Protecting one’s business is more than just locking up a store and ensuring that an intruder or thief does not come in. A business has plenty of assets: money, items, and customer and business information. Hence, securing a business on all fronts is crucial, whether it be online or offline.
Securing Physical Property
Businesses are primary targets by criminals because their main objective is to earn a profit; where the money is, criminals follow. Business premises are prone to theft because it holds items of value, including equipment, stocks, and customers’ personal information.
Losing these valuable items through theft can harm a business. Aside from losing money, it can also negatively impact customer relationships as well as insurance premiums. To prevent these from happening, implement security measures within business premises.
Security Updates
Some tools can deter criminals from entering your business premises. The reason why a business should have CCTV cameras, for instance, is not only to identify the thieves that may enter the premises but also to show criminals that there’s a risk of being identified while breaking in and entering the property.
Other deterrent tools that can present risks for criminals from entering the property are alarm systems, security lights, and access controls. The presence of security personnel can largely help prevent criminals from attempting to enter the property.
Protecting Digital Assets in Physical Properties
Businesses naturally have personal information of customers such as names, credit card numbers, Social Security numbers, and addresses. When taken by criminals, this could be potentially damaging for both the business’ reputation and the customers’ personal properties.
With customer information, criminals can conduct fraud and identity theft. The relationship between businesses and clients can be damaged as well. For these reasons, protecting customers’ files is crucial.
How does a business do so?
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Pick the right location
Same as picking a safe neighborhood when selecting a home, a business owner needs to do this to for his office space or store. Information about crime statistics in a community is readily available; a business owner can ask existing entrepreneurs in the area, too. Additionally, knowing the local law enforcers in the area can help in the event of any crime on your property.
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Give information access to trusted employees
Not every employee in your company needs access to essential records. Limiting access to sensitive information to a few employees can help you track leak of information easier in case it arises.
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Lock important documents and files
It may be an old-fashioned trick, but locking documents and files in cabinets or rooms can significantly help keep them safe. Just like mentioned above, only give a key to these rooms and cabinets to limited trustworthy employees.
Online Security
In 2017, about 61% of small businesses were subjected to cyberattacks. Most of those attacks were targeted towards customers’ personal information. To protect both small businesses’ and customers’ interests, cybersecurity measures are crucial.
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Provide employee training
Employees need to be trained about cybersecurity practices and policies. Sometimes, penalties for violating company internet use guidelines are necessary.
A business must remind its employees to use strong passwords and be careful when accessing websites on the internet. Constantly changing passwords is also a good practice to avoid hacking. The company can also give employees a little help by setting up a password management system; this helps employees remember constantly changing passwords and creating secure and strong passwords.
At the same time, train them on proper behavior when handling customer information. Ask them to handle data with care and sensitivity.
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Install cybersecurity systems
Installing up-to-date security and anti-virus software, as well as setting up firewalls, can prevent your office computers from malware and virus attacks. Ensure that you have stored a backup of all necessary data in case hacking of computer systems happens.
Additionally, establish software that warns against viruses and suspicious links received through email. At the same time, inform employees about possible phishing to alert them and not click on suspicious links and attachments they receive.
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Employ a security company
If you don’t have a dedicated IT department in your company, you can hire a security company to help in cyberattack protection. It’s an investment that will pay off in the future. In America, only 17% of small business employs a security company; 17% of small businesses, on the other hand, has a dedicated internal IT security group. This is a small amount that needs to be boosted.
Staying Informed
Lastly, staying informed is vital. Criminals will always find new ways to gain access to valuable properties, whether online or offline. Staying on top of the new modus gives you the necessary tools and preventative measures to protect your physical and digital assets.
