As an entrepreneur, you have a lot on your plate. You must focus on growing your business, meeting deadlines, and keeping customers happy. It can be tough to find the time to worry about security upgrades. But the fact is, if you don’t take steps to secure your physical facilities and digital resources, you’re just asking for trouble.
Criminals are getting more and more sophisticated every day. Staying ahead of the curve and protecting your business from potential attacks is crucial. Here are a few security upgrades you should consider.
Install Security Cameras
One of the best ways to deter criminals is to make it clear that your business is being watched. Security cameras send a message that you take security seriously and that any attempts to break in or vandalize your property will be caught on tape.
Make sure to place cameras strategically, so they can cover as much ground as possible. While you must put several cameras in prominent positions to act as deterrents, these cameras become vulnerable to destruction by criminal elements. You must ensure that you also have hidden cameras covering all areas.
Get an Alarm System
An alarm system is another excellent way to protect your business. This can be connected to motion sensors in sensitive areas of your facility and to entry points such as windows and doors.
If someone does manage to break in, the loud sound of the alarm will scare them off and alert everyone in the area that something is happening. Alarm systems and your security cameras can be connected to the authorities, so they can be notified as soon as an incident occurs.
Upgrade with a Smart Security System
Whatever security system you have can now be further upgraded with video analytics powered by AI. Whereas the usual security system merely records video through cameras and sets off alarms when something is already happening, a smart system’s artificial intelligence can notify you of a possible incident ahead of time and speed up investigations after an event.
These systems are designed to detect and track objects and people, and to send alerts when something out of the ordinary is happening. For example, if someone is loitering in an area they shouldn’t be or about to enter a restricted area, you’ll be immediately notified so you can take action before anything untoward occurs.
The system also detects and notifies you if someone is lying on the ground. That may indicate that the person was attacked or it may be a medical emergency. Either way, your security team can act on it at once.
This system can likewise be used to search through hours of footage quickly and efficiently. You can use it to identify suspects and gather evidence after an incident has occurred. Once it has identified a person or object, it can search for all other appearances of that person or object in the footage. That will allow you to accurately track that person’s actions without having to watch hours of footage.
Upgrade Your Locks
While you might have locks on your doors already, they might not be as secure as you think. If you’re still using traditional locks, now is the time to upgrade to something more secure.
There are a lot of new locking technologies on the market that can better protect your business. For example, you can get biometric locks that require fingerprint access. You can also get locks that connect to your alarm system, so they can be automatically activated in the event of an intrusion.
Make sure all doors and windows are properly locked at all times. If you have a safe, keep it locked when you’re not using it. Install deadbolts on all exterior doors for an extra layer of security. You should also consider investing in window bars or grilles. These make it much more difficult for criminals to break into your facility.
Digital Security
In addition to upgrading the security of your physical facility, you must also upgrade your cybersecurity. This will help protect your data from hackers who might try to break into your system remotely. According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, 22 percent of middle-market businesses had a cyber breach in 2021.
Make sure all your data is encrypted and all your devices are password-protected. Change your passwords regularly, and make sure they’re strong. Install security software on all your devices, and make sure it’s always up to date. Finally, invest in a real-time backup system on the cloud so you do not lose any data in case you are hacked.
Educate Your Employees
Train your employees in physical and cybersecurity procedures, so they can help ensure that all protocols are observed. They should know what to do in the event of an emergency.
Conduct drills regularly so your employees keep their reflexes sharp. You should also provide them with the contact information of the security team, so they can reach them easily in case of an emergency.
Keep Your Business Secure
By taking these steps, you can help keep your business safe from criminals. Invest in the security of your business, and you’ll protect your assets, your data, and your people. Remember that it’s always better to be proactive about security rather than reactive. That will give you peace of mind.
