Starting your own business is an exciting time in your life.  You've taken that leap of faith in your own abilities to make a sucess of what you know best.  Protecting yourself when starting this adventure should be at the forefront of your mind, which is where this article comes in.

Running a business is no easy thing to do. Not only do you have the needs of the business itself but you also have other things to concern yourself with. For example, the staff, marketing, and business location. A business location often is not just where your office is. It can be the place you dispatch products, or store items so that you can provide the services you sell. Not to mention the items you need for your business to run like computers and office items. A forgotten point is making sure that business location is safe. When was the last time you thought about it?

Ensuring the security of your business extends beyond physical premises. With the rise of digital operations, keeping your files secure and safeguarding against cyber threats is paramount. From protecting sensitive data to safeguarding laptops and digital assets, cyber security plays a crucial role in maintaining the integrity of your business operations. Implementing robust security measures and staying updated on the latest cyber threats can help mitigate risks and ensure the longevity of your venture.

With that in mind, here are some of the ways you can ensure your business is safe and secure. 

Why You Should Invest in Security for Your Business

When first launching your own business, it's natural to want to do so on a budget. After all, you may be relying heavily on your own savings at this point, meaning you need to ensure you protect yourself financially should things go wrong.

Despite this, there are certain elements of your business that you should always be willing to invest in or spend money on. A clear example of this is both physical and digital security procedures.

Without proper security measures in place, your business is vulnerable to:

• Theft/property damage.
• Financial loss.
• Cyberattacks and data breaches.
• Legal troubles and complaints. 
• Loss of reputation. 

Do not make the mistake of believing that since your business is on the smaller side, you are not vulnerable to security threats and breaches. In fact, it could be the opposite. For example, small businesses are more likely to fall victim to cyber-attacks, given that hackers know they are less likely to have the infrastructure in place to protect themselves.

With that in mind, here are some tips you can use to ensure poor security does not stand in the way of business growth.

Securing Your Business Location

One of the first things to consider would be the location of your business. Finding a decent commercial property can feel like a difficult task, especially when you want to ensure that it will be fit for purpose as well as secure. Most businesses start from home, so to get to a stage where you need to have your business outside of it can feel daunting. Spending time to find the best and most secure location can give you peace of mind. 

Here's some ideas to ensure your business location is secure:

• Security cameras

Set up a security camera. Security Cameras are more than just a way to record those who access your business premises, as “well-placed security cameras around the business help to deter criminals and provide the necessary footage to secure a conviction.” As a result, they could stop a potential offender in their tracks. Security cameras can also be paired with alarms and motion sensors, alerting both yourself and emergency services instantaneously when a breach occurs. This allows you to respond quickly and efficiently to the issue. 

• Alarm systems

Any location, be it residential or commercial, should have an alarm system in place. This is one of the easiest ways you can protect your assets. Many businesses have this kind of system in place where a key fob is used to arm and disarm the alarm system. Mostly this will only be certain people who have access to the alarm system to ensure that it stays secure. Alarm systems can be added easily by trusted professionals. Often they will come with a support network where certain people will be called if there are any issues with the alarm being triggered. 

• Security lighting

Sometimes just have an outside light displayed is enough to deter any opportