Christmas represents a happy time of the year, where family and friends get together and spirits are high all around. However, if you’re a property owner or manager with multiple tenants, don’t let that bring you into a false sense of security.

While Christmas can be one of the most joyous times of the year and a time to celebrate with those you love, criminals are known to take advantage of businesses throughout the festive months. 

The holiday season is fast approaching which means many professional businesses are getting ready for reduced office hours and time off.

Whether you run a small business, a law firm, an accountant practice, or a general business operation, your business is vulnerable to crime, especially at this time of year when employees are away and you have closed up shop for some well-deserved time with friends and family. 

Businesses of all sizes and types are at risk of being targeted for a crime. Whether you run a small business, a law firm, an accountant practice, or a general business operation, your business is vulnerable on a variety of fronts.

Criminals looking for cash, information or computer equipment aren’t the only threat. Employee theft, vandalism, and trespassing are also growing issues.

That’s why your office needs to take the right measures to protect the company, and the best way to start is by conducting a risk assessment.

Risk assessments help you identify areas in and around your business that provide an opportunity for crime. A Risk Assessment Checklist or Questionnaire is the best way get started.

Here are 5 areas you’ll want to look into when you conduct a Risk Assessment.

Monitored and verified CCTV / video security systems ensure your business is protected. Anytime you're not watching, criminals will seize the chance to act.

CCTV surveillance can be used to protect companies in a number of industries. Surveillance doesn’t just mean installing a CCTV camera. The system needs to be monitored and alarms verified, otherwise a CCTV camera is just a recording device.

Here are 8 businesses that can benefit greatly from the use of monitored and verified CCTV and video security systems.

If your business is vulnerable to break-ins, theft, vandalism, fire or other threats, security should be top of mind. Unprotected or poorly protected businesses are at high risk, and business owners need an integrated, high-quality security system like Sonitrol's to effectively ward off criminals and protect their assets.

Security systems aside for the moment, there are other things that you can do to make your building less welcoming to intruders and criminals. By making it clear to the criminals that your business, whether it's an office, store or warehouse, is not an easy target, you can further deter them.

When an employee misplaces their key to your business, it should never be taken lightly. A lost key not only puts your business at greater risk for trespassing, vandalism, and theft, it can also put your employees at risk if they are at the office when a criminal gains access. 

That's why it's critical that misplaced keys are reported immediately and that access to the affected areas be changed - the longer you wait, the longer you risk that someone will use the key.

Business owners are right to be concerned about the security of their facility and property. Businesses are the number one targets for crime. The National Burglar and Fire Alarm Association estimates that property crime averages 75% of all crime committed. 

It's true that some types of commercial enterprises are more attractive to thieves because of what they sell or inventory - medical marijuana, jewelry, electronics, to name a few, but even if you aren't in high-end retail, don't be fooled into thinking you are safe. Thieves break into constructions sites, tire warehouses, fenced compounds, and even ordinary business offices, to steal information like employee data for identify theft.