In today’s fast-paced business world, it’s not uncommon for companies to have unexpected visitors show up at their offices. From delivery personnel to contractors, to even potential new clients, how strong is your security regarding unexpected visitors?
In this blog post, we are going to examine some infamous security breaches caused by unwanted visitors over the years. We’ll then discuss how a robust visitor management system can assist you in preventing your organisation from falling foul to unexpected visitors.
Infamous security breaches involving unexpected visitors
With true crime documentaries all the rage these days, let’s visit a couple of the most notorious security lapses enabled by improper visitor protocols.
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum theft in Boston
In 1990, a collection of 13 works of art were stolen from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston and to this day have still not been recovered.
At 1.24 am on the 18th March, 1990, two men falsely identifying as police officers walked into the museum where they later overpowered two security officers and then proceeded to remove a variety of treasured artworks, one collection is estimated to be worth $500 million today.
It is said that, at the time, the museum was seen as a sitting duck for a heist as the lax security measures were well known within the criminal world.
Twin Towers tightrope walk in New York
In the early hours of the 7th August 1974, daredevil Philippe Petit caught the attention of many a New Yorker when they gazed up and saw him wire-walking between the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center.
Though meticulously planned by Petit, the audacious high-wire act caught building staff and NYPD completely by surprise and the police later arrested him for this security breach.
As part of his plan, he created fake ID cards for himself and his accomplices, however, he found that after he received an injury during one of his scouting missions he didn’t require any identification as no one asked any questions of a man on crutches and he bypassed security easily.
While charges were eventually dropped, the incident exposed glaring holes in the World Trade Center’s visitor screening protocols.
What can be learned from these infamous unexpected visitor security stories?
While you may not house priceless art or an iconic landmark, these cautionary tales underscore the risks that improper visitor management poses to businesses of any size.
As a business you have both physical and digital assets which are at risk and one of these risks stems from unexpected visitor security. Organisations must control access to their physical premises by identifying and tracking everyone who enters.
How to improve your workplace from unexpected visitors security
Implementing a comprehensive visitor management system and process is a must for any organisation to secure its environment. Granted, it may not stop a top criminal mastermind from entering your premises but it will add that extra layer of security to help you monitor and control your office traffic on a day-to-day basis.
Ensuring all visitors check in at the reception through a visitor sign-in system allows you to track who is in your building in real time and what access they have, as well as creating an auditable entry log for emergencies.
Having the right policies and security measures in place can make all the difference in ensuring safety and establishing a strong security presence for the smooth operation of your business.
Are you looking for a visitor management system to process your visitors?
With VisiPoint’s visitor sign-in system, you can:
- Provide a safer environment for all visitors, staff and contractors
- View live reports of who is signed in and out of your premises
- Get photo ID badges printed automatically
- Give visitors a great first impression
Contact our expert team today and we’ll help provide you with a sleek and modern visitor sign-in system to help protect your assets, people and reputation from unexpected visitors.
