So much effort goes into creating and running a small business. You have to invest financially and at the same time give a part of your life. Simply, you also have to invest your time. So, you wouldn’t want anyone to take your investment away or do something that’ll compromise the business. With the levels of physical insecurity rising each day, your business is under threat if you haven’t invested in the right security measures. Thieves, vandals, and spies can easily have their way.
And you shouldn’t forget the ever-rising cases of cyber attacks. It’s not just your physical assets that are under threat but also your business data. Your business information needs protection from hackers and all kind of cybercriminals. Generally, you need to invest properly in both physical security and cybersecurity if you are looking to enjoy a secure business. Here are 12 tips to use:
Physical Security Tips
- Adequate Lighting
Intruders generally like operating in the dark. They are more comfortable under such conditions because no one is watching. So, lighting up your business perimeter makes things rather difficult for them. In the end, this reduces the risk of a physical invasion occurring. You should be able to see the parking area, the gate area, and the outside of the fence clearly. Moreover, adequate lighting makes your employees feel secure when they are asked to work late.
- A Security Gate from New York Gates
Entry into your small business can easily be controlled with the right security gate. You can get the finest designs at New York Gates. The gates come with deadbolts to ensure that your business is solidly protected against forced entry. Also, the opening and closing mechanism are really effective. The advantage is that you can have your gates custom-made as per the needs of your small business.
- Keyless Entry
Keys can easily be misplaced or duplicated. This poses a danger to your business if it happens. That’s why you should consider keyless entry. In this case, your employees will probably need to use their fingerprints, special codes or their faces to access the premise. This nullifies the possibility of unauthorized access.
- Install CCTV
Nowadays, you don’t need a security guard when you have a surveillance system. It allows you to keep an eye on your business. You actually don’t have to be there to know what’s happening. Likewise, you don’t have to be there to initiate a response. You can contact the police just from where you are. Additionally, CCTV cameras provide you with solid proof in case the matter has to go to court or an investigation has to be launched.
- A Modern Alarm System
So much has changed in the alarm sector and it’s all for the best. For example, alarm systems nowadays have motion sensors which allow you to detect unusual movements around your premise. They also come with tamper-proof features which allow you and the alarm response team to receive an alert about a possible invasion and to facilitate a response.
- Physical Security Policies
Every small business needs a set of security policies to protect it. This minimizes the risk of physical intrusion and theft. You should at least consider the following policies:
- Who should lock and unlock the door and the time that it should be done
- Access procedures for visitors
- Procedure to be followed when an access card, key or badge is lost
- Who to access specific places within the business
- Procedure for changing access codes
- Procedures for handling emergencies
- Workforce Training
You can’t do much with just strict security policies. Your employees need to know what constitutes a safe practice and what its opposite is. Often, the source of the threat is related to human errors like not locking the doors, allowing unauthorized access or misplacing the access card. By retraining your employees about their duties, their mind is refreshed and they are able to observe the laid out policies correctly. Besides, technology is changing and your workforce needs to be trained on the latest developments.
Cybersecurity Tips
- Strict Cybersecurity Policies
Just like you need policies for ensuring physical security, you also need policies for cybersecurity. They are meant to prevent common mistakes that are likely to make your business susceptible to cyber attack. Some of the policies to implement are:
- Not writing access codes in open spaces
- Not sharing sensitive business data via chats or email
- Periodic cybersecurity evaluations
- Disciplinary actions for cybersecurity violations
- An Offsite Backup Plan
It’s important that you have control over your data. You should know where a copy of your sensitive data is in the event that you are hit. It can be a theft or a natural risk like fire or flood. The backup should be offsite. Preferably, you should store in the cloud. This will ensure that you are up running as soon as possible following a hit.
- Secure Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi connections are an attraction for hackers. They can use them to access sensitive business information without your knowledge. To prevent this, you have to ensure that your network is secure. One way to do it is to password-protect it. The password should only be known by authorized members of your workforce. The other way to do it is to use strong encryption.
- Update Security Software
It’s basic knowledge to protect your business with antiviruses and firewalls. The problem is that most small business owners forget to update these programs. If you are looking to combat the latest threats, then you have to keep the security software updated. Old software may not be effective against new online threats.
- Strong Password and Encryption
Today, password hijacking (a case where someone steals and uses your password) is so common. This is mostly because of using a weak password. It’s important to use a code that someone can’t guess. Preferably, you should mix upper and lower cases with numbers and special characters. It’s also smart not to use the same code across all networks. Additionally, you should ensure that sensitive data, especially client information, is encrypted. This will ensure that it doesn’t fall in the hands of the wrong person in the event that your network is compromised.
Closing Thought:
In the business world today, you just can’t tell where a threat will come from. Both your physical assets and data needs protection and so you have to invest both ways. The secret is to employ preventive approaches as seen in the above tips. They are instrumental in protecting the investment that you have worked hard to build.
