and confidential document storage facilities in Preston.

All businesses need to store archive documents in a secure environment that is properly managed to ensure easy and quick access as required, be it personnel details, legal documents or accounts, etc. This maybe for future internal reference or to comply with government regulations, which stipulate that companies must keep documented records for a minimum of six years.

The resulting problem is that archiving and document storage seems to take up more and more valuable office space and staff time in managing the filing system. Anyone looking for a solution can either consider renting a

lock-up facility or look to source and invest in new bigger premises, which carries the burden of much high costs.

Sector Security’s new ‘Document Storage Services’ provides a cost effective alternative to maintaining years of stored business documentation in-house. Whether you need to store just a few archive boxes or hundreds, it can provide a professional, confidential and secure off-site document storage service that releases valuable space and staff for more profitable uses, whilst ensuring easy and managed access to document archives. 

Experience provides secure storage

Approved to the highest level with an accredited Gold Award by the NSI (National Security Inspectorate), Sector Security has researched and develped the new document storage service to the same impeccable standards. Documents are archived and stored in secure premises that are protected by intruder & smoke detection systems and are under the constant security vigilance of highly trained security officers, supported by internal & external CCTV’s. During twilight hours manned patrol units continue to monitor and protect the premises and contents.

Sector Security provide for supervised 24/7 document access and can offer a full cataloguing and archive boxing service if required, providing a database to aid in identifying and retrieval of documents. Alternatively, Sector Security can supply clients, strong and durable archive boxes with security tagging to ensure complete privacy, to be collected by its own trained, licensed Security Officers.

Document retrieval service is easy, simply inform of the archive box number or file name, address for delivery and contact name and Sector Security do the rest. Alternatively, if customers wish to view records onsite, there is free use of a heated private and furnished office area.

Secure Document Destruction

As part of the service and to avoid double handling, Sector Security offers clients a secure and confidential shredding service to dispose of documents in accordance with the Current Data Protection Act. Holding documents beyond their required retention period incurs unnecessary storage costs and reduces the risk and potential fines if non-compliant in destruction of sensitive materials. A ‘Certificate of Destruction’ can be supplied on request.

Commercial Director, Dirk Wilson reported, “Sector Security work very closely with all their clients to provide professional security solutions to individual business requirements. As a result of recent news covering loss of personal and confidential document details, this highlighted the need for a more professional approach to archiving and storing of documents. Also in developing our business and responding to customer enquiries, this was certainly feasible, complementary and dovetailed with our experience and security services.

Customers can cost effectively archive and store documents, free up expensive internal office space and relieve staff from tedious and time consuming filing duties, in the knowledge that all items are securely stored and monitored. Since having launched this document storage service in the last month, we have received quite a few interested enquiries and it looks promising for the future.”

"Security Service cuts could result in companies nullifying insurance cover",
claims Dirk Wilson, Commercial Director, Sector Security Services Ltd.

The need for companies to maintain vigilance and security

With unemployment rising into the millions to reach an 11-year high, Government Ministers have linked the economic downturn and the economic squeeze on families during the global financial crisis with a likely increase in so-called "acquisitive crime".

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith made the warning in a memo to Prime Minister Gordon Brown, leaked last autumn, which warned of potentially sharp rises in burglary and violence. In it she wrote: "Our modelling indicates that an economic downturn would place significant upward pressure on acquisitive crime and therefore overall crime figures."
There is undoubtedly a correlation between burglaries and recession, but also in tough economic times many industrial and commercial organisations are looking at cost saving exercises right across the board, from man-

power, energy use and even security. But with the highlighted government facts, there is an even greater need for vigilance and security measures toreduce your chance of becoming a property crime victim.  Now is a good time for you to review your security, but you must be sure you are fully protected.

Says Dirk Wilson, ‘Where companies have never experienced the consequences of a forced entry into property, there is  a danger that they will under estimate the full implications of a break-in and how it can affect the running of a business with loss of property, willful damage to equipment or even  fire. Add to this, the risk of possible fatalities, employers must accept their responsibility by ensuring adequate security and fire protection. Businesses are prime targets of property crime, which costs companies millions of pounds every year with the financial consequences quite devastating and from which many businesses never fully recover. It is therefore clear that at this time any cuts in security services may prove to be misguided. It may however be worth reviewing your current provision and alternative routes to achieve the same or even higher security coverage.’

Protecting Your Business, Personnel and Property

A robust and stable security framework should protect core business activities, personnel and properties, which in turn works toward maintaining productivity and performance. However, as many companies lack a qualified full-time Director of Security, security decisions may be taken without qualified understanding of up to date security options. In an attempt to reduce expenditure cuts in security services may appear to be prudent but in doing so, a knee jerk reaction followed by random cut backs may leave your premises and property vulnerable and company in violation of lease or insurance agreements that could put you out of business.

CASE STUDY

Light/Medium Haulage Company in Preston had a Sector Security Officer on site, in a guard hut and making patrols around the vehicle storage yard throughout the night. To make cost savings the company cut the service, leaving no guard on duty. They firmly believed that ‘as they had never had any trouble’ they would remain safe and secure.

Unfortunately within 2 weeks of this happening a group of youths had broken into the yard and caused £20,000 worth of damage to vehicles.

The haulier operated a fleet of articulated wagons with curtain sides and these were targeted. The youths trying to gain entry to the vehicle loads slashed the curtain sides of the vehicles. The vehicles were actually empty at the time so nothing was stolen.

The haulage company not only had to pay to repair the wagons but also had the added expense of hiring vehicles and contractors to handle their deliveries whilst their own vehicles were out of action.
The manned guarding service was reinstated immediately!

With this in mind now may be a good time for you to review your security, but you must be sure you are fully protected. A solution could be to place all of the company’s security functions with a trusted and reputable third party security provider. They will use their expertise to audit your current security provision and requirements and make recommendations on cost effective options to keep you protected.

Outsourcing security management

By contacting a security company that can offer a portfolio of security options including CCTV monitoring, manned guarding, mobile patrol guards and emergency response you can also ensure you have the widest choice of services and the most appropriate security service to meet your needs at the most affordable cost.

NSI (National Security Inspectorate) approved companies can install and maintain your systems in accordance with the required industry standards, police, fire service and insurance company requirements to reduce the risks and keep insurance premiums at a minimum. They will be able to offer a range of options that may cut your expenditure without reducing you cover or offer the best security solution to meet your budget.

‘With over 15 years experience working with a range of small, medium and large companies Sector Security  have developed a range of complimentary services that can be used together to protect your business at a price you can afford. Our expert security auditors are trained to look at every alternative security service provision and may, for example, suggest replacement of manned guarding services with CCTV monitoring to help you keep costs down or increased mobile patrols at more vulnerable times to replace 24 hour manned guarding – whatever is best to keep your business safe and secure.’ Says Dirk Wilson.

From Northern offices strategically located in Preston, Manchester and Leeds Sector Security is able to provide exceptional levels of service for regional companies. With control centres manned around the clock, 365 days of the year, the latest innovative technology and highly trained, fully checked security officers, Sector Security meet the demands of a challenging environment, whatever your business.