Welcome to the First Column IT Tech Blog

HomeBlog
Why Physical Security Matters for Your Business

Why Physical Security Matters for Your Business

April 18, 2025

Are you making security a priority for your business? While it’s one thing to protect your network, it’s another to protect your business’ physical location. If you don’t implement processes and solutions to secure your office, you might be in a position where someone could steal equipment, data, or worse. Here are some ways to prioritize physical security for your business, too.

Surveillance Cameras

With modern surveillance cameras, you get away from the older cameras with grainy, low-resolution visuals. Smart cameras nowadays can detect motion, see in the dark, store your videos in the cloud, and use AI for facial recognition. Depending on the solution, you can use a smartphone app to monitor in real time.

Access Control

Your typical keys are easy to misplace, which makes access control systems a much more secure solution. You can use key cards, biometric scanners, or smartphone-based entry solutions to allow access for approved individuals and keep others out. These systems can be programmed so that you can grant or revoke access at any time, even temporarily.

Smart Alerts

You’ll be relieved to learn that today’s alarms can do more than scare off intruders with a noise. They can send you notifications regarding trespassers, or they can send notifications to your monitoring service who can then contact the appropriate authorities. Some businesses use their surveillance systems in coordination with access control systems for better overall security.

Smart Locks

Smart locks can help businesses implement more layers of security without using physical keys, which is valuable in its own right. For example, you might use PIN codes, fingerprints, or Bluetooth access. Businesses can track entry logs, remove access, and receive notifications if anything shady is happening with the lock.

Environmental Sensors

Sensors can also help you detect environmental threats, like smoke, carbon monoxide, water leaks, or wild temperature changes. This enables you to identify disastrous working conditions and scenarios that can be avoided. The big benefit of these systems is they can send you real-time alerts so you can take action as soon as possible.

GPS Tracking

If your business uses equipment and company vehicles, GPS tracking can be a helpful technology to consider. These small GPS trackers can be attached to items of value so you can track their location.

First Column IT can help your business implement any of the above technology. To learn more about physical security and how we can help you build your strategy, give us a call at (571) 470-5594.

Previous Post
January 27, 2026
From Pay-As-You-Go to Paying Too Much
When businesses first migrate to the cloud, the promise is almost always the same: limitless scalability, faster innovation, and lower upfront costs. Unfortunately, that pay-as-you-go dream can quickly turn into a pay-more-than-you-thought nightmare. Recent industry data suggests that organizations typically overspend by 25-to-35 percent on their cloud resources. Without visibility, you aren’t just paying for what you use; you’re paying for what you forgot you were using.
January 23, 2026
The 5 Legacy IT Headaches Modern AI Solutions Have Finally Eliminated
Our primary goal is to carry the burden of technical risk so you can focus on your business’ growth. The nature of that risk has fundamentally shifted. In 2026, the ghosts in the machine that used to haunt office managers and CEOs have been largely exorcised by AI-driven automation and resilient cloud architecture.
January 21, 2026
Why Your Small Business is Not Too Small to be Hacked
For technology professionals, working with small businesses (SMBs) is often a balance of high-stakes problem-solving and strategic frustration. While technology has become more accessible, the gap between having the tools and using them correctly remains a primary point of contention. Let’s go through four considerations the IT pros are pressing as they enter 2026.

Have a project in mind?

Start with our free consultation for VA, DC and MD companies. We will provide a detailed proposal and firm quote based on your specific IT support needs. All at a predictable monthly cost per seat.
Free Consultation - Sign Up Here