Commercial Security Self-Assessment — the 20-point scorecard.
Twenty checks across perimeter, access control, video and response. Walk the building, score it in 15 minutes, and see which gap to close first.
Most buildings score well on video and poorly on the parts that actually stop an incident
- A badge or door code that still works for someone who left is the most common failure — and it is not a hardware problem.
- A local siren nobody hears is not a response.
- Incidents are often reported 2–6 weeks after they happen; 7-day retention loses the evidence.
What is in the scorecard
Perimeter & entry
Five checks: exterior doors, visitor path, contractor check-in, lighting, fence and dock coverage.
Access control
Five checks: same-day offboarding, individual credentials, door-held and forced-door alerts, stricter tiers, log review.
Video
Five checks: coverage of every entrance and cash point, retention, clip retrieval time, monthly outage checks, privacy compliance.
Response & people
Five checks: written incident plan, duress alerting, monitored alarm routing, multi-point lockdown, annual drills.
Your score, interpreted
Four bands from Well-controlled to Unmanaged, each with the first move to make.
Where the gaps usually are
Credentials, alarm routing and retention — and what fixes each.
How to use it
Walk
Take the sheet through the building. Tick a check only if it is true today, not planned.
Score
One point per tick, 20 possible. Sections run from outside in.
Read the band
17–20, 12–16, 7–11 or 0–6 — each has a recommended first move.
Spec the fix
Pick the Security Spec & Sourcing Package for your use case and take the gap to a vendor-ready RFP.
Who this is for
- Owners and facility managers who want a straight answer on where the building stands
- Operations leads preparing a budget request for security upgrades
- Anyone about to talk to a security integrator and wanting the questions ready first
Commercial Security Self-Assessment
Twenty checks. Fifteen minutes. One clear first move.
Direct PDF download — no form, no email required. Ready to spec the fix? Browse Security Spec & Sourcing Packages.
General planning and sourcing guidance for commercial building owners and facility managers. Quantities, budget bands and timelines are planning estimates that vary by site, jurisdiction and vendor. Not a security assessment of any specific property, not legal advice, and not a substitute for a licensed security integrator, engineer, or your local code and privacy requirements.