Keeping businesses safe from both online and real-world threats is a seriously tough gig. For instance, not only do small businesses have to be on guard against petty crimes such as shoplifting and trespassing, but they’re also susceptible to fraud and employee theft. According to the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, small businesses typically lose 5 percent of their yearly revenue to fraud.
Businesses of all sizes can take steps to improve their security. Most businesses have invested in the necessary upgrades to ramp up their cyber protection, but there’s nothing like getting a security camera system installation to secure a brick-and-mortar business. You need to protect your business from all sorts of threats, which in turn will lead to improved employee morale and customer confidence.
Here are a few things you can do to make your business more secure:
1. Invest in a proper security system
Whether you operate a retail store or maintain a warehouse, you’re probably renting the space you use from another company. That means you’re also at the mercy of their existing security system. Make it a point to replace the original locks that came with the property with new high-security locks to keep your business safe from intruders.
Locks are just your first line of protection, however. You also need to invest in a monitored security system. If the system detects a break-in, it will automatically send a signal to the security company or the authorities to dispatch responders. The first few minutes are crucial, and an automated response system could minimize your losses.
Round up your site security with a smart camera setup. Advances to automation and remote connectivity have allowed owners and security officers to access the live camera feed anytime and anywhere they want. Apart from the standard recording features, a smart camera can aid in the identification and apprehension of suspects.
2. Keep the area well-lit
Criminals love dark areas because they can operate with impunity. Any business with poor lighting is a giant target, so it makes sense to invest in good security lighting to reduce dark corners and ensure the area is well-lit at night. Some lighting systems also only activate if movement is detected, which helps keep energy costs low and serves as a warning to possible intruders that their presence has been detected.
3. Perform background checks
If your business deals in high-value items, you might want to perform due diligence when hiring employees and potential vendors. An employee or vendor’s access to the building is a point of weakness, and you need to make sure they pass all security checks. Some information you will need includes the background, credit history, as well as any past or current complaints.
A quick online search might shed some light on the vendor’s reputation in the industry, and you can also ask former and current customers. You can perform the security checks yourself or you can hire a third-party entity to do the work for you.
4. Dispose of all documents
Criminals routinely steal sensitive information from people and businesses, and you need to make sure your documents are purged of all data before you dispose of them. Some things you could do include shredding paper documents and securing or wiping digital data before deletion. If your files manage to end up into someone else’s hands, they won’t be able to extract any data from them.
Start by checking all the paper documents targeted for disposal. Regular paper waste can be thrown away with the rest of the trash, but invoices and documents with customer information will have to be shredded first. If possible, you can even send all paper waste for recycling so all data is destroyed.
5. Secure your data
Once you’ve physically secured your business, the next thing you need to focus on is data and systems security. Threat actors routinely target small businesses since they’re easier to infiltrate compared to large companies. A systems breach could lead to the theft of intellectual property and customer data and will devastate your business.
The survival of your business ultimately depends on the security systems you’ve put in place. If your systems can react and protect against external intrusions, you can focus your energies on the things that matter. Threats evolve all the time, and you need to constantly update your methods if you want to keep your business safe.