Part of running a successful business is making sure that your data, staff, and customers are safe in the hands of your company. Many things can go wrong when it comes to business security, which is why this is something you must review regularly to get the best possible protection available to you. Here are some things you should think about to help keep your business secure.
Insurance
Getting the right business insurance is a good place to start. You should not be trading while you’re not covered by an insurer, as this will leave you unprotected should an accident or other incidents occur during that time. Basic business insurance coverage includes liability insurance (public, professional, employer, and product), insurance for your equipment, stock, the building you use for your business and its contents, and cover for any vehicles you use for work too.
Clear Policies
You should set out clear security policies in your company so that your employees understand the correct protocols when it comes to reporting a breach or other issues. You should also make it clear what your expectations are of them when managing data, confidential information, dealing with customers, and so on. The best way to do this is by including these policies and protocols in an employee handbook that they can keep and use as a reference.
Staff Training
As well as providing your employees with a handbook outlining their duties and responsibilities, it’s also important that you give them adequate training when it comes to data management and security. Even enrolling them in other training courses that are relevant to their role could be beneficial, as this will make them more confident and knowledgeable in their position. For example, for those in the IT department, look at gaining a Azure fundamentals certification, and consider how they can make your IT team stronger.
Limited Access
Limiting access to certain information or areas in your office, warehouse or store to authorized personnel only is another effective security measure. If you’re handling sensitive data, using encrypted files that only certain people know the access key for is one way of protecting it. If you want to limit access to shared folders, the platform you are using (for example Dropbox) should allow you to adjust the settings to limit access to those folders to certain team members.
Data Management
Protecting data is a big issue, especially as more and more people use digital platforms to buy, sell, and share confidential information in the modern era. You must not only protect your company’s information, but you have to do everything in your power to protect your customers’ data too. Make sure you destroy old hard drives when replacing your old computers, back up all your data to a secure network, and implement a data recovery plan in case something goes wrong. You should also be maintaining your data regularly, ensuring everything is organized and where it should be.
Anti-Virus Software and Firewalls
One of the easiest things to do to make sure your business is secure is to invest in the best quality anti-virus and firewall software that you can afford. If you do not have these things in place, you are leaving yourself vulnerable to all kinds of issues, such as hackers, or your files becoming corrupted. Some programs have been designed specifically for businesses that you should look at using.
You must make sure your business is secure. Any breaches or data disasters could leave your company’s reputation in tatters, making it hard for you to regain public trust. While you never know what the future holds, these basic, easy tips are all great places to start when it comes to improving your business security.