A short guide to increasing security in your business

Every business owner worries that their property or online presence might not be secure enough. The options for security are as long as the arm, but with a short guide to set you in the right direction, security can begin to be improved.

1. Physical Security

Presuming your business has a physical presence, such as an office or a high-street outlet, securing it effectively is your first priority. Good lighting and CCTV are a good place to start to deter intruders during the hours that you aren’t there. When it comes to surveillance cameras, try to position them so that they are out of reach – even by a ladder – and well placed to see the access points of your building.

If possible, employ professional security. If you are public-facing and have been exposed to theft or threats in the past, this is a useful deterrent for repeat offenders. In terms of your internal security, you should have an inventory of all of your valuable items and devices. This should be checked regularly so that you can quickly establish when something has been taken.

If it is an electronic device, knowing exactly which one has been taken allows you to remotely disable access to it – if you have the capability.

2. Cloud Security

Once you have physical security nailed, you must also consider how you are at risk of being targeted online, should your business have digital operations. Cybercrime can be a real worry, but with a proper preparation and prevention policy, you can have confidence in your online safety.

If your business operates on the cloud, it is a good idea to consider adding a cloud access security broker to your utility belt of online security measures. A CASB gives you increased defence against cloud threats, secures your sensitive data and offers you a centralised view of who is accessing what parts of your cloud and from which device.

The cloud is a genius tool for working collaboratively and quickly sharing documents, and has some built in security measures, but you should be wary of its weaknesses. Securing it with a CASB means you can comfortably continue reaping its benefits without worry.

3. Communications Security

You should also consider encrypting your communications to prevent them from being intercepted by hackers or other malicious parties trying to steal your or your employees’ data. In the same way that you would carry out a confidential meeting in a closed office, you should not be relaying important documents or information over email or intranet systems without appropriately blocking unauthorised access.

If you are working from home, it is also important to take note of where you are carrying out your virtual or telephone meetings. Through the summer months, it can be easy to be tempted out into the back garden or onto the front porch to take that phone call with your boss or conference Zoom call with your team, but remember that people often speak louder when talking over the phone and you could be breaching security and transmitting information verbally without realising.

There you have it: three ways to increase your business’s security.