Meghan Belnap https://www.wvtech.com.au 2m 607 #security
The views of this article are the perspective of the author and may not be reflective of Confessions of the Professions.
Although cybersecurity is critical to protect your business, there are many other security measures necessary to keep your office and employees safe as well. Unfortunately, too many business owners neglect several of these measures and that neglect could result in a dangerous situation.
Control Access to the Building
In any location where you do not need the public to access your building easily, controlling who enters is one of the best steps you can take to protecting your employees and your company. Today, keycard access systems are relatively inexpensive and allow you to control who enters the building, what time they may enter and provides you with details of what keycards are used at a given time.
Proper Data Disposal
Just as important as the data you keep locked in your building is the data you throw away. While most companies are aware of the best practices involved in shredding documents containing sensitive information, many forget that a lot of that same information, and more, is stored on the hard drives that they throw away in old company computers. Every company should have proper hard drive destruction measures involved whenever they dispose of old computers. The best way to accomplish this is to have your IT team work with an electronics disposal company that has certified processes for recycling old electronics while safely destroying sensitive company data.
Install Proper Lighting
There is evidence that a well-lit area is less likely to be the location of a crime. Burglars and other criminals do not want to be seen as they commit a crime so they will avoid well-lit areas. If you don’t want to have your parking lot lit at all times, consider adding motion sensors that will turn on when someone walks under them. If you have security cameras outside your building, be sure they area they view is well-lit. Police often find that if the area around the camera is not well lit, it is difficult to identify anyone committing a crime in its view.
Protect Your Servers
Most businesses have a server room where all IT devices are stored. It is critical that you protect your servers, both by limiting access to the room and keeping the technical devices cool. Place a lock on the door of your server room that can only be accessed by your IT staff. If possible, install keycard access locks to make it easier for your IT staff. Protecting your servers prevents unauthorized access to your most sensitive data.
Not only is it important to protect your electronic data, remember to protect printed data as well. Very often, employees leave sensitive information on their desk when they take a break, head out for lunch or leave for the day. Create a policy that all sensitive documents must be placed in locked file cabinets when an employee will be away from their desk for more than just a minute or two. Invest in a shredder so all sensitive documents you no longer need are safely destroyed.
Provide Training
You can implement all the security measures you want, but if you do not train your employees, it won’t keep your company safe. Schedule regular training of your employees that is relevant to your business. Retail stores may need specific training on shoplifting or robbery. Office buildings need procedures for when an unauthorized person accesses the building for any reason.
Protecting your business is critical, but it is important to protect it from all possible dangers. Although cybersecurity is important, securing other areas of your company is also necessary. A combination of both is essential to the security of any business.
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