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Modern businesses today face an array of potential threats that can damage both their revenue and their reputation. From digital threats to physical intruders, businesses owners must be vigilant to protect both their company and its customers. Here are a few tips you can enact to help you better protect your small business.
Invest in Cybersecurity
Arguably one of the most important things businesses need to protect themselves from today is cyber-attacks. Over 80,000 cyber attacks were made per day in 2018, and this number saw a massive increase of up to 600% during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Threats such as phishing e-mails, malware, and ransomware can all potentially cause significant losses in revenue if they are allowed to occur. As a result, it’s crucial that your company invests in effective cybersecurity software to protect your digital assets.
Standard cybersecurity measures such as firewalls, antivirus software, and making regular data backups will help you identify potential threats on your network, and prevent any damaging losses of data. If you store a significant number of your digital assets on the cloud, you may also want to invest in cloud-specific cybersecurity, since traditional software isn’t always sufficient in this respect.
Be Aware of Data Regulations
Beyond your own security considerations, a data breach can also pose a threat to your business in terms of the legal ramifications associated with mishandling clients’ data. It is therefore important that your business practices responsible management of customers’ personal information.
Encrypting their personal information and protecting it with cybersecurity software is a good place to start. You should also make sure consent is received before collecting customer data, and that it is not kept unnecessarily. Sensitive information, in particular, should be destroyed as soon as it has served its purpose. For physical documents, you can use paper shredding services for this.
Update Your Locks
A good, quick way to increase the security of your building is to regularly change the locks, ensuring only the people you have given keys to can access the premises. This is especially important if you have just moved into new premises, as it will not be possible to know if everyone has returned their key.
However, even if you have worked out of the same building for years, staff turnover will mean that regularly changing the locks is still a good idea. Alternatively, you could invest in smart locks, which are initially more expensive but give you greater control of who is authorized to enter your premises.
Install a Security System
If you are particularly worried about physical intruders, installing a state-of-the-art security system may help with your peace of mind in this area.
Modern security systems offer a variety of features to prevent threats in real-time, such as security cameras with direct links to local authorities, and mobile compatibility, enabling you to be in control wherever you are. However, arguably the strongest benefit is that the presence of a security system alone acts as a powerful deterrent for potential trespassers.
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