Securing a business should be a top responsibility for all entrepreneurs. Unfortunately, due to the high number of tasks that business owners need to complete, they don’t have enough time to think about this aspect. Each business has a lot of records, marketing data, legal documents and even cash that should never be made public. Therefore, one has to consider the most effective ways of securing all the personal data that their company operates with. Besides that, business owners might need to take into account securing their premises, as well. It’s much better to be “safe rather than sorry” in this case.
These days a lot of small businesses are falling victims to online crime. The percentage of companies that suffer a security breach is not decreasing either. A lot of small businesses are making the most of using the latest technologies such as cloud computing, big data, and analytics. Therefore, it is important to remember that all of these modern technologies require a lot of responsibility. Entrepreneurs need to understand the risks and learn different ways of securing their companies. The following tips are meant to help entrepreneurs find the most suitable solution for their company.
- Secure the Premises
Appropriate security measures should be implemented for your company, regardless of the type of premises where you operate. When it comes to commercial premises or factories, security helps prevent all kinds of crimes. In order to make sure that no crimes or vandalism are going to take place on the premises of your company, you need to implement a comprehensive security plan and train your staff. However, before you proceed to create a security plan, it is important to identify the possible risks. Carry out a business risk assessment and observe every aspect of your business – property, IT systems, and data. Implement a system that monitors every person that enters the premises of your business. Install an alarm system that can sense, decide and act when possible threats occur. Lastly, use security cameras to investigate and collect images.
- Know Your Data
All data is important, but not all data is equal. One of the first points for any business would be to understand which data is critical or sensitive to your company. After that, learn how data is used and stored. Remember that protecting your data is like protecting the other parts of your business. Once lost, business data is not that easy to recover, as opposed to the ability to replace building infrastructure, machinery or equipment. Data is the foundation of your business. Think of all the time you’ve spent investing in that data. Cybercriminals target your business data because they can monetize it. If it gets into the wrong hands, it can be worth a lot of money. It means that to secure your business data, you need to invest in a firewall or implement secure backup and recovery systems.
- Manage Your Passwords
Having a strong password policy might not be that convenient, but it can prevent a data breach or a network crash. Making sure that passwords are secure and enforced at all times is not that easy. Many companies are struggling to solve the problem of weak passwords. Weak passwords have become the norm for a lot of companies these days, and that’s only because people are more afraid of forgetting their password instead of realizing the risk of being hacked. Luckily, consumers can use password managers that can manage, store and protect all of their company’s passwords. They provide oversight, security controls, and user management. Nevertheless, when it comes to password managers, there is no solution which fits all companies.
- Be Prepared
All businesses, both small and large, need to have a formal document as an integral part of their security strategy. By having this formal document, business owners can not only plan useful ways of protecting their data and services, but they can also be prepared to take actions if things don’t do go to plan. Even though many small business owners consider that this kind of document is suitable just for larger companies, they’re wrong. Implementing a security policy helps you understand how security data can influence your business. Then, you can proceed to create a structured response that suits your company’s needs. Being in contact with a law office can be a good way of learning about what measures you can take if things go wrong. Verhaeghe Law Office offers legal solutions and expert advice for all kinds of companies.
- Implement a Mobile Device Policy
Nowadays mobile phones are used on a large scale as a working, shopping and socializing platform. However, not many people are fully aware of the tremendous security vulnerabilities that accompany the use of smartphones. According to recent research, around 11.6 mobile phones were affected at a given time by malicious code, and yet it seems like a lot of organizations still allow their employers to download the latest apps on their company’s phones. Hackers can easily get access to personal documents and sensitive data by rooting a device through insecure apps. They can also hijack the camera or the microphone of the phone and spy on meetings. In order to eliminate this threat, business owners need to implement a strict mobile device policy.
- Keep Updated
Last but not least, to have a secure business, one has to stay up to date, especially when it comes to the software that they use on a daily basis. The main software that has to be updated includes the operating systems on all devices and the software that works on the other security systems. Besides that, keeping their antivirus software up to date provides great protection. Security software usually checks for the latest updates, unless the auto-update option is switched off. Another useful way of protecting sensitive data is by scheduling scanners to run system checks on a regular basis. Patching policies and automated patch-management systems are a great alternative for companies that have more resources. In any case, doing nothing is not an option.
Nowadays all companies need an intelligent security system to fight cybercriminals. Consider the options presented above and don’t let your business become a victim of hackers.
