Enhance Front Desk Defense with a Mass Notification System

By Kara Stamets, Senior Content Marketing Specialist, Alertus Technologies

Front office staff play an integral role in maintaining business operations and are often visitors’ first and last point of contact. They are typically located on the first level of office buildings or educational facilities or may work in lobbies facing busy main streets. Individuals in this role tend to handle tasks like answering phones, greeting visitors, and receiving mail deliveries, placing them in vulnerable situations with a higher likelihood of encountering theft, assault, active shooters, or suspicious packages. 

Because front desk employees serve as an organization’s first line of defense, they should be prepared to quickly identify and respond to emergencies or suspicious activity from individuals loitering, making threats, acting aggressively, or forcing building entry. 

To strengthen security, organizations should install a mass notification system (MNS) or update their current system with duress buttons that can be activated or used to alert appropriate parties directly and discreetly from the front desk.

Discretion is advised in escalating situations, and front desk employees need subtle ways to sound the alarm on unruly visitors. Essential products for reception areas include silent panic buttons with single activation points and mobile alerting.

Alertus’ software-based Desktop Activator provides immediate incident reporting or system activation that connects to a hardwired USB Panic Button or USB Multi Panic Button, which sends alert information immediately to dispatchers and emergency responders. In the event of an active shooter or disgruntled visitor, front desk staff members in commercial or educational facilities can directly contact emergency personnel via Alertus 911 Connect, without letting the intruder know that authorities are on the way.

When a dangerous situation occurs and front office staff members need to leave the area quickly, Alertus’ WiFi Panic Button will allow them to alert the authorities of an intruder by pressing the button for help while on the go. Organizations can program handheld panic buttons to notify the entire facility of critical incidents and provide their location information to responders. 

Front desk employees can also use VoIP Phones in emergencies that are programmed with a panic button key to request help or trigger instant alerts.

Mobile methods are another critical way to alert a large organization of danger because alerts can be distributed directly and widely. Emergency protocols can be triggered on most phones. Alertus’ AlertAware® Mobile offers a panic button feature so front desk personnel can quickly and easily send incident reports from their current location to emergency management while getting to a safer location. 

Providing front desk staff with resources and training on using MNS equipment to activate alerts in various emergencies is crucial. Front desk staff play a vital role in maintaining and observing visitors in lobby and entry areas; it’s imperative to equip them with tools and training to help them feel secure and protect your entire organization.