Many CRE investors are reclassifying security from the “expense” column to the “investment” column on their balance sheets, and it’s easy to see why.
Good security pays for itself through:
- Lower insurance, proving to insurers that a building is low-risk. CRE assets with high-quality security amenities pay 5% to 15% less in insurance premiums than those that don’t.
- Higher rent, as tenants will pay more to feel safe. Approximately 86% of corporate tenants cite security as one of the top three factors they look at when choosing a new office or retail space.
- Property value, as a building with a high safety grade, is worth more when it comes time to sell.
But there is no single upgrade that solves everything when it comes to securing a commercial property.
You’re dealing with constant traffic — employees, tenants, vendors, and deliveries probably access the building all day, often using different entrances.
If some of your employees allow hybrid work, there’s added unpredictability in who shows up and when.
And to make matters even more complicated, tenants expect fast and smooth entry — and will be frustrated if visitors or deliveries get delayed — but they also want you to ensure their safety.
When was the last time you walked around your building as an outsider would?
If you haven’t done this in a while, it’s time to review your commercial property security setup. Ask:
- If something happened right now, could I trace it back to a specific person?
- Which access points are too accessible without any record of entry?
- Are there areas that are effectively unmonitored?
Unlike in a residential property, security in a commercial building can’t rely on static access rules.
You’re not just dealing with a fixed group of users with predictable routines — people are moving through the space at different times.
That’s why it’s important to upgrade your property with a building-wide access and activity tracking system.
Access control systems
Are you still relying on physical keys that can be lost or never returned? Then you’re adding a lot of risk, not to mention admin work.
Access control systems replace physical keys with mobile credentials, cards, fobs, or PINs.
They give you full control over who can enter specific doors, floors, and areas — and you can change those permissions instantly.
Did a tenant move out, or does a vendor no longer need access?
You don’t have to ask for the keys back. You can remove their access in seconds.
Video systems tied to access control
Cameras can show you someone walking through a space, but on their own, they can’t tell you who that person is or why they’re there.
To get context, you need to connect your cameras to your access systems.
This matches the video to specific entry events so you can find out exactly who entered and when, and what they did after.
Business alarm systems connected to video
An alarm tells you something happened, but not what actually happened — who triggered it and how they got in, or what they did.
That’s why new alarm systems are integrated with video. These connected systems give you enough context to explain the event.
Smart locks and keypads
Instead of handing out keys and replacing locks on individual spaces (such as private offices or individual suites) whenever something changes, you can give people access digitally and remove it when they no longer need it.
You don’t have to rekey doors every time a tenant or user changes, and you don’t have to track which people are still in possession of physical keys.
This goes a long way in reducing both cost and administrative effort, especially across larger properties.
Do security requirements change across property types?
Yes. The same security setup cannot be used for every type of building.
Your security system has to match the patterns in your property — how people enter and which areas they use.
How do you choose the right security system for your commercial property?
- Start with the layout of your building. Map out every entry point, not just the main entrances but also all side doors, garages, elevators, and shared amenities.
- Define who needs access. Beyond tenants, your building likely needs to give access to contractors, cleaners, delivery drivers, and short-term visitors. Each group needs different permissions.
- Invest in visibility. Your security team needs to be able to tell who entered, when, and where they went next. When that information is connected, you can understand an incident immediately instead of having to piece together incidents after the fact.
- Plan beyond your current setup. Tenants change, and spaces get reconfigured. You shouldn’t have to replace your security system entirely. Choose a system you can add to.
Should you use several systems or one interconnected system?
You’ve probably seen commercial property security setups where there’s one system for access control and another for cameras, or something separate for intercoms and alarms.
Everything works technically, but once an incident happens, security teams end up bouncing between systems — they might not be able to trace the incident from entry to outcome because the video is somewhere else, or because intercom logs are buried in another platform.
That’s why newer systems pull everything into one platform, giving you the full picture right away.
Can I get a commercial property loan to improve my building’s security system?
It’s possible. Building-wide security systems that (1) improve the property’s day-to-day operations and (2) protect the CRE asset from avoidable incidents/liability can be built into bridge or value-add loans, in many cases.
It depends on the effect those upgrades have on your property’s income and/or risk profile.
Being CRE professionals ourselves, Private Capital Investors is open to working with CRE owners who want to structure financing around such improvements.
Talk to us if you intend to include security upgrades alongside leasing plans or a broader repositioning.
