All retailers are susceptible to losses due to theft and fraud, but maybe none as much as the luxury-branded retailer. Its high-priced, highly desirable merchandise is subject not only to theft, but also to counterfeiting and ultimately damage to the brand and the company’s reputation. Luxury-branded retailers rely on secure manufacturing facilities, a very limited distribution channel, and a protected inventory at store level to help elevate demand and secure top dollars for their products. Add the threat of a data breach, and retailers face the burden of losing their customers’ trust.
A Multi-faceted Approach
Protection 1’s approach to helping protect this vulnerable class of retailer is multi-faceted. It provides advanced solutions, from high-definition video systems and cloud-based access control to state-of-the-art intrusion detection and life-safety systems. In addition, the company’s managed services platform offers its clients the ability to have a private, secure IT network solely for the asset protection technology components.
Video systems have been a mainstay of retailers’ security platforms. With the advancement in IP technology and the ease of remote access, video solutions now deliver even greater benefits to asset protection teams, as well as other departments within the retailers’ operations. In many cases, 
Protection 1 offers electronic access control solutions for sensitive areas, including cash rooms, managers’ offices, and in the case of luxury-branded retailers, back office, display cases, or warehouse locations where the coming seasons’ sample products are secured. Electronic access control, particularly those that deploy advanced features such as biometrics, ensures there is an audit trail available. Protection 1 also offers a cloud-based solution giving retailers the ability to track movement and control access to sensitive areas through an easy-to-use secure web portal, no longer requiring expensive dedicated computers that require software maintenance and upkeep.
Customized Solutions
When designing security systems for luxury retailers, aesthetics is key. Often, store-planning personnel are as involved in the process as loss prevention teams. And in most cases, no two locations are built and designed the same, making each project a custom application.
Protection 1 works with various architects and store-planning personnel to ensure its systems are effective yet not obtrusive. They have custom painted cameras to match surroundings, color-matched alarm keypads, and even encased access control readers into imported granite walls. The company even custom designs intrusion detection systems using state-of-the-art motion detectors that are often found in highly secured areas such as airports.
Preventing Data Breaches
More and more, retailers are prohibiting devices and software associated with systems like video surveillance and HVAC management from sharing the same network as point-of-sale systems.
Other benefits for separating IT systems include higher bandwidth availability, speed, and access to the network for LP teams while not impacting business-critical systems.
Protection 1 is uniquely positioned to offer these services as the only security company to hold Cisco Premier, Cisco Cloud, and Managed Services Express Partner Certification status.
Express Cloud and Managed Services certification recognizes companies that have attained the expertise in the preparation, planning, designing, and implementation phases for selling and supporting cloud or managed services based on Cisco platforms. The company’s engineers are also Meraki and Sonicwall certified. Protection 1 monitors the systems and can alert its clients if there is an attempted breach or the potential for failure of any device on the network, along with managing all the software updates, ensuring the latest versions are always available.
A well-planned, comprehensive approach is key to securing a company’s assets, associates, reputation, and ultimately the trust of its customers.
Visit Protection 1 at protection1.com.
