While budgets are a concern for businesses in 2020, you also need to ensure that you are protecting yourself, your employees, and the premises with proper security measures. Not only can you be held liable if someone is injured on your property due to negligent security, but you can also lose investments in your business without physical security and cybersecurity.
If you need to update your business’s security but also need to keep a budget in mind, here are some ways you can do that while maximizing your dollars.
Install fisheye cameras to provide a better view of your business.
If you do not currently have cameras installed, then consider putting up some fisheye cameras. These are designed to provide a wide-angle for surveillance so that you can monitor more areas of your commercial property. Choose 180-degree and 360-degree views that can help reduce blind spots. Some even have motion sensors installed so they go off when anyone walks by them and begin recording what is going on, minimizing unauthorized access to the building, and eliminating the vulnerability of areas in:
- Parking lots
- Hotels
- Gas stations
- Shopping centers
- Hospitals
Make sure to also choose a fisheye camera that is both weatherproof and waterproof. If you are on a budget, you don’t want to have to replace a camera because rain or wind broke it. Some also have night vision, which increases visibility at night so you can see any potential security threats.
Talk with an all-in-one security firm.
While physical security is important, you also need to take precautions with your cybersecurity. Cybersecurity is becoming increasingly important. Cyber attacks can threaten the critical infrastructure of your business and end up decreasing your overall revenue, which can be crippling for small businesses especially. While it may be expensive upfront to install preventative measures, you could save yourself a lot of money in the long run.
If you store clients’ personal information such as social security numbers, addresses, and more, then you open them up to the risk of identity theft if your data is not protected. An all-in-one security firm can help you address all aspects of security within your organization and may be able to offer some sort of package deal. They can help you come up with strategies to prevent a cyber incident such as a security breach. There are even free or cheap security software options to get you started, such as McAfee or Norton that will automatically detect any signs of a computer virus and alert you immediately.
Security is also important in the medical sector, and you may need to protect not only your computer system but also any medical devices that connect to the Internet of Things. Those devices are designed to collect patient data and send that back to you so you can monitor them. A security firm can advise you on how best to protect those devices and the sensitive information that they contain. Without that protection for patient data, you could end up violating HIPAA laws and find yourself in hot water.
Train employees in the best practices for business security.
One of the ways that security breaches can happen is if an employee fails to follow your company’s security protocol. They may use an unauthorized device to store company data or to check their email, or they could bring a flash drive to work that is compromised in some way. Make sure each employee knows the best ways to protect your company so that you can avoid these issues. Hackers will exploit any known weaknesses, including poorly trained employees.