Mar 27 2026
Security

How SMBs Can Better Secure Their Physical Spaces

Small to medium-sized businesses need around-the-clock support to secure their locations, but legacy systems may not be up to the task.

As small businesses work to improve their cybersecurity posture, they should also evaluate how safe their physical spaces are for customers and employees. 

In 2025, about 30% of employees reported witnessing workplace violence in the past five years, according to a survey by compliance training company Traliant, and 15% reported being targets of workplace violence. 

DISCOVER: Learn more about the benefits of modernizing your physical security infrastructure.

The security of a small business requires a holistic approach, bolstered by a modernized physical security infrastructure. A legacy video surveillance system may capture a bad act as it’s happening, but it can do little else. 

Modern surveillance systems by companies including Rhombus, Verkada and Axis rely on artificial intelligence and integrated alarm features that can help businesses keep their locations and team members safer, while also offering cost savings with streamlined management.

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Reduce Gaps in Visibility With Always-On Monitoring Systems 

“AI video surveillance combines traditional camera operations with intelligent data processing,” writes David Sibley, a cybersecurity adviser at CDW specializing in the small business sector, in a BizTech blog. “AI-enabled cameras can scan images to identify faces and then use publicly available databases to find likely matches. This enables businesses to pinpoint and ban potential thieves and provide police with the data they need to act. AI video surveillance can also be used to record license plate data and uncover information about vehicle owners.” 

FIND OUT: Get customizable video surveillance and access control for the modern enterprise.

Last year, during NRF 2025: Retail’s Big Show in New York City, data-rich video footage from cameras on the expo floor wowed attendees. 

Gina Cox, senior retail IT adviser at CDW, told BizTech about how AI is improving physical security in retail stores: “I supported a loss-prevention team for a while, and when they had something stolen or knew somebody with a red backpack maybe came in and caused a problem, in the past, they had to watch hours of video trying to find that person. The coolest thing now, one example, is that with AI put on your cameras, you can now just type in, ‘Bring me all of the videos that show a person with a red backpack.’” 

LEARN MORE: Enhance security with Axis Communications' comprehensive solutions.

One self-storage company, for example, has found that switching to a cloud-based, always-on surveillance system helped to improve security responses and reduce the time needed to pull video needed as possible evidence. 

“Cloud-based solutions ensure organizations always have access to the latest features without any IT overhead. All of these capabilities can help security teams reduce the impact of security incidents — or prevent them from happening in the first place,” notes a CDW white paper.

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