3 Security Features Every Business Should Implement

[This article was written by Becca J. Meyers.]

A security breach can undo all your hard work, damage your reputation, and affect your bottom line. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), there were more than seven million property crime offenses in 2017.
About 80% of property crime involved theft, larceny, and burglary. As a business, you should anticipate these risks and put in place security measures to protect your business, staff, and customers. Fortunately, you can protect your business by installing the following security features.

1. Perimeter protection

Perimeter protection is the first line of defense against any outside security threats. It can be achieved by installing layers of systems to protect the building and assets against intruders. Here are some technologies that are useful for perimeter protection.

• CCTV Monitoring – Closed-circuit television helps in surveillance. Camera surveillance does not only intimidate criminals; they also help identify suspects when a crime is committed on your business premise. CCTVs compliment the work done by security guards.
• Lighting – Proper lighting does not just deter burglars and intruders; it is also a safety feature. To minimize power costs, consider installing motion sensors and LED bulbs.
• Bollards – Crash rated bollards are a useful tool for hostile vehicle mitigations. The available bollards include shallow, fixed, and removable bollards.
• Fence – This is the outermost layer of perimeter protection. Barriers deter animals, vandals, and trespassers from accessing your property. A fence can be made of concrete or chain-link depending on the preference. Consider electrifying your fence for additional protection.
• Doors and Locks – Solid doors, strong hinges, and electronic locks protect sensitive areas of the business from unauthorized access.

2. Hiring security Team

A majority of businesses may not be able to afford security staff. However, it may be beneficial to have at least one security guard on the premise. Here are some of the roles of an organized security team play.

• Access Control – Every business needs a way to control who has access to the building. It might not be necessary for smaller companies. The security guards can check for identifications at the gate and all entry points.
• Visitor Management – Businesses require an efficient method to control visitors to minimize security breaches. Proper visitor management ensures that there is a way to verify and track them while they are on your business premise.
• An Emergency Plan – As a precaution, businesses need to put in place protocols to be followed during an emergency. Outsourced security teams can help audit the security of your business and implement better methods.

3. Network and Data protection

Cybersecurity is just as critical as physical security. For larger companies, data breaches can lead to the loss of millions of dollars. Cybercrime rates have tripled in the last few years, a trend that is expected to continue.
The U.S economy lost $3.5 billion due to cyberattacks in 2019 alone. Fortunately, you don’t need a multi-million-dollar budget to protect your business. The following are some data security features to implement.

• Firewalls – A firewall provides a layer of protection between your internal network and the internet. The outgoing and incoming traffic is pre-screened and analyzed. It helps protect sensitive documents, such as financial records.
• Anti-virus Protection – An anti-virus is software that scans files and programs to determine if they are malware. Anti-viruses protect individual computers from cyberattacks. Just remember to update them regularly.
• Secure Data Back-Up – It always a good idea to back-up all your data in case there is damage, theft, or security breach. Back-up storage can be in the form of local storage devices, networks, or cloud-based. A useful data back-up solution should be secure, fast, and easy to implement.
• Mobile Device Security – A lost laptop or smartphone can lead to severe data breaches. You can protect all your mobile devices through encryption and password protection. Passwords can be hacked, but encryption makes the content unreadable to unauthorized users. For maximum security, ensure that your devices have full-disk encryption.

Bottom Line
Security breaches are not just about money. It can also lead to loss of lives and injuries. It is the responsibility of the business no matter how small to protect its staff and customers during business hours. Hopefully, this information compels you to step up in the security department. Don’t wait until something happens; take action now. Prevention is often cheaper than cure.

Author Bio:

Becca is a java junkie from the West Coast. She enjoys dancing with her husband and has a knack for finding the next big indie boardgame. You can always find her sitting in her tub eating and helping businesses secure their infrastructure with crash-rated bollards.