Tonight the trick or treaters will be out in force celebrating Halloween, and while this is a time for fun and fright, it's important to keep your home safe and free from pranksters! Here are a few ways you can protect your home from misbehaving monsters tonight...

Jack-O-Lanterns & Lights

While the friendly (or fearsome) faces of jack-o'-lanterns will let people know you're celebrating Halloween, you should also want to consider leaving your porch lights on for a few hours. Alternatively, fit your home with a motion sensor light that will automatically illuminate as passers-by head towards your home. Illuminating your home will deter unwanted visitors and vandals while also making it much easier to spot someone acting suspiciously!

Go for the Garage

Cars are such an easy target on Halloween, so, if you can, we recommend parking your car somewhere secure and out of sight. A garage or even a well-lit area can prevent you from waking up to a nasty new paint job courtesy of pranksters and their spray paint! Consider moving your car to a neighbour's driveway or garage if you don't have one yourself.

Opt for Flameless Candles

With so many people walking around your home, it's very likely that one of your pumpkins could be knocked or kicked over. When you use real candles, there's a possibility of a fire! Why not choose flameless candles instead? They will keep your home safe without putting a dampener on your devilish decorations!

Snap Some Shots

Before the sun sets, take some pictures around your home. this will help you prove if any vandals have de-faced your home in the morning! Better yet, use your CCTV system to keep a close eye on the events of the evening. You can kick back, relax and watch a scary movie in peace knowing that your property is safe and secure!

If you want any more advice about keeping your home safe tonight, or if you want to improve your home security for the future, give our advisors a call on 029 20 753 251.

On Sunday 27th October the clocks go back, which means it's time to update your home security routine. When the dark nights draw in, there's often an influx of house robberies and car thefts as criminals take advantage of the earlier dusk.

Securing your possessions is of utmost importance at this time of year. Many of us are starting our Christmas shopping, and nothing screams 'easy target' to a criminal more than the brand new PlayStation you've haphazardly left in the boot of your car. Taking a little extra time to make sure your home and vehicles aren't vulnerable can make all the difference, but this isn't the only step you should take. Let's dive into some other important precautions...

Light it Up

A great way to give the illusion that someone is home is by leaving a couple of lights on around the house. Worried about your energy bills? Try plugging your lamps into timer switches or switch to energy-efficient bulbs.

Similarly, pick a parking spot that's in a well-lit area rather than parking your car in the shadows. Burglars are far more likely to target cars in secluded side streets! You could even add external lighting to your home or driveway to keep these areas safe and sound. 

Lock and Check

Make sure easily accessible windows, doors and gates are locked before you head out. Taking five minutes to whip around your house and garden to double-check everything is secure will save you days of stress and heartache when you come home to a house that's been ravaged by burglars. 

Keep an Eye

For an added layer of security, why not consider adding CCTV inside or outside your home? Speak to our advisors about adding CCTV that can be remotely accessed from your mobile phone wherever you are. Even if you're working late one night or visiting a Christmas market, you'll be able to keep a close eye on your home & belongings! 

Intruder Alert!!

A great alternative to a CCTV camera is an intruder alarm. We offer intruder alarms with 24/7 monitoring packages, so if someone did attempt a break-in, we'd be on the case immediately. Concerned the police wouldn't get there in time? We use the latest digital signalling equipment to make sure the relevant emergency service units are contacted automatically if an incident was to occur. 

If you'd like to speak to a member of the IDS team about improving your home security before winter truly takes hold, get in touch! 

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Access control systems are an exemplary electronic means of restricting access to your property, be it commercial or residential. Whether you own an office and want to keep better tabs on your employees' activities, or a homeowner who's sick of the neighbour popping in for a cuppa unannounced, an access control system will be your new best friend! Let's dive straight into the 5 most notable benefits of access control systems:

1. Hard to Duplicate 

If you have a disgruntled employee (or a bitter ex), it's possible that they could duplicate your key to gain access to your property.

Rather than changing the locks, you can simply change the passcode, remove the person's biometric data and deactivate any lost/stolen keycards or fobs remotely. 

2. Multi-Location Access

For businesses like schools, offices and hospitals, access control systems allow access at multiple entrances with a single keycard or fob, meaning employees don't need to carry a huge bunch of keys.

The same applies to your home, why have a front door key, a back door key and a conservatory key when you could have an access control system to secure them all.

3. Increased Protection

If you have valuable items in your home or business, access control systems offer far better protection than standard doors.

