However, when it comes to certain elements of security, owners may have questions. One of those is how often they should rekey their business. That’s the topic of today’s post.

Understanding Rekeying

Wait, rekeying? Is that even important? Before we get into the ideal frequency, you should first be aware of what rekeying entails. Basically, it involves the altering of internal components of a lock so that it can only be operated by a new key. This is different from replacing the entire lock mechanism and allows you to maintain existing hardware while upping your security level. 

Factors Influencing Rekeying Frequency

Each business situation is different, with factors like location and employee turnover having a big impact on the ideal rekeying frequency. Here are a few of the most common factors that you should consider when it comes to rekeying frequency:

• Employee turnover: does your business have an unusually high turnover rate? Many fast-food restaurants and retail establishments fall into this category. If employees come and go frequently at your business, you need to maintain control over who has access to your premises. Rekeying after a certain number of employees have moved on will ensure they can’t gain unauthorized entry to their former place of employment.
• Lost or stolen keys: if an employee loses their key or if a key is stolen, this is another time when it’s ideal to rekey, as it poses a significant security risk. Even if the key is recovered, there’s no way to guarantee that it hasn’t been duplicated during the time it was missing. 
• Security breaches: having a location in an area of town with higher crime rates is another reason to rekey more consistently. This is especially true if your business has had security breaches in the past. It’s important to reassess your security measures regularly and rekey often in these cases.
• Routine maintenance: you might also notice the need for rekeying during regular maintenance inspections. Even if you don’t have high employee turnover, lost keys or security breaches, there should still be a consistent schedule for rekeying.

Recommended Rekeying Schedule

While there’s no one-size-fits-all answer to how often you should rekey your business, a proactive approach to security is vital. Consider performing an annual assessment of your security protocols and include proactive measures for whenever there are employee changes or security incidents. As a rule of thumb, we recommend you rekey your business at least once or twice a year to prevent unwanted security issues.

Again, the frequency of rekeying your business depends on varying factors such as employee turnover, security incidents and routine maintenance. But if you stay proactive and vigilant, you can ensure that your business remains secure and protected. If you’re ready to have us assess your security situation or need for rekeying, contact A-1 Locksmith today.

Here are some door maintenance tips and how to identify signs of trouble.

Think Beyond the Door

You want to think about the door itself, sure, but when considering maintenance for your business’ doors, think about the areas around the doors as well. Is there any clutter or decorations getting in the way of the door when it opens or closes? Keep the area clear and consider installing bumpers if the door is hitting anything when opened. (This will also extend the life of both the doors and your building walls.)

Insulate and Seal

Factory insulations and seals wear down over time, so make sure they are replaced regularly, as wind and weather can wear down your door over time. If your doors are properly sealed, it will reduce energy costs and extend the life of the door. Furthermore, all other components on the door (such as hinges, locks and so forth) need to be properly lubricated and maintained.

Upgrade the Doors, If Necessary

Some doors are beyond maintenance and need to be replaced. Or, they were never good enough in the first place. Make sure you have a high-quality door so there is less maintenance involved and it better protects your business from weather and intruders. This is especially important for the access points of your business that are the most vulnerable (or receive the most traffic on a daily basis). 

Get A Professional’s Opinion

Finally, it’s a good idea to get a professional’s eye on your business’ doors on a regular basis. Scheduling regular professional door maintenance is the best option, but at the very least get your doors inspected on an annual basis to maintain compliance and identify any potential security issues. A professional commercial locksmith will be able to tell you which doors are good, which need to be tuned up, which need to be repaired and which need to be replaced.

If you’re interested in more ways to improve the security of your business, contact the team at A-1 Locksmith today.

What’s the right balance? How much of your business’ budget should you allocate for security? Let’s help you identify a recommended percentage and go over some allocation options.

The Ideal Percentage for Security Budgets

For starters, let’s look at how much of your budget should be allocated for expenses in general. While opinions on numbers vary, many financial publications recommend that “your expenses should be limited to no more than (about a third) of your total revenue.” Take that number and use it to break down your spending. Most companies spend about five percent of their funds on security—which includes cybersecurity.

There are lots of variables and unique security considerations for each business, of course, but five percent of your expenses budget is a good rule of thumb to follow for your security budget. If you don’t need cybersecurity, use all five percent for physical security upgrades. If you do need cybersecurity, make sure you’re accounting for physical security as well.

Ways to Improve Your Business’ Security

Some of your security costs will be upfront, like installing a surveillance system or smart locks. Others may be ongoing, like camera monitoring from a professional security company. Budget for the year and you’ll have a good idea for the annual and monthly costs your business can afford. Once you’ve landed on a number, you can begin making upgrades. 

Here are some commercial security options for you to consider:

• Unpickable locks
• Automated security systems
• Upgraded safes
• Master key systems
• Security cameras
• Access control systems
• Push and panic bars
• Lock rekeys and repairs

Finding the Right Commercial Security Company

Again, your budget needs are as unique as your business, so a professional consultation from a commercial security company will give you the clearest picture on how much you should allocate for security. Have you considered talking with a commercial locksmith? 

