Security for business (physical and digital): key strategies

This guide outlines fundamental strategies for physical and digital security for business, to keep your assets safe.

Your business is under threat, not only in the physical world but also in the virtual one. Unfortunately, many companies think that serious security breaches will not happen to them.

However, with the potential long term survival of your company on the line, doing everything you can to prevent any possible security risks is critical in security for business. Fortunately, you can read all about how to do this in the guide below.

Security for business (physical and digital): key strategies

Physical security issues

First of all, when it comes to issues with physical security for business, keeping access to an ‘as-needed basis’ is the best approach. That is no one gets access to a particular area unless they actually need to be there.

In fact, there are several benefits to running your business in this way. The first is that when access to sensitive areas is restricted, it is much easier to track any internal theft or security risks. Additionally, it will help to protect the wellbeing of your employees. The reason being that they will only ever find themselves in spaces which they have been thoroughly trained to operate in

One of the most straightforward ways that you can keep access to certain parts of your business restricted is to operate a buzz and sign-in policy. That means people cannot just walk off of the stress, but instead need an ID card, or to be granted access by security or reception.

CCTV security for business

Another way that you can promote the physical security of your business is to install CCTV in choice positions. The critical thing to remember here is that it is the positioning of the cameras that will make all the difference.

What that means is any vulnerable spots such as entrances and exits should be covered by CCTV equipment. If you have a larger business or one with lots of valuable assets on-site, you may even want someone to monitor your CCTV security at all times. Moreover, considering the implementation of access control solutions can further enhance your security measures, ensuring that only authorized individuals have access to sensitive areas within your premises.

Security management

For the most effective physical security, it is vital that you have a cohesive strategy and that there is someone in charge of your security management. The good news is that ensuring your security management is as streamlined and effective as possible is no longer a difficult task.

This is because you can use apps like Patrol Points that will allow you to schedule security patrols and instantly report incidents. Such apps can even help you monitor situations as they occur. Something that means if a security issue does pop up, you can deal with it effectively and quickly before it evolves into something more serious.

In-house cleaning

Finally, when it comes to physical security for your business, remember that in-house cleaners that you have vetted and safety checked are a good idea.

After all, agencies often send whomever they have available at the time. Something that means there is no guarantee that such people will not take advantage of a situation where they are presented with valuable stock. It is even possible that unvetted cleaning staff can cause cybersecurity risks. For example, gaining unsupervised access to rooms where your business’s servers cleaned

Cybersecurity issues

Now, we have looked at the physical issue of security in your business, let’s turn our attention to the problems of cybersecurity. Of course, this can be a real problem for many companies, as unless you are an expert in the area it can seem very intimidating.

The good news is that there are plenty of tactics that you can use in conjunction with your IT team that will help to minimise the risks involved.

Keeping your data secure

The first of these is to remember that one of your main aims as a business is to keep your data secure. There are numerous reasons for this, including your legal data protection obligations, and the effect that confidential data getting out could have on your businesses operations.

For instance, integrating SOC 2 readiness into your operations is essential to meet rigorous industry standards, safeguard sensitive information, and uphold trust with customers and stakeholders.

Additionally, do not forget that in this information age, data is usually one of the most valuable assets you have. Whether it’s a list of potential customers or plans for a new product or an expansion. Therefore making sure it is as secure as possible is vital

Educate yourself and your staff on the types of cyber attack

The first way that you can make sure your business data is as secure is to educate your employees on all of the different forms such an attack can take. Sadly, there are quite a few that your business will need to contend with. Therefore, anyone using IT systems in the course of their day will need to be educated about them.

The first of these is malware. This is software that will corrupt or take over a system. While the second is known as phishing. Although, this is one that is pretty common and so many employees will already be aware of how phishing and what to look out for when identifying them. Of course, that doesn’t mean it isn’t still worth explaining that any suspicious emails should be deleted immediately!

Then there are “Man in the Middle” (MitM) attacks where messages are intercepted in transit. This is a method that can help those with malicious intent to gain valuable information.

Another common and potentially devastating cybersecurity attack is ransomware. These attacks work on the simple premise that they will shut down your systems until a fee is paid. Something that has been used to target business and organisations alike in recent times.

Finally, DDoS attacks, including DNS attacks, can also be particularly disruptive. The reason being that they can be used to crash your business’s website and make it unreachable for your customers.

Of course, there are other types of cybersecurity attacks to be aware of as well. The good news is that by educating employees and using up-to-date antivirus software, you can minimise the chances that they will cause a significant problem to your business.

Keep things up to date in security for business

While we are on the topic of keeping things up to date, it’s also essential to update your business software as soon as you are prompted. The reason for this is that software updates often contain additional security measures for newly identified threats. Therefore, if you ignore them, you will leave your system vulnerable to attack.

Small issues can turn into bigs ones, very fast

Remember too that when it comes to cybersecurity, small issues can have a significant effect. What we mean here is that poorly chosen passwords can create untold damage. While a policy that does not forbid the use of thumb drives in the office can quickly spiral into possible security breaches. With that in mind, be sure to carefully consider all the possible breaches when writing and enforcing your security policy.

Have an emergency plan in case of a breach

Expect the best, and plan for the worst is good advice in a myriad of situations. Not least when it comes to cybersecurity in your business. To that end, having a plan that you can put into action if the worst does happen is essential. Be sure to consider whom you will need to contact including customers, employees, and those that can help you resolve the issues.

Also, include a section on putting any other additional security measures in action once the first event has occurred. A course of action that can be a good way of minimising any damage that is done.

Final thoughts on security for business

While there may be both physical and cyber threats to your business, smart forward planning can help minimise the chances they will succeed. It is also wise to have a system in place in case they do occur that will reduce their impact as well.