Northmark treats building access as part of the cleaning service, not an afterthought. Only background-checked team members assigned to your account receive access. Keys, fobs and alarm codes are issued, stored and logged under written procedures. Every visit ends with a documented lock-up check, and you agree in advance what our team does if something looks wrong. This is what we mean when we describe our cleaning as security-conscious.
Why access control matters in commercial cleaning
A commercial cleaning crew is often the only outside party with unsupervised, after-hours access to your building. They walk past client files, patient records, cash rooms, inventory, IT closets and executive offices when nobody else is there. For many organizations, the cleaning vendor is the largest routine gap in physical security.
That risk is manageable, but only if it is managed deliberately. Most cleaning proposals say little about it. Ours put it in writing.
Our access control standards
Assigned, background-checked people only
Each account has assigned team members. Every Northmark employee is background-checked before receiving access to any client building. Unassigned staff do not enter your building unless you have been told who they are and why. Read more about our background-checked staff policy.
Key and credential custody
- Keys and fobs are tagged with a code, not your business name or address, so a lost key cannot be traced to your building.
- Each credential is logged to a specific team member, with issue and return dates.
- Alarm codes are individual where your system supports it, so arming and disarming events can be traced to a person.
- Lost credentials are reported to you immediately, not at the next scheduled call.
- When a team member leaves the account, their credentials are recovered and you are told so you can change codes if you choose.
Our guide to vendor key and access control explains how to set these expectations with any vendor, including us.
Entry and exit procedures
- Arrival and departure times are recorded.
- Team members enter only the areas listed in the scope.
- Rooms you designate as restricted (records, cash, server, pharmaceutical storage, executive suites) are either excluded or cleaned only under the conditions you set.
- Doors propped open by occupants are closed and noted.
Lock-up verification
Every visit ends with a site-specific lock-up checklist: exterior doors, interior doors you designate, windows, lights, and alarm arming. If a door will not latch or the alarm will not arm, the team follows your escalation procedure rather than leaving the building unsecured.
Incident escalation
Before the first visit we agree on what happens if our team finds an unlocked door on arrival, signs of forced entry, a water leak, an intruder alarm or anything else unusual. You decide who gets called and in what order. Incidents are documented and reported to you.
Confidentiality
Our team does not read, move or photograph documents, screens or mail. Papers left on desks stay where they are. In medical and financial settings we follow the confidentiality expectations you set, and we review them with assigned staff during onboarding.
Who needs this most
Every client benefits from controlled access, but some buildings carry more risk:
- Banks and credit unions, where cash handling areas and vaults sit next to cleanable space.
- Medical and dental offices, where patient records and controlled substances may be present.
- Professional offices such as law, accounting and insurance firms that hold confidential client files.
- Technology and coworking spaces with network equipment and many tenants.
- Multi-tenant office buildings, where one credential may open several suites.
How this fits with insurance and bonding
Procedures reduce risk. Insurance and bonding cover what remains. Northmark is insured and bonded, and certificates are available on request. See insured and bonded for what each protects, or read bonded vs insured cleaning companies for the general explanation.
Questions to ask any cleaning vendor about security
Whether or not you choose Northmark, ask every vendor:
- Who exactly will have access to our building, and have they been background-checked?
- How are our keys and codes stored, logged and recovered?
- What happens if a key is lost?
- How do you verify the building is locked when you leave?
- What does your team do if they find signs of a break-in?
- Are you insured and bonded, and can we see the certificates?
If the answers are vague, the process probably is too.
Frequently asked questions
Who on the Northmark team will have access to our building?
Only background-checked team members assigned to your account. You are told who they are, and you are informed of any change.
How are our keys and alarm codes protected?
Keys are tagged with codes rather than your business name, credentials are logged to individuals, and lost credentials are reported to you immediately.
Can we keep certain rooms off-limits?
Yes. Restricted rooms are either excluded from the scope or cleaned only under the conditions you specify, such as during business hours with a staff member present.
What happens if your team finds a security problem?
They follow the escalation procedure you approved during onboarding, document the incident and report it to you.
Published · Northmark Facility Services.