Business security: key things every company should be doing

Author
Dakota Murphey
Business Growth Consultant
20th June 2019

Attacks on businesses are increasing. A recent report indicated that a UK business faces a cyber-attack every minute, while physical breaches continue to be a major issue across the country. Indeed, there are actually an increasing number of ways that businesses can be targeted – whether that comes in the form of physical theft from properties or hackers hijacking IT systems and stealing data. Individuals face phishing emails attempting to gain passwords and access the system and criminal activities such as surveillance can be carried out for days for criminals to find the perfect target.

This puts the onus on every organisation to do more to protect its staff, customers, and information. Here we take a look at some of the things that every business can do to deter criminals and ensure that the whole of the company is secure. 

Limiting access for cars on company property

You might think that limiting access to your company car park is simply as issue to stop people who don’t work there using the spaces, but it is actually a very serious issue for the security of the business as a whole. Vehicles can play a crucial role in criminal activities – they can be used as a physical battering ram to enter properties, a fast getaway in the event of physical theft, and they can even be used as a way to carry out clandestine surveillance at close quarters.

It is important, then, to limit access to company property for vehicles. This needs to take a number of forms. Firstly, you should of course install security barriers at the entrance to carparks to monitor who is coming in and out. But also remember that you may need to block off any potential exits – essentially any space that a car could fit through to escape the car park without using the barrier. This could be achieved with concrete barriers or even Malta rock, if you are looking for defences that are easier on the eye. 

Installing CCTV around the building

One security measure that can make a serious difference to your security is CCTV. Installing cameras around your property actually has a dual benefit. Firstly, it keeps track of people who are in and around the area, even potentially allowing you to notice suspicious activity and alert authorities before any crime can take place.

Secondly, CCTV can work as a powerful deterrent against criminals. Make sure that you put up signs that explain that the building is watched by CCTV. This is often enough to put criminals off considering your business as a target. 

Investing in powerful cyber defences 

It is important that your company should invest in cybersecurity. The days are long gone when it was acceptable to simply have a firewall and antivirus software installed to protect your business – cybercriminals have before far more sophisticated, and that means that your defences need an upgrade too. 

There are many different facets of cybersecurity that need to be considered. Firstly, businesses should regularly test their defences with vulnerability scans and penetration testing. But it is also important to use proactive threat monitoring technologies such as SIEM. 

Put security doors in place

How secure are you premises from a physical standpoint? For many businesses the answer to this question is ‘not enough’. If you have one locked door at the front of the building you might think that this is enough, but consider that if someone can gain access to that door, they can then go through your whole property without any resistance.

It is a good idea to put security doors in place, especially for any part of the business that contains sensitive information and documents. 

Develop an emergency response plan

Finally, it should be pointed out that if you want your business to be as secure as possible, you need to consider the worst-case scenario. It is vital that your company has a response plan in place for emergencies, and that staff know what they need to do. For example, staff should know that if there is a suspicious person on the premises, who they should report them to.

Staff should also know who to contact and what to do if they believe that have fallen victim to any kind of phishing scam or if they believe that they have lost company data.

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