Tips To Improve Small Business Security And Safety
Small businesses owners consider themselves immune to break-ins or cyber-attacks because they think criminals are more interested in big businesses and bigger funds.
Unfortunately, statistics prove otherwise. Criminals go after small businesses at an alarming rate both on- and off-line because these little organizations are the least equipped to cope with the financial and reputational losses that come along with data theft.
Luckily, an ounce of prevention is most definitely worth a pound of cure. The more you invest in securing your company (even if you don’t perceive yourself to be at risk), the less likely you are to be targeted by criminals. Outside of investing in a security system, the following strategies will help beef up security at your small business.
1. Check Doors and Windows
Most business owners do not spend much time thinking about the quality of their doors and windows. As long as they shut and lock, they think the doors and windows provide adequate protection. As a small business owner, you should not settle for just having standard doors and windows. You want to make sure they can effectively protect against break-ins.
You should consider installing doors made from reinforced wood or steel. If your doors are made from glass, consider roll-down safety gates. You could also consider reinforcing frames with metal plates and reinforced strike boxes. If you have a room where safe or other valuables are stored, you may want to invest in stronger interior doors for these areas.
2. Upgrade to Smart Locks
Along with checking the quality of your doors, you also need to inspect your locks. If your locks are of poor quality, they should be replaced. For an added alarm system, you should also think about installing smart locks as a measure for improved access control.
With smart locks, you have an access control system that can overcome some of the issues that come with having a physical key. Instead of issuing keys that can be copied or stolen, you can give employees unique access codes. When an employee leaves the company, you don’t have to worry about getting the key back; all you have to do is remove their access code from the system. As an additional benefit, smart locks can keep access records so you know who is accessing which door at different times.
3. Improve Exterior Lighting
Poorly lit exteriors can be an invitation to crime. Many businesses have poor lighting on the sides or near the back of the structure and this can increase the risk of different types of crimes. Consider adding lights in areas that are dark and make sure your side and back exits are well lit. Additionally, you want to make sure your parking area has good lighting to prevent crime.
One good option is to consider installing motion lights for areas that do not see a lot of traffic. With lights that are motion-activated, you can ensure that the area has the light it needs when it needs it, but you do not have to spend extra money lighting the area when it is not in use. You could also consider installing smart lights on the interior. Smart lights can mimic the activity of an occupied structure and this will give burglars the impression that there are people there when the building is empty
4. Do a building check before and after work.
It might sound basic, but casing your building before and after work is a great way to develop a sense of what’s normal — and what’s not — and alert you to any potential issues as soon as possible (as an added bonus, this will also help you stay on top of facility repairs and maintenance). In addition to taking charge of this yourself, be sure to encourage your employees to report anything that seems suspicious or out of place.
5. Develop a response plan.
If a break-in or other security breach occurs, nobody on your team is going to be thinking straight. Help people respond effectively by providing them with a response plan before anything nefarious ever happens and training them in the appropriate protocols. Even if your team never has to use this knowledge, it will empower and relieve employees to know there’s a plan in place.
By incorporating security into your small business today, you can help avoid both physical and cyber attacks moving forward. You’ll also provide yourself and your team members with greater peace of mind, and that alone makes your efforts well worth it.
