Dec 24, 20247 min read

Why Security & Access Control Is a Must-Have for the Holidays

Some jackwad who clearly doesn't understand the importance of structured cabling stands in front of a bunch of yellow fiber optic cables that look like a rats nest.

Everyone’s familiar with the holiday classic featuring a very surly Grinch. But let’s conduct a quick thought experiment. What if the Whos down in Whoville had some solid security & access control measures in place when the Grinch came knocking? It’s safe to say the whole “stealing Christmas” thing might not have gone down quite the same way.

Now, while you’re probably not expecting a fuzzy green thief to show up and steal your business’s holiday cheer, the reality is that the holiday season brings its own set of security challenges. More foot traffic, more seasonal workers, and more inventory in the store—what could go wrong? Well, a lot, actually.

But here’s the good news: you can do something about it. You can invest in security & access control systems. These solutions do more than just lock the door—they protect your business from every angle, ensuring that your office, employees, and valuable inventory stay safe and sound.

Especially if you get them from ElectroMedia. But we're getting ahead of ourselves.

What a Security & Access Control System Can Do For You This Holiday Season (with Examples)

An Executive in a Santa hat talks to someone on his cell phone. People, also wearing Santa hats, are decorating a Christmas tree in the background.

You're probably on the fence about making the switch – especially since the holidays are just around the corner. But being proactive about your security systems is the best gift you can give yourself! To prove it, here are just a few things you can do when you install or upgrade to an access control system this holiday season.

1. Improve Security and Convenience with Keyless Entry Systems

Asian woman with a laptop on her lap, while she looks at a second computer on her desk.

Say goodbye to clunky keys and the fear of lost or stolen cards. Keyless entry systems provide a secure yet straightforward way for employees to gain access to your business. With systems that use access control credentials like key cards, PIN codes, biometrics, or even mobile options, it’s easier than ever to manage who is granted access to what.

Plus, keyless entry systems eliminate the risk of having to replace lost or stolen keys, saving you quite a bit of time, money, and stress during the busy season.

Example: Fitful Flare

Antoine is a fictional fashion guru running a stylish clothing store called Fitful Flare. He used to spend a lot of time giving out keys to his seasonal staff members, only to find that some keys would go missing or get shared without his knowledge, opening him up to the threats of burglary and theft. Now, thanks to ElectroMedia, Antoine uses a keyless entry system where his employees just punch in a PIN or use their smartphones to get in.

This has made things so much easier for Antoine—if a staff member leaves, he can instantly revoke their access without worrying about tracking down physical keys. No more scrambling to replace lost keys or giving access to the wrong people. It's fast and secure, and Antoine can focus on his holiday shipments.

2. Round-the-Clock Safety with 24/7 Monitoring

Two carpenters, one male, one female, pretend to understand technology for the camera's sake.

Let’s face it: the holiday season doesn’t stop, and neither do security threats. A 24/7 monitoring setup ensures that your business is under surveillance at all times, protecting customer data no matter how late it is or how many things you have on your plate.

You’ll get real-time alerts for potential threats, from unauthorized access to suspicious activity. Whether it’s a potential break-in or an employee who forgets to lock up, you’ll be notified immediately so you can act fast.

Example: Tom's Buns Bakery & Patisserie

Tom's Buns is a popular – but fictional – little bakery in the heart of the city. During the holidays, his business stays open late to accommodate the after-work crowd, but he’s often the first to leave at night. However, Tom doesn’t have to worry because his bakery is covered with 24/7 monitoring from ElectroMedia. If someone tries to break in after hours, the system will send an alert to his phone.

One evening, after Tom’s closed, an employee forgot to lock the back door in their rush to get home. ElectroMedia's monitoring system caught it immediately and notified Tom with a quick text. He could text his employee to lock it, avoiding any potential problems. Having that peace of mind means Tom can sleep easy at night, knowing someone’s always watching his bakery.

3. Zero Hassle, Just Security With Plug-and-Play Integrations

Internet security themed hologram hovers over a businessman's tablet

Worried that installing a new security system will disrupt your business? Commercial access control systems from providers like ElectroMedia can easily integrate with your current security setup, allowing you to add new features without starting from scratch. If you’re already using security systems that you know and love – but could use an extra boost – ElectroMedia can improve them with monitoring and access control solutions that can support what you already have.

Example: Carla's Coffee Cup

Take Carla's Coffee Cup as an example (fictional, of course). She's been operating for a while and her business security solution was starting to show its age. Instead of completely replacing everything, she decided to upgrade and add new smart locks and cameras. ElectroMedia’s system integrated with her existing setup—no fuss, no major disruptions.

