Daylight Saving Time has ended, and the darker evenings have already arrived. With the clocks turning back on Sunday, November 2, we gain an extra hour of sleep but also entered a season with increased security risks. Earlier sunsets give criminals more cover, making it critical to double-check your safeguards and keep your systems in sync.
At the most basic level, the old “Fall back” saying means that it gets dark and light an hour earlier. Since criminals prefer to operate in the dark, organizations should take this into consideration. They should also know that when the clocks turn back, their security surveillance equipment will fall out of sync if it also is not turned back. Specifically, they should:
- Optimize video surveillance hours – Now that nights come sooner, confirm your surveillance schedules match current high-risk times. Adjust settings manually or contact your video surveillance partner to ensure full coverage during the longer dark hours.
- Keep video systems in sync – If video systems are out of sync with the actual time, they can create improperly time-stamped video that can be thrown out as evidence in court. Keeping video surveillance systems set to the proper time can prevent this from happening.
- Adjust lighting times – Most security lighting automatically turns on and off at predetermined times. Similar to surveillance video, lights should be timed appropriately, so they are on when it is dark and off at other times. This is also the perfect time to do a complete checkup of all your on-site illumination—we’ve got you covered with our Illumination Checklist.
- Perimeter security checkup – In addition to making security adjustments driven by the time change, now is a good time to check your entire security perimeter. Make sure security fences and gates are maintained properly. Also, make sure all your locks, both inside and around your business, are in good working order. And make sure that your security policies are up to date, so if something happens, you have it to point to as standard operating procedure.
While the sun’s rise and set times shift daily, the end of Daylight Savings Time is one of the few moments each year when a simple adjustment can make a major difference. By acting now, you can keep your property safer and your systems running smoothly throughout the winter months.
