To choose the right security system for a commercial building, start with a walk-through of the property and a list of what you need to protect, then pick the systems that cover those risks, plan how they work together, and make sure someone will support them after installation. The steps below are the ones we follow on every site walk in Alberta and BC.
Step 1: Walk the property
List every entrance, gate, parkade, loading dock, storage room and shared space, and note who uses each one and when. Mark the areas that sit empty after hours, the doors that get propped open and the places where problems have already happened.
Step 2: Match systems to the risks
- Access control for doors, gates and elevators, so you decide who gets in and when.
- Security cameras for entrances, parkades, yards and shared areas.
- Video intercom for visitor and delivery entry.
- Intrusion alarms for after-hours protection, monitored or self-monitored.
- Parcel lockers for multi-family and office buildings with heavy deliveries.
- Networks and cabling so every system has a reliable connection.
Step 3: Plan how the systems work together
Systems that are planned together are easier to run. Door events can open the matching camera clip, intercom visits are logged like any other entry, and exit-path doors release with the fire alarm. Decide early whether you want one platform for doors and video or separate systems that connect.
Step 4: Decide who manages it
Choose who adds and removes users, who receives alarms and alerts, and who reviews video. Cloud or remote management lets a property manager or office admin make changes from a phone or browser instead of calling a technician.
Step 5: Plan for after hours
For sites that sit empty overnight, decide whether alerts go to staff or to live monitoring. Hightower provides 24/7 remote video monitoring through our monitoring partner, and alarms can be monitored with video verification.
Step 6: Check support and ownership
- You should receive admin access and full documentation on every project.
- Ask who supports the system after installation and how to reach them, day or night.
- Ask whether the installer works with several brands, so the advice fits your building.
Hightower designs, installs and supports commercial security systems across Alberta and BC, with offices in Edmonton, Calgary, Red Deer and Kelowna. We also take over and repair systems installed by other companies.
Commercial buildings only
Hightower installs for condos and apartments, offices, light and heavy commercial sites, schools and automotive businesses. We work on commercial buildings only.
Where we work
Offices in Edmonton, Calgary, Red Deer and Kelowna, serving Alberta and BC. We also take work in Saskatchewan, Yukon, the Northwest Territories and the USA. For anywhere else, we have a parachute team.
Related on this site
Read more: intrusion alarms, multi-family security, office security, remote video monitoring, all services.
Intrusion alarms near you: Edmonton · Calgary · Red Deer · Kelowna.
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Need this for a commercial building? Request a quote, or call 587-920-1610 in Alberta or 236-473-1610 in BC.
Questions
Does Hightower work on this for commercial buildings only?
Yes. We design, install and support systems for commercial buildings only, including condos and apartments, offices, retail, industrial sites, schools and automotive businesses across Alberta and BC.
Can you take over an existing system like the one in this article?
Yes. System rescue is a core service. We regain admin access to systems you own, repair what we can, document everything and support it. See system rescue.
Where should I start if this is the system I need?
Start with our intrusion alarms page, or request a quote. We have offices in Edmonton, Calgary, Red Deer and Kelowna.