As your business grows and further staff and equipment are brought into it, security will become more and more of a priority. For the majority of your business’s lifespan, you should hopefully never have to encounter a reason for your security measures to be under any kind of strain or threat. However for the rare circumstances that this could be the case, wouldn’t you feel better knowing that you have invested in the right security measures for your staff and equipment?
Investing in security can be a serious expenditure but depending on the size of your business and the value of the items you have on-site, it is worth the extra cost for that piece of mind. Remember that you should be budgeting relative to your company size. For example, you don’t need doormen and full retinal ID to access an office if all you have in there are the recycling bins.
So what should you look into security-wise for your business? Well, there are many options that you can explore here today, in the list below.
Table of Contents
Invest in physical security
Physical security is just that. Something physical that gets in the way of a would-be intruder or lost visitor. Physical security can range from bars on windows to fenced premises and key fobs to biometric scanners. If you are a smaller scale business then investing in simple options is the best way to start. Think about having locked doors with only 2 keys that you and only one other staff member have access to. Or invest in a locked gate if you have permission to control the flow of traffic into the premises. Simple options are some of the best deterrents against anyone looking to unlawfully access your business. Obvious, but working, cameras are a great way to deter intruders and to provide evidence in case they are bold enough to follow through with their attack anyway.
Hire security staff
If you have a heavy flow of people entering your premises on a regular basis then security staff should be strongly considered to make sure you know who is coming and who is going. If you hire third-party staff, make sure to check their credentials company history so you know that you will work well together. Keep them in the loop about any changes to your security plans as well as what their limitations are on the prevention of access to the premises. If you hire security in-house, make sure you are performing the correct background checks on their certifications and employment history so that you know they are the best fit for the role. Provide them with a central hub from which they conduct all their security operations should space allow for it.
Digital information protection
In the digital age, hackers are getting more and more creative with trying to access your companies sensitive data. While you could just keep all your information on paper, at some point it needs to be digital in order to make it usable in the wider world. Again, simple security is best. Education of your staff again hacking and phishing attempts is the best way to help prevent access to your companies data. Also, have the data separated with permission for staff to only access the limited parts that they need. Disgruntled employees account for a good number of digital security issues so limiting their access is a necessary step.
Also, have backups of important data stored off-site as well. Should the worst happen to your physical location, having access to your important records is going to be a lifesaver in both legal claims and in rebuilding your business. The country you operate out of may also have legal standards for data protection as well. Make sure you comply with these to the letter as they often provide excellent guidelines for keeping data safe.
Improve your company vehicles
This may not be as obvious at first glance but if you are providing staff with means of transport for them to travel any length of distance in then you should look to buy personal safety items for your vehicles. Of course, what you purchase is going to be dependant on which country your company operates in and the job at hand for your workers. Do they carry expensive testing and electrical equipment? Why not have locked and secured strong boxes installed in their vehicles. Are they driving off-road often through rough terrain? Install bright LED lights and consider winches. Vehicles should have all the necessary kit to get themselves out simple issues such as spare tires, first aid kits, and other similar emergency equipment. Again education is key here. Make sure your staff is well versed in using any of the provided kits before they need to actually employ them, to prevent further injuries or issues.
Education and drills
Finally, all your staff should be educated and versed in what to do if they suspect anything or are caught in a real emergency. This should be done at the induction of new staff, with ongoing training throughout their careers with you. This includes fire drills, security breaches information handling, and access procedures. Consider writing and providing an employee security handbook that staff have access too as and when they wish. Having your staff know what to do in any given situation is the best way to make sure that you get the most out of your other, more expensive security measures. Remember that your staff is often the first line of defense in preventing security issues so their education is an investment into this line.
Conclusion
Hopefully, this list has opened your eyes to the possible areas of vulnerability within your business and some methods that you can employ to help prevent issues down the road. Remember that the keystone in all of these measures is the education of your staff. Having cameras, locked doors and kitted vehicles is all well and good, but they amount to nothing when your staff doesn’t know how to actually use or work them when it actually matters. You don’t want security issues to spiral out of hand just because your staff didn’t receive a quick and simple-to-deliver training session.