Running a business means that you need to take on many different roles. There are so many responsibilities that a business owner needs to deal with, which is why it is a role that isn’t suited to everyone. However, if you are happy to do this and you are keen to make your business a success, you will need to think carefully about all the different things you should be doing.
One of these extremely important jobs is to keep your business protected. This could be from cyberattacks or actual thieves who might want to try to break in, for example. Read on to find out how you can do this efficiently and securely, keeping your business, its assets, and your staff safe.
Watch Out For Malware
Malware is a dangerous thing indeed. It is a piece of software that can be downloaded without even knowing about it, most usually because it was attached to an email or on a website that you inputted data into. Even though you might not notice it at first, the damage that such a piece of software can do is massive, and you will soon realize something is wrong, often when it is too late to do anything about it.
In order to combat this problem, there are some tools you can use and things you can do to reduce the chances of it happening, such as:
- Firewalls
- Anti-virus software
- Spam filters
- Training for your staff
Knowing as much as possible about malware and viruses is crucial because they will be easier to spot and to stop with the right knowledge. The last thing you want is for a virus to infect your network, spreading to customers and suppliers, and giving away sensitive information such as bank details and names and addresses to cybercriminals.
CCTV
CCTV both inside and outside your business premises is another great way to keep it and you protected. When you lock up at night, you can be sure that you will still be able to keep an eye on what is happening in and around your business. Using CCTV that alerts you to any problems via your smartphone is a great use of technology – you’ll find out immediately whether something is wrong and can contact the police if need be.
Even if the CCTV you have installed doesn’t prevent a crime from happening, it could help to capture the perpetrator and bring them to justice, which is a good outcome in the end. However, having CCTV does make it less likely that any crime would be committed as it is a good deterrent – make sure it is obvious that it is there and working, and any would-be thieves will most likely think again before breaking in or causing damage.
Passwords
Using passwords where necessary to ensure that everything has an added layer of security is crucial – if you don’t, you are effectively leaving everything ‘unlocked,’ making it simple for a thief – cyber or physical – to steal any information they want from the business.
A simple password is not going to be enough to keep things secure, though. You must choose a strong password that is difficult (impossible) to guess. Ideally, your password should contain letters and number, as well as special symbols. It shouldn’t be anything that can be related to you, such as an important date or name. It should be at least eight characters long, and more is even better.
Although it is tempting to have just one password for everything you need one for, this is a dangerous idea. If a hacker were able to decipher your password for one login, they would then have your password for all logins, and this means that all of your data from every site you log into, and all your business data, would be at risk. You could lose everything in this way, and it would take a long time to get it all back.
It is also important to change your password every six months. Make a note on your calendar to do so because even if your password is a hard one to crack, the longer you use it, the more chance there is that someone will work out what it is.
Security Guards
Security guards can be an extremely effective way of combatting any potential break-ins or problems at work. They will be a great deterrent, to begin with; why would a burglar try to steal from somewhere with a security guard if they could go someone without one and steam from there instead? Not only that, but they are a reassuring, friendly face for staff and visitors. This will make everyone feel safe within the building and could even make your business gain more customers.
And OPS security guard could work during the day to protect customers and staff, or at night to ensure that the empty office building is safe and secure. This reassuring figure can become a true asset to the company.
Training
Even with the very best protection in and around your business and on your network, if people don’t understand the consequences of their actions, and they don’t know how to use the security measures that have been put in place, then problems can still occur. It would be easy to inadvertently open an attachment that contains a virus without knowing what damage that virus could do, or even what it was, for example.
This is where training and education will be so very important for your employees.
It is crucial that you make your employees aware of what the problems they might face are, and how to avoid them where possible. The more information you can give, the better. If you find that you lack in knowledge and information, why not find a course that you can all go on to learn more? Not only will this give your employees the information you need them to have, but it will show them just how serious you are if you decide to book an external course for them to attend.
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About the author
Are Morch is the founder and owner of Are Morch – Hotel Marketing Coach. Get more from Are on Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn | Pinterest | Instagram| Podcast
