Every business owner faces security threats in one way or another. Whether in physical threats or cyberattacks, such business security issues carry grave consequences that can be extremely difficult to recover from. Cyberattacks alone cost small businesses about $200,000, putting many of them out of business. That means if you want to run a successful business, taking security issues seriously is a must. But how do you go about it? Here are some security tips every startup business should consider.
Pick a suitable business location
If your business requires a physical location to operate from, the first thing you need to consider is how safe your preferred location is. Finding a place with high traffic is essential, as it will help drive the sales you want. But setting up a shop in an area notorious for high crime rates can also ruin your business. So, before you pick a location to operate from, take the time to do a little research about the crime rate in that area. Consider similar businesses in that location, how they’re performing, what security issues they’re faced with, and how much they have to invest in securing their businesses.
Secure your physical assets
After you set up shop, the next thing you need to focus on is securing your physical assets. Whether you’re operating from a safe location or not, you need to ensure that your office or business premise is well protected. Start by securing your doors and windows. Thankfully, there are various options you can choose from to achieve this. You can also rely on experts like Turnkey Locksmith to secure your property. Beyond that, you can also find ways to protect your valuable assets like storing cash in safes, etc.
Protect your online data from cybercrime
If your business requires completing various online activities, then cybersecurity is crucial. As mentioned earlier, cybercrime can quickly bring an established company to its knees, draining it of hundreds of thousands of dollars. With the proper cybersecurity measures, you can protect sensitive business data from reaching the wrong hands and causing damage to your company.
In a day an age where you are responsible for so much of your client’s data digitally in the form of ESI (electronically stored information) it is important to protect their personal artifacts and protect it from getting stolen.
Such data can include intellectual property, personal information, client information, protected health information, employees info, marketing strategies, etc.
Cybercrime comes in various types, including internet and email fraud, cyberextortion, impersonation, theft, and sale of corporate information, etc. What’s more, cybercriminals are becoming more sophisticated by the day. That means you need to be up-to-date with significant online security trends. Some of the basic things you can do to protect your business data online include the following:
Avoid opening suspicious emails and links from unverifiable sources
Use virtual private networks (VPNs)
Keep all security software, and online program security features up-to-date
Ensure that you train your staff to be security-conscious
Use file sharing solutions that come with end-to-end encryption
Beware of phishing scams
Enable two-factor authentication
Create strong passwords
You can also rely on professional cyber or online crime detection and response services. This way, you can rest assured that you are receiving all-around online protection.
And in the event that you or your business are the victims of online crimes, there are law practice who can help you. For example, through elaw eDiscovery, the firm is able to collect, process, and analyze all of your data to help you get to the root of your problem and come up with a suitable solution.