Owning your own business can be a fast path to success. Sure, it takes some hard work, dedication and sometimes long hours. However, with only yourself to answer to, your success can be limitless if you apply yourself. You can earn as much as you can scale to, which sure beats a fixed wage.
However, owning a business, especially a brick and mortar one, can come with some risks. If you hold valuable stock, you can be a target for nefarious sorts, who may attempt to burgle you in search of easy money.
That’s why it pays to have some business security. But what if you’re not sure about the benefits of business security? Well, in this helpful article we’ll answer all your questions about business security, from a security patrol to CCTV.
What is a Security Patrol?
A security patrol is when a security guard patrols the area near your business, either on foot or in a car. This is a great way to protect your assets, as patrols are scheduled for when you’re shut, usually for the evening.
Thieves love the cover of darkness and target unpatrolled premises during the witching hours. That’s why a patrol can be an excellent investment in security.
The presence of a patrolling security guard can often act as enough of a deterrent to keep robbers away from your store, warehouse or office. And if they’re still brazen enough to try it on, the security guard can confront them and also alert the police.
What is CCTV?
CCTV stands for closed-circuit television. Another term for CCTV is security cameras. These are cameras that a security company can place strategically around your business. They capture the comings and goings of people near your premises.
The cameras are typically positioned at entry points to your business, such as the front door, back door, garage roller, or fire doors.
Again, CCTV acts as a deterrent because if a criminal sees them near your business, there is a chance they will leave and opt for a less secure target for their dodgy activities.
Furthermore, if any crimes occur near your premises, you can release the CCTV footage to the authorities, who could use it to solve the crime and convict the perpetrators.
What About Alarms?
Alarms are another excellent business security measure. Alarm systems are rigged inside your warehouse, office or store.
An alarm system will usually use a motion detector to sense if someone is inside the location when they’re not supposed to be. You set the alarm when the last employee leaves for the night and deactivate it in the morning when opening up.
If someone breaks in and triggers the alarm, it will blare with a loud sound, usually sending the thieves running. In addition to the alarm sound, it also sends a signal to your security company, which can then come to investigate and alert you of the potential break-in.
Cyber Security: What do I Need to Do?
In this uber-digital day and age, you need to practice some cyber security. If you hold sensitive data, such as banking details and people’s credit card numbers, you need to protect that data. The same applies to your intellectual property, designs or policies.
To have rock-solid cybersecurity, you can do a few things. You should set difficult to guess passwords and change them every six months. Also, invest in a cyber security suite – there are products on the market that offer anti-virus, anti-malware, and anti-ransomware protection for a subscription fee.
Furthermore, train your staff in essential cyber security awareness, such as how to spot a phishing email, proper password procedures and online security best practice methods.
Keep up to date with the latest trends in cyber security as well. It may even help to engage a cyber security firm, or employ someone specialized in this field if your revenue allows it.
What About Lighting?
This is a good question and one worth considering. It seems like such a simple tip, but many businesses overlook the importance of lighting at night.
Having well-lit entrances to your business at night is another excellent deterrent method. Forced to choose between robbing a well-lit business and a dark one, a thief will choose the dark every time. This is because a well-lit business is visible to people passing or driving by who can surprise the thief and report their activity to emergency services.
Sure, the power bill may sting, but compare that to the costs of a robbery and the headache of an insurance claim, and the lights win out every time.
A Secure Summary
In this article, we’ve answered all your questions about business security. You should consider a security patrol and CCTV and an alarm system. Don’t neglect cyber security, especially if you hold sensitive data. Keep your premises well lit at night. Do all these things, and you are doing the best thing to protect your assets.
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