Running a restaurant takes more than great food and friendly service, it also takes knowing how to protect your property, your employees, and your customers with the best restaurant security system. From cash handling and alcohol storage to late-night hours and high staff turnover, restaurants face unique security challenges. Having the right security system is critical to keeping everything running smoothly.
So how do you choose the best system for your restaurant? We recommend a comprehensive restaurant security system that covers all your bases. Here are the five most important things to look for when choosing a security system:
Video Surveillance
Restaurants see constant foot traffic between customers, staff, vendors, and delivery drivers. Having eyes on your property at all times helps prevent theft, resolve disputes, and protect against liability claims.
In addition to protecting your business, video surveillance also protects your customers and employees. Having security cameras in places like parking lots and service entrances is critical to ensuring the safety of staff and customers, especially at night.
- Install cameras in high-risk areas: cash registers, stock rooms, entrances, exits, parking lots, and the bar.
- Choose a system with cloud storage so footage is secure and accessible even if the equipment is damaged or stolen.
- Opt for high-resolution cameras with low-light capability for clear nighttime images.
Access Control for Employees
Not every staff member needs access to every area, and managing keys can be a real hassle for both you and your staff. Having access control as part of your restaurant security system allows you to restrict certain areas and designate who has access to sensitive spaces like offices, liquor storage, or back doors. There are a lot of types of access control systems so you can use the one best suited for your needs.
If your restaurant deals with high turnover, access cards are easily cleared and reset when an employee leaves.
Benefits of an access control system:
- Key cards, fobs, or mobile credentials reduce the risk of lost keys.
- Track who enters restricted areas and when, helping you manage accountability.
- Easily update permissions as your staff changes.
Security Alarms
Restaurants often close late at night and sit empty until the next morning, making them a target for break-ins. A security alarm system adds an extra layer of protection for your business.
A commercial alarm system should have door and window sensors to alert you to unauthorized entry, glass-break detection, fire alarms, and a motion-detection system that will trigger an alarm during off hours when motion is detected.
Many alarm systems will offer 24/7 monitoring as well. However, it’s important to note that round-the-clock monitoring is not the same as someone physically watching/monitoring your property 24 hours a day.
How 24/7 monitoring works is when an alarm is triggered on your property, the system sends a notification to the central monitoring center where a trained operator will receive the alert and assess the situation and contact the correct authorities (police for a burglary, fire department for a fire, etc.)
Benefits of central monitoring as part of your comprehensive restaurant security system:
- 24/7 coverage
- Faster emergency response times
- Comprehensive protection against various threats
- Crime deterrent
- Potential insurance savings
Fire and Safety Systems
Kitchen hazards are one of the biggest risks in the restaurant industry. Hot stoves, ovens, deep fryers, grease…it’s the perfect recipe for disaster. According to FEMA, more than 5,900 restaurant building fires are reported to US fire departments every year, causing around $172 million dollars in damages.
Nearly half of those fires (43%) are cooking fires, typically small fires contained to a container, like a pan or the stove or example, but any type of uncontrolled fire can quickly get out of hand. A reliable fire alarm is critical for protecting lives and property. In fact, your restaurant could potentially face citations and fines for not having a properly installed fire alarm system. Building codes and occupancy requirements vary, so it’s always best to check with your local fire department or building code office.
A good fire and safety system for a restaurant is one that includes smoke detectors, heat sensors, and kitchen hood systems all connected to a centrally monitored alarm system. You will also need pull stations to manually trigger the fire alarm and the alarm itself that will flash and sound to indicate a fire.
Regular inspections and maintenance are important for the health and safety of your staff and patrons, and to ensure you meet local fire code.
Scalability and Integration for Your Restaurant Security System
Scalability is just as important in terms of your restaurant security system as it is to your business. If your restaurant quickly expands from one location to several across the state, is your security system going to be able to keep up with what is happening at each location?
Or maybe you already own two or three sites, and your business quickly expands its footprint to 10 or 15 locations. You want all sites running the same system and able to communicate with each other so you can manage it from one platform, anywhere in the world.
Choosing a scalable, integrated system from the start saves time and money later.
Look for solutions that:
- Allow you to monitor multiple locations from one platform.
- Integrate video, intrusion, access control, and fire systems for a complete security ecosystem.
- Ensure mobile access so you can check in anytime, anywhere.
Choosing the Right Partner Matters
Technology is important, but the provider behind the restaurant security system makes all the difference. Work with a security company that understands the restaurant industry, provides 24/7 support, and offers professional installation and maintenance.
At Wellington Security Systems, we design customized restaurant security systems of all sizes. Whether you’re protecting one location or a chain, our goal is to keep your staff, customers, and business safe so you can focus on what you do best. Wellington Security Systems is a trusted commercial security systems partner serving customers in and around the Twin Cities metro for over 40 years, specializing in burglary systems, access control, surveillance cameras, and fire alarms.
Ready to secure your restaurant? Contact us today for a free consultation.