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Creating A Safer Business – Online And Physically

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Business security is an important issue for any company to consider. With the ever-changing landscape of cyber threats and data breaches, it is of paramount importance that organisations understand their risks, develop proactive strategies, and equip their staff with the necessary training to protect corporate assets. 

In this guide, you’ll find everything you need to know about protecting your business online and non!

Level Up Your Cybersecurity Strategy

Taking steps to protect your new organisation or well-established business against cyber threats is important. Ideally, you should adopt a layered approach with components such as advanced firewalls, malware protection, network segmentation, and security awareness training. You should also work with your IT department to manage your employees’ access to data, files, networks, and applications. 

Additionally, you should have a contingency plan in place to detect unusual or suspicious activity quickly and reduce the damage that a cyberattack might cause. Finally, test your systems regularly and have an independent audit of your IT infrastructure every 12 months.

Understand best Practices and Get Your Teams Involved

According to a recent estimation by the World Economic Forum, over 95% of cybersecurity incidents involve human error. In turn, adopting cybersecurity best practices and ensuring that your team is actively protecting your business are essential steps to take. These include keeping passwords up to date, learning how to react to ransomware threats, inspecting emails and notifications for malicious links, and using safe networks. 

Consider Introducing Customer Liveness Checks

Another step to secure your business and improve your customer’s experience is to implement liveness checks when a user created an account online 

For example, you can request users to take a selfie while they are performing an action on your website or make sure that the payments originate from safe networks. This will keep scammers away and protect both parties involved in the transaction. Additionally, by introducing liveness checks like voice biometrics identification you demonstrate commitment towards providing a secure user experience for your clients.

If you are looking to introduce these technologies within your business, this article can help. 

Backup Data Regularly 

Data breaches can have disastrous consequences for any business, including financial losses and reputational damage. And, the extent of the damage of a breach is only bound to increase as businesses become increasingly reliant on data!

Backing up data onto multiple secure servers will ensure that your information stays safe in the event of a disaster or cyber attack. Additionally, encrypting this backed-up data adds an extra level of protection against potential breaches from hackers. 

Handle Sensitive Information Securely  

Customer, shareholder, and market data are critical to the success of your business. However, when handled incorrectly, sensitive information can become a significant liability for any organisation. 

That is why, when it comes to dealing with sensitive information, as a business you should pay extra care. Ensure both physical and digital data are secure by disposing of old documents safely and encrypting computer files that contain sensitive information (i.e.: customer data, passwords, banking details and other confidential information). Even with these measures in place, make sure to keep your systems up to date, use safe communication channels, and implement two-factor authentication methods. 

Protect Your Physical Business Premises

Although having a bulletproof cybersecurity strategy in place is important for any business, physical security is still an essential element of a company’s overall security plan. From door locks to external surveillance systems, it’s important to protect your premises and valuable assets from criminals. 

Some key tips to keep your business’s physical premises safe include:

  • Secure potential points of entry
  • Secure vulnerable digital technology
  • Install motion detectors or CCTV systems 
  • Install sensors and alarms
  • Conduct regular staff training as well as test all access control devices. 

Keep in mind that physical security also extends to fire safety protocols such as smoke detectors and fire extinguishers. 

Use Technological Solutions for Surveillance and Access Control

Although CCTV systems, sensors, and alarms are crucial to keep your business safe from criminals, don’t forget that more advanced technologies can also help you safeguard your organisation from bad actors, For example, access controls technologies such as keypads and biometric locks are essential to maintain tight security around sensitive information and valuable goods in premises. For extra protection consider regular lock changes, staff screenings, and biometrical identification tools. 

Invest in a Comprehensive Insurance Policy

Lastly, for how safe you are trying to keep your organisation, some incidents and risks cannot be entirely prevented. In this case, having a comprehensive insurance policy in place might prove invaluable to the survival of your company!

PM Today Contributor
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