On the off chance that someone with authorised access decides to take advantage of the access control system, you'll be able to determine exactly who it was by logging into the access control network.

If you want to add yet another layer of protection, why not add a CCTV system too?

4. Simplify the in-&-out system

Without an access control system, it can be complicated to manage the comings and goings of employees who work irregular hours, for example, night shifts.

Rather than doors needing to be manually locked and unlocked as employees come and go, one benefit of access control systems is that they offer a 'unlock only when necessary' scenario. Employees can gain access quickly and the doors will lock automatically behind them. 

This could also be incredibly handy if your youngsters come to and from the house during unsociable hours, and can't be trusted to lock the door behind them!

5. Record Entry & Exit Data

The final benefit of access control systems is that you can accurately record entry and exit data.

The moment that someone uses their keycard or fob to enter the building, the date, time and location are recorded. This data can provide invaluable insights into the behaviour of your employees.

For example, is there one person who always shows up late, is there one person who's working later into the night than they should be - and so on. 

If you think that your property could benefit from an access control system then don't hesitate to get in touch with a member of the IDS team! 

When it comes to door entry systems there is no hard and fast answer about which is the 'best' one out there. The best door entry system for you depends on the why and where you plan to install it. Here are a few things to bear in mind if you're trying to decide which door entry system is the best for you.

Location

Commercial - If you're a business owner there are a few things to consider when you choose a door entry system:

• Which door entry system will be most efficient for your employees?
• Which system will provide the desired level of security commercial property?
• Which locations need to be secured around the premises?

Residential - A homeowner's worst nightmare is burglary or theft. Here's what you should consider before choosing the best door entry system for your home:

• How many people will be using it?
• What level of security do you prefer for your home?
• How much do you want to spend?

Best types of door entry system

Once you've considered the answers to the above questions, it's time to decide what type of door entry system is best for you! Let's take a look at some of the door entry systems we offer and explore why they might be the best for your property...

Key Fob Security Systems

• One of the simpler door entry systems on the market, key fob security systems are easy for everyone to use. You'll often find key fob door entry systems outside blocks of flats, although they can be useful when employees need to pop in and out of the office frequently too.

Video Door Entry System

• Ideal for monitoring your property while you're away, our video door entry systems are the best for residential properties. You can see who's ringing your doorbell without having to answer the door, and you can keep a close eye on people behaving suspiciously.

Security Barriers

• Security barriers are a physical blockade between your property and the outside world. Generally, this might be considered a bit of a strange choice for a residential property where most people would install a gate or fence.  Security barriers work wonders in private car parks, making them the best door entry system for commercial properties. 

Do you need more help choosing the best door entry system for your property? Speak to one of our advisors today, we're more than happy to help. Call us on 029 20 753 251 now.

Keeping your eyes on all aspects of your business is the best way to keep things ticking over smoothly.

It's undeniable that installing CCTV cameras in any space instantly improves security and reduces the likelihood of illegal activities and vandalism. This, understandably, makes CCTV systems an appealing option for workspaces and offices, where business owners and managers need to keep their property safe. Besides the obvious security benefits, office CCTV systems also allow employers to monitor the productivity of staff.

External Office CCTV Systems

Installing CCTV cameras around the perimeter of your office is a sure-fire way to protect your property. The camera itself will act as a deterrent to anyone who is considering trespassing on your property, vandalising it, or committing any other illegal activities. There are few people who would be brave enough to commit a crime in full view of watchful eyes! 

Besides preventing criminal activities, external office security systems can be used to observe the people using the office car park, as well as clients and other members of the public entering and leaving the premises. This keeps your visitors and your employees safe at work. 

Internal Office CCTV Systems

If you are a business owner who is often away from the office, installing CCTV cameras for the office is a great way to keep your eye on what goes on behind closed doors! You can observe how well your employees are managing their time, whether they are working efficiently, and you can keep a record of office behaviour in case any office disputes occur.

Of course, if you want to install CCTV cameras in the office, you will need to notify your employees that they will be recorded. You can read more about data protection and using CCTV inside your business premises here. 

How Can We Help?

Here at IDS Security, we supply a huge range of security systems for your business, including CCTV cameras that can be used inside or outside. We use state-of-the-art technology to provide the best security solution for you! Our installers can asses your requirements and help you choose an office CCTV system that works exactly how you want it to. 

Want to find out more? Get in touch with our friendly team to discuss an assessment of your business premises. Call us on 029 20 753 251 - we look forward to hearing from you.

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