This meant Carla didn’t have to waste time learning a whole new platform during the holiday rush. The new cameras synced up with her old ones, and the smart locks worked with the system she already had. She could continue doing her job, serving her regulars and welcoming in new visitors, while her security solution did its job.

4. Manage Security from Anywhere with a Mobile Access Control

An old lady dressed up in an outfit that puts me in mind of a GI-Joe toy I had when I was a kid.

The holidays can take you all over the place—whether you’re meeting with clients, handling supply chain issues, or just trying to fit in a little holiday shopping. With remote access control, you can manage your security system from anywhere. Lock doors, grant access to restricted areas, monitor employee activity—everything is in the palm of your hand. This means you can keep your company secure even if you're not physically there.

Let's use the fictional Towerhill Books as an example, a charming independent shop that likes to stay open late during the holidays.

Example: Towerhill Books

With long hours and a lot of customers coming and going, the owner, Samantha, isn’t always around to manage the door. That’s where remote access from ElectroMedia comes in.

One evening, the system alerts Samantha that a regular customer is waiting to be let in for the first after-hours book club meeting. With remote access, she can unlock the door right from her phone and let the group in without having to drive all the way back in the middle of dinner prep. It allows her the freedom to restock inventory, go to a show, or even step out for lunch without sacrificing security.

5. Keep an Eye on Every Corner with Video Surveillance

Observing three surveillance camera feeds from a mobile phone.

Whether it’s high-traffic areas or behind-the-scenes storage spaces, you need to know what’s going on all around your business. With video surveillance systems, you get clear, high-definition footage of all critical areas. This gives you a watchful eye over your business, even when you're busy juggling holiday sales or managing an influx of seasonal workers.

We'll use a fictional example to prove our point.

Example: Paws to Play Pet Hotel

It’s the holiday season, and Paws to Play Pet Hotel is busier than ever, with people dropping off pets before traveling to see family and friends. With more pets staying over and extra staff to care for them, Gregg, Paws to Play's owner, needed a way to keep an eye on everything even when he was picking up supplies.

With a video surveillance solution from ElectroMedia, his wish was granted. After a simple installation by our technicians, Gregg can use the live video feed on his phone to monitor the front desk, where the team is checking in new arrivals, and peek into the play areas to see how the dogs are getting along.

He even notices one of the staff members taking a little extra time with a nervous puppy, which gives him peace of mind knowing that all the pets are being well cared for even when he's not there to manage things.

6. Choose Who Gets In When with Customized Access Levels

A man in a Santa costume uses a white RFID card pressed against a buildings external card reader to gain access to the building.

During the holidays, your staff list might look a little different than usual. Between regular employees, seasonal workers, and delivery personnel, there’s a lot of movement. With customized access levels and role-based access control, you can grant or restrict entry to specific areas based on someone's specific role and responsibilities.

Did you recently promote someone to management? Now you can give them access to the main office. Hire a bunch of new people to handle the holidays? Keep them limited to the front. A commercial access control system from ElectroMedia is a great way to keep your business running smoothly while thwarting potential security risks.

Example: Vikery Vinyl

Take Vikery Vinyl, a thriving (fictional) record shop that's become the talk of the town. Vikery's manager, Olivia, has a growing team that includes store staff handling customers and inventory and specialists managing high-value records and private collections in the back room. Obviously, some areas of the shop need to be off-limits to everyone but authorized personnel—especially during the holiday rush, when Olivia needs extra help to keep up with demand.

With customizable access controls from ElectroMedia, Olivia can give her floor staff access to inventory areas and registers while restricting access to the vault to the employees she trusts. When seasonal hires come aboard, she can quickly adjust their access so they can help where needed but stay clear of sensitive areas.

Now, rare collections are secure, her team is organized, and she doesn't have to constantly hover over new hires' shoulders to see where they're going or what they're doing.

Secure the Halls, the Offices, and the Stockrooms with ElectroMedia's Business Security Solutions

A white security camera housing mounted to the front of a building decorated for Christmas.

If you want all these fictional security examples to become factual for you, ElectroMedia's ready to make it happen.

From commercial access control systems to video surveillance, we have everything you need to make your coffee shop, bookstore, clothing boutique, bakery, and garland-bedecked homesteads (looking at you, Whos) stay safe no matter what this holiday season throws at you.

Worried about timelines prior to the holidays? Don't be! Our security & access control solutions are designed to be easy to use and can be installed ASAP by our qualified engineers. You can get everything up and running in days, leaving you plenty of time to serve up some holiday cheer (and savings) to your customers.

So, don’t wait for a Grinch-level security breach to ruin your holiday cheer—contact us to make sure your business is as safe as it can be during the busiest time of the year.