Business security is becoming a growing issue nowadays both online and offline. As online scammers and hackers become more proficient at what they do, you are tasked with implementing advanced security features and protocols that will prevent cyber-attacks and keep your company safe in the digital realm. Likewise, you need to safeguard your physical presence, whether you are managing a retail store or if you’re running a thriving coworking space where sensitive information flows constantly between departments.
To battle the rising threats of cyber-attacks and even offline break-ins, you have to combine some budget-friendly tools and software with physical security devices. What’s more, it’s important to educate your employees on data management and storage to stop social engineering dead in its tracks. Let’s put all of this into perspective and give you the tools and tips you need to create a high-tech business security system that will protect your company on all fronts.
Start by installing video surveillance
First and foremost, good old video surveillance can safeguard your company in numerous different ways, so it’s important that you install advanced IoT camera systems in your office and on the outside. Internally, surveillance systems will make sure that you always have video documentation of what’s going on in the office, so if there is a dispute between the employees or if someone files a workplace injury lawsuit against you, you have the evidence on hand.
Externally, having a surveillance system means that you can always keep a watchful eye on your office and your surrounding assets such as your company cars and the parking lot. In the case of a break-in, you can easily identify the perpetrators and if you opt for smart surveillance, you can notify the authorities of any suspicious activity with a push of a button. Complement surveillance with motion-sensor lighting and you will have no problem keeping your office safe inside and out.
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Educate your employees on data security
Creating a high-tech security infrastructure doesn’t just boil down to the software and hardware you use – it’s also about educating your employee collective on proper data management and security. After all, your employees are your company’s first line of defense when it comes to preventing social engineering and cyber-attacks. This is why they need to know exactly how to identify a threat and handle the issue before it’s too late, especially if you’re running a global retail business with lots of online traffic.
To achieve this, you have to organize and conduct comprehensive cyber-security workshops that will emphasize crucial topics such as managing and sharing sensitive data, identifying potential cyber-attacks and email scams, as well as proper password and account information management. Elevating the employees’ knowledge of cyber-security will bring you one-step closer to creating an impregnable security system.
Introduce a hardware firewall
It is imperative that you have a strong firewall for every device in your company, however, nowadays having a software firewall is simply not enough to keep your company safe. This is why IT experts will often push business leaders to integrate a reliable hardware firewall solution into the company’s security system as well, as having a hardware firewall will add an extra layer of protection and ensure network safety at all times.
A hardware firewall is a physical device that acts as a barrier and a gatekeeper for your entire network and all of the devices in your office at the same time. This makes it highly scalable to every workplace and it allows you to filter and monitor all online traffic coming into your office. Hardware firewalls can also run VPN connections, which adds yet another layer of security for all of your devices and IoT tech.
Bring visitor management tools into the office
While it is crucial that you monitor all online traffic, it’s also important that you monitor all offline traffic around the office as well. This means that you need to know exactly who is visiting your office space throughout the day, and keep a detail log of all personnel and visitors. After all, you mustn’t let anyone waltz into your office unannounced and in order to prevent that from happening you should investigate various types of traffic counting systems and pick the one that suits you the best.
To keep security high, you should upgrade your front desk to a high-tech visitor management tool, also known as a virtual front desk. This platform will keep the doors to your office closed to anyone without an appointment or a company ID. If a visitor drops by unannounced, they will have to wait for one of your employees to meet them in the foyer. This is a handy piece of software that will elevate front-desk security and keep any unwanted visitors away from your workspace.
Elevate password security
Lastly, always remember that hackers and scammers are constantly looking for those backdoor entryways to your company’s data stores. These backdoors are typically your employees’ accounts and the accounts of past employees that you didn’t update or erase from your system. Not only is it important that you keep all accounts to all coworking platforms updated, but you also need to update your passwords regularly.
Instead of leaving password-creation up to your employees and risking someone creating an extremely weak password (as employees tend to do), be sure to use a reliable password management tool. This tool will create a truly randomized string of letters and special characters, and store the password in a safe remote place to ensure the safety and security of all accounts.
Wrapping up
Elevating business security is becoming paramount now that online and offline threats are more present than ever before. Use these tips to keep your data and employees safe, and you will have no problem eliminating online and offline threats for good.
About the author: Jolene RutherfordJolene Rutherford is a marketing specialist – turned blogger, currently writing for technivorz.com. Interested in digital marketing and new technology trends. Love sharing content that can help and inform people.
