Whatever the size of your business, you are always in some way vulnerable to attacks and security threats without the proper measures. Especially if you are a small business owner who is still learning the ropes, you might need some help to grasp numerous aspects of security.
There are things to prioritize, from your physical assets to intellectual property and digital data. Aside from the financial costs attached to breaches, there is also the general well-being of your office, your assets, and your employees that you are concerned about.
It greatly helps to seek the assistance of a lawyer specializing in small businesses to make sure that the legal structure and even the permits that your business needs are accounted for. But note that some questions do not make themselves apparent on the get-go. Having a lawyer you can approach for your concerns helps prevent legal issues that could compromise your assets.
As you build the protection systems of your business, pay attention to these areas to have a secure workplace.
Protecting Your Employees
Your employees are the most valuable assets of your business. They lend their time and skills to keep your small business running smoothly.
When your employees’ safety is compromised, their ability to work is also affected. Here are the most important ways to protect them.
Protect their private information.
Establish a policy that details how your company stores, uses and protects employee information. This reassures your employees that whatever information they give you is being used purely for professional purposes.
It is also important to state the consequences of misusing employee information as an added layer of protection for your team. Emphasizing the disciplinary action involved in these offenses shows your employees that you are serious about upholding these policies.
Foster a safe, healthy work environment.
Another essential method of protecting your employees is to create a workplace culture that enables them to be productive without overworking them. One way to enforce this is to stay faithful to your set work hours. Make sure your team managers follow the rule that work-related talk stays within the allotted time for work.
Also, the workforce today is significantly made up of millennials. Studies have shown that millennial workers prefer flexible work schedules over high pays. Listen to what your employees need and make adjustments as is reasonable for the business.
Work with your staff to develop a culture that promotes camaraderie and at the same time encourages productivity and teamwork.
Safeguarding Your Physical Assets
Physical assets, also known as tangible assets, are your workplace tools that exist materially. For a small business, physical assets usually include your office space, the tools and equipment you have there, and your products or supplies.
To secure your office premises, install smart surveillance systems covering your business property both inside and outside. Thanks to technological advancements, CCTV cameras today record footage in HD quality and allow remote access via smartphones. This makes it easier to check on your workplace, especially when no one is present on the premises.
Install smart locks, too, to limit access to specific areas in the offices and to increase security in every area. Having a key card system that only allows employees entry into the office also helps keep your physical assets stored inside the office safe from intruders.
Safeguarding Your Data
Employees and physical assets are not the only things that need protection. You also need to safeguard your data from fraud, hacking, and other threats that show up in the digital space.
Have the proper data protection software.
Since cloud services are a must for any business nowadays, this means you will be storing a lot of your company documents digitally. Your employees will also be collaborating online often. Since so much of your business’s information is online, you need to have the right tools to prevent theft.
The basic forms of protection you can install for your office systems are antivirus and information management software. You can also instruct employees to enable two-factor authentication to make sure that their employee emails and other work-related accounts have a strong layer of security should an attempt be made at hacking or information theft.
Ensure you also keep backups of all of your important business information and documents so that there will be no issues if files are lost or corrupted.
Final Thoughts
When you think of protecting your small business, you have to approach it from a few different angles. As you find the best solutions for your business, remember to prioritize your employees’ security, physical assets, and data.
