Yes, absolutely. No office building or area is immune to security threats such as a burglary, fire or vandalism. Talk to knowledgeable alarm company about your needs and find a solution that is right for your business.

In the event of a fire, a good evacuation path can be the difference between victim and survivor. Be sure to include the following in your path: emergency exits that are clearly marked and well lit; hallways that are unobstructed and wide enough for personnel to evacuate; and areas that are away from hazards.

No, you are not legally obligated to disclose the use or location of surveillance systems as long as the cameras are in public areas where privacy is not expected. Most areas of an office are considered public areas. It is illegal to place cameras in places where one would expect privacy like a bathroom or dressing room.

However, it would be a good idea to inform your employees of surveillance cameras to deter feelings of mistrust or suspicion on the employees' behalf.

Yes, most alarm systems are equipped with backup batteries that activate immediately after you lose power. Ask your alarm company how your alarm works during a power outage.

Most alarm systems have a built in delay before contacting your monitoring company. The delay time can range anywhere from 30 seconds to 3 minutes so ask your security provider how long your delay is. If you disarm your system within the delay period, your alarm monitoring company won't be contacted. If you can't get to your system within the delay time period, most monitoring companies will contact you to verify an emergency situation before sending a police officer. Talk to your alarm monitoring company for more information.