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Manhattan Commercial Security Gap Scorecard (3-min self-audit)

Find the 5 hidden gaps causing after-hours breaches, visitor leaks, and slow emergency response—then get the exact steps to fix them fast.

Built specifically for Manhattan office, mixed-use, and commercial properties.

How to use this scorecard

  1. Mark Yes or No for each check.
  2. Score 1 point per “Yes”. Max 10.
  3. Review each question below and apply the matching fixes.
0–3 Critical Risk
Multiple after-hours exposures likely. Fix within 48 hours.
4–7 Moderate
Core controls exist, but gaps remain. Prioritize failed checks.
8–10 Strong
Solid fundamentals. Maintain cadence and tighten exceptions.

Local context that matters

After 6 PM is when most exposures surface in hybrid buildings—elevators bypass lobbies, contractors arrive, and monitoring is thinnest.

The 10 Yes/No Checks (grouped by 5 gaps)

After-Hours Access Control

  • ☐ Are elevator/floor restrictions automatically enforced after 6 PM (card or PIN), including freight/service? If NO ⇒ Fix with: Elevator Access Configuration Checklist
  • ☐ Have you completed a Monthly Access Audit in the last 30 days and revoked all stale credentials? If NO ⇒ Fix with: Monthly Access Audit Template

Visitor Management

  • ☐ Is pre-registration required after 6 PM with government ID capture and host approval prior to entry? If NO ⇒ Fix with: After-Hours Visitor SOP
  • ☐ Are visitor egress logs matched to ingress every day (no unclosed visits after-hours)? If NO ⇒ Fix with: Visitor Lifecycle Reconciliation Log

Tech + Human Oversight

  • ☐ Do all entry/egress points have camera coverage with >30 days retention and live monitoring after 6 PM? If NO ⇒ Fix with: Camera Coverage QA Checklist + Live Monitoring Playbook
  • ☐ Are exception reports (forced/held-open doors, tailgating alerts) auto-generated and reviewed each shift? If NO ⇒ Fix with: Exception Analytics Runbook

Emergency Coordination

  • ☐ Is a current (≤90 days) Contact Tree maintained with primary + backup contacts (PM lead, vendor, FDNY/NYPD, tenant reps)? If NO ⇒ Fix with: Emergency Contact Tree
  • ☐ Have you run a micro-drill in the last 60 days (fire, medical, intrusion) with documented lessons learned? If NO ⇒ Fix with: Micro-Drill Cadence + Tracker

Guard Coverage & Training

  • ☐ Is there a written backup coverage policy guaranteeing ≥2 guards after 6 PM with clear escalation paths? If NO ⇒ Fix with: Backup Coverage Policy Rubric
  • ☐ Have all guards been briefed this quarter on the After-Hours Escort SOP with sign-off and spot checks? If NO ⇒ Fix with: After-Hours Escort SOP

48-Hour Gap Plug Plan — Exact Protocols

Monthly Access Audit Template

Owner: Property Manager + Security Supervisor Timeline: Day 1 export → Day 2 revoke & file Evidence: Signed audit log + revocation report
Steps (do this within 48 hours):
  1. Export 30-day badgeholder & door activity from ACS + visitor system.
  2. Cross-match with HR roster & vendor contracts; flag inactive/expired/unknown.
  3. Immediately suspend stale credentials; notify tenant admins.
  4. Issue a “Cards Reviewed / Revoked / Exceptions” report; PM signs off and files.
Why (Manhattan): Stale contractor cards are a common after-hours breach path in mixed-use towers; revocations close the fastest risk.

Elevator Access Configuration Checklist

Owner: Access Control Vendor Tech Timeline: Within 24 hours of finding the gap Evidence: Schedule screenshots + pass/fail test log
Steps:
  1. Inventory all cabs (incl. freight/service) and restricted floors after 18:00.
  2. Program controller schedules to deny non-authorized floors 18:00–06:00.
  3. Test 3 random tenant cards + 1 vendor card after 20:00 on each cab.
  4. Align lobby & freight rules; attach screenshots to the change record.
Why: Elevators bypass lobby screening; after-hours floor locks stop tailgating at the source.

After-Hours Visitor SOP

Owner: Lobby Guard + PM Oversight Timeline: Distribute same day; brief next shift Evidence: SOP card posted; supervisor sign-off
Steps:
  1. Require host pre-approval in VMS after 18:00; deny walk-ins.
  2. Scan gov ID; match to pre-reg; log visitor photo where legal.
  3. Issue time-boxed access; escort vendors per SOP; log exit at egress.
  4. Nightly reconcile open visits; escalate mismatches to PM.
Why: Most “quiet” violations are unclosed visits; strict lifecycle control kills that risk.

