The need to protect their businesses from external threats is something that business owners have always faced. However, the need for security now is greater than ever before. This is because companies are now faced with even more threats than ever before. In the past, the threat of thieves stealing from a business was the main concern. Nowadays, companies not only have to contend with theft and other physical security breaches, they also need to deal with cybersecurity threats, and the challenges that come with protecting a business in this increasingly digital world.
In recent years, the impact of cybercrime on businesses has been brought into sharp focus. Every business owner has heard the horror stories of data breaches and the large fines and reputational damage that these cause. While it may be tempting to focus your resources on securing your company’s digital assets, it’s essential that you don’t forget about the importance of physical security. Striking a balance between cyber security and physical security needs can be challenging. However, neglecting either of these areas could put your business at risk. This blog post will highlight some of the actions you can take to improve your organization’s security and protect its future.
Limit Access
Restricting access is an excellent way to improve the security of your business. Limiting access to certain areas of your building is a crucial physical security measure. The more access that people have to your building, the higher the chances of potential thefts and other security breaches. Introducing access control systems and only allowing authorized staff members access to business-sensitive areas of your building will help you to tighten up your security measures and reduce the likelihood of your business falling victim to a crime.
Electronic access control systems that use either a scannable card or PIN to gain entry are a helpful way to keep members of the public out of back office areas of your business premises. These can also be used to ensure that employees only have access to areas of the building that are essential to their roles.
Improve Surveillance
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Having CCTV equipment installed on your business premises is a measure you have probably had in place for a long time. CCTV acts as an excellent deterrent for would-be criminals, as well as helping your security team to monitor who is on your site. Traditional CCTV systems are beneficial. However, there are now many more ways to protect your business using surveillance. Technology such as advanced license plate recognition software can help you to detect unauthorized vehicles on your site. This enables your security team to implement their security protocols quickly, and deal with the potential threat before the situation escalates further.
As well as introducing new surveillance technology, it’s also vital to ensure the CCTV systems you already have in place are working effectively. Identifying any cameras that have stopped working and getting them fixed as soon as possible is a must. It’s also helpful to assess the positioning of your existing cameras to ensure they are providing the best possible view of your premises and not leaving any blind spots which an intruder may take advantage of.
Train Your Staff
Whether you’re concerned about physical security or worried about potential cyberattacks, training your team can help to reduce the chances of your business being affected by either of these issues.
Unfortunately, security breaches are often caused by human error. It’s so easy for members of staff to accidentally cause a security issue without even being aware of it. Criminals, including cybercriminals are becoming more sophisticated in their methods all the time. As they’re experienced in the art of deception, it can make it hard to tell the difference between people with a legitimate need to be at your business premises, and those who may have ulterior motives for being there.
Providing robust training for your team members is a must to prevent them from unknowingly causing a major security breach. Putting security protocols and processes in place, such as a signing-in procedure for all visitors, and training your team to follow this is absolutely essential to reduce the chances of human error causing security issues. The same also applies to cyber security. Ensuring your employees understand how to spot a phishing email or potentially suspicious online activity is a must to prevent your business falling victim to cyber criminals.
Check Your Insurance
No business deliberately falls victim to a security breach. However, sometimes this does happen and a company can unknowingly find itself in a vulnerable position caused by a security failure. This could be a physical security breach that results in the theft of stock or business equipment, or it could be cyber security breach that results in the business being compromised. Either way, it’s essential for companies to be properly prepared when these situations do arise to ensure that there is minimals disruption to their business operation and the service that customers receive. Being able to get back on track and continue operating, even after a major security failure, is often crucial to keeping the business profitable and maintain its reputation.
Ensuring that your business has appropriate insurance coverage is a must to protect it in these situations. A theft or security breach can potentially result in huge financial losses. Without insurance, these situations can threaten the future of your business and its ability to continue trading profitably. So, it’s absolutely vital that you check your insurance policies to ensure that they cover your company thoroughly for potential security breaches.
Final Thoughts
Nowadays, businesses face a wider number of potential security threats than ever before. From potential physical security breaches to the growing threat of cyber crime and increasingly advanced hackers targeting businesses, there are many security issues that businesses need to be aware of and guard themselves against.
Taking a proactive approach to protecting your business with help from technology, robust security procedures, staff training, and the right insurance coverage, will address vulnerabilities and protect your company.
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