At A-1 Locksmith, we have years of experience installing, repairing, replacing and upgrading security features for businesses across the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. We have the reviews, professional partnerships, experience and customer service you need to have peace of mind about your business (and its budget).

If you have questions about your business’ security and are interested in the opinion of a commercial locksmith, call the team at A-1 Locksmith today.

The doors installed in a commercial setup require more than the reliable locking systems required for residential settings. As a professional Business Locksmith service, we can help ensure this high level of security to prevent any type of breaking-in by thieves or unwanted persons.

You would also require our Business Locksmith services to build your safes for storing valuable possessions including critical documents. Running a business can also mean lots of maintenance. Keys can get lost and locks can get jammed. And, only having a professional Business Locksmith will help in repairing these issues in the fastest possible way.

Our professial Business Locksmith team can also help in building sophisticated computerized locking systems for your business. These systems mean better control over your doors, windows and safes. However, these systems can encounter errors from time to time, and having long-term maintenance contracts with your Business Locksmith can help ensure that these security systems keep working properly.

Calling on our professional Business Locksmith services means that your business would be able to save time. Another reason you can call in for the regular services of a professional like us is when the keys wear out due to regular usage.

A good Business Locksmith can also make changes inside your magnetic locks to eliminate the lost key from being used by someone else. In such as case, the changes would enable you to use another set of keys for opening the locks. This means that our Business Locksmith team can prevent the need for replacing costly locking systems when the keys to your doors and safes are lost.

As a professional Business Locksmith, we can replace the lost keys, rekey the locks or reprogram the keyless systems. Imagine when an employee has left the job and used to have access to an important key to your office. This is an important situation when you need our Business Locksmith services to rekey the specific locks.

You can get our  services to professionally upgrade and install new locking systems to enhance your business security. You can also get our support to perform regular maintenance and repair works for your business’s locking systems. In addition, there are several other requirements that A-1 Locksmith DFW as your Business Locksmith company can address from time to time.

As a certified business locksmith service, we have the privilege of offering you more than just locks and keys. Today, we cater to an variety of customer needs. All of our products and services are related to the trade of business locksmith service. These will help you in reducing your staff pilferage, as well as enhance the security of your business premises. It will also give protection and confidence to your staff and customers, which in turn means better working conditions as well as profits. Hence, quite evidently our business locksmith service does offer you several advantages.

Sometimes businesses get their inventory stolen. Loss prevention is a serious measure. This is an area where our business locksmith services would be of optimum use to you and your company. Sometimes when employees resign or are fired, they may carelessly overlook the necessity of turning in their keys. Once this happens, it is difficult to predict just the number of duplicates possible. Imagine the cost if you were to hire a business locksmith service for changing the locks every time an employee leaves. It is hard and expensive, unless you have our business locksmith service help.

Now, should these keys come into the wrong hands, you would have a serious problem to deal with yourself. As the owner or organizer of a business, you should have a business locksmith service or an effective control mechanisms built into the system which controls as to who eventually has access to your more sensitive business areas. Ideally, a systematic record of all keys issued to a concerned employee should be strictly maintained. Our business locksmith expert service is what you need.  Check us out for security, access control, surveillance cameras, high security locks, panic bars, door handles and more. We’re your one-stop-shop for any business or commercial security services.

Oftentimes, cases of missing door keys or misplaced keys do arise in business. You may mistakenly lose your office door key.   A staff in your business empire may also misplace the key to the official vehicle.  Another staff may also lock up the   door keys inside the office.  There may even be a situation whereby the padlock or other door keys refuse to open.  In such situations, Business Locksmith services are required.

We offer all kinds of Business Locksmith at your beck and call.   We can help you unlock your business door in situations where the keys are locked inside the premises.  We also replace misplaced   car keys and office keys.  We offer quality security locks that can safeguard your business premises.   All you need is to make the right contact.

Again, we offer specialized Business Locksmith services such as emergency door lock out services,  re-key/master re-key services,  furniture lock services, file cabinet locks,  desk locks, access control systems,  leaver handle repair,  installation of new door keys and  lot more.  We also offer quality car key replacement for your official cars.  We can solve issues relating to car locks and misplaced car keys.

All the above Business Locksmith services are available whenever you want them.  We offer emergency locksmith services for business owners.  You can always call on us in any kind of emergency situation that may arise. Our services are available 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.

As a renowned locksmith firm, we’ve got well trained technicians who can handle    all kinds of business locksmith services you may need.  Our technicians are licensed to offer the best of services. You can always count on us anywhere anytime. You don’t need to entertain any fear about trusting our services. We’re always on ground to attend to your needs. Our services are second to none in the locksmith industry.  Your business will always be in top gear when you take advance of the efficient Business Locksmith services we offer.