Visitor Lifecycle Reconciliation Log

Owner: Night Shift Supervisor Timeline: Daily 07:00 handover Evidence: Signed reconciliation sheet
Steps:
  1. Pull “after-hours visitor” report for prior night.
  2. Compare entries vs. exits; list all open visits.
  3. Contact hosts; close or escalate outstanding records within 24h.
  4. Log root-causes (host missed, badge issue, SOP gap) and corrective action.
Why: Open visits create liability and mask tailgating; a daily closeout is a Manhattan must-do.

Camera Coverage QA Checklist

Owner: Guard Supervisor + Camera Vendor Timeline: Night walk within 48h Evidence: QA sheet + screenshots + work orders
Steps:
  1. Night-walk all ingress/egress, docks, garages, roof access; verify angles & illumination.
  2. Check NVR retention (goal ≥30 days; align with policy/regulations).
  3. Capture “before” screenshots; open tickets for blind spots/failures.
  4. Retest and attach “after” evidence once fixed.
Why: Clear night footage speeds incident resolution; blind spots are exploited after 6 PM.

Exception Analytics Runbook

Owner: Security IT / ACS Admin Timeline: Enable within 24h; review every shift Evidence: Shift report with incidents & actions
Steps:
  1. Enable alerts for forced/held-open doors and tailgating in ACS/VMS.
  2. Schedule email reports to the shift inbox at 06:00 & 18:00.
  3. Supervisors review, open tickets for repeats, and log actions.
  4. Weekly trend review with PM; escalate chronic problem doors.
Why: Analytics surface silent failures (stuck magnets, propped doors) that guards miss on rounds.

Live Monitoring Playbook (After 18:00)

Owner: Guard Shift Supervisor Timeline: Roll out next after-hours shift Evidence: Hourly initials on monitoring checklist
Steps:
  1. Assign posts to specific feeds (entry/egress, freight, roof access).
  2. Define 2-minute screen scan cadence; prioritize exception alerts.
  3. Escalate incidents within 3 minutes to supervisor + PM.
  4. Log events with clip references (timestamp/channel).
Why: Human confirmation + crisp escalation beat automated alerts alone in Manhattan’s mixed-use patterns.

Emergency Contact Tree

Owner: PM Admin Timeline: Verify & redistribute within 48h Evidence: Call-down log + laminated copies
Steps:
  1. Collect primary + backup numbers for PM, vendor, FDNY/NYPD liaison, tenant safety reps.
  2. Live-call each number to verify; note answer/voicemail/time.
  3. Print laminated copies for lobby & command post; store digital master in shared drive.
  4. Set 90-day reminder to re-verify.
Why: Failed numbers add minutes to response; verified backups keep momentum during incidents.

Micro-Drill Cadence + Tracker

Owner: Guard Supervisor + PM Lead Timeline: Run first drill within 48h; schedule monthly Evidence: Drill log with timing & actions
Steps:
  1. Pick scenario (fire/medical/intrusion) most relevant to your tenants.
  2. Run 15-minute drill; time response to first action & full resolution.
  3. Document friction points; assign owners & due dates.
  4. Share outcomes with tenants’ life-safety reps if applicable.
Why: Frequent, small reps harden muscle memory; you fix real bottlenecks, not imaginary ones.

Backup Coverage Policy Rubric

Owner: Security Vendor Manager Timeline: Draft policy in 48h; brief next shift Evidence: Signed policy + guard acknowledgements
Steps:
  1. Set a minimum 2-guard after-hours standard; define float coverage for breaks.
  2. Maintain on-call roster with ≤30-minute arrival SLA; test monthly.
  3. Run a quarterly surge stress test (e.g., fire alarm during VIP event).
  4. Collect guard acknowledgements; store in personnel files.
Why: Incidents escalate when only one guard is on duty; redundancy + practiced handoffs prevent gaps.

Choose your path

Keep the free plan and run it with your team—everything you need is here. Or, if you’d rather have us handle it, we can map and start implementation in under two weeks.

Book a Free 15-minute Manhattan Security Gap Consult (Normally $299)

How it works:

  1. Pick a time (NYC hours; same-week slots prioritized for Manhattan PMs).
  2. Answer 3 setup questions (building type, top concern, desired outcome).
  3. We review your checks and draft a 48-hour action path.
  4. On the call: we walk the plan, give exact next steps, and estimate effort.
  5. After: you’ll receive a written summary + the templates referenced.

📞 Book My 15-Minute Consult This month only: first 10 PMs get a free Gap Review call (Normally $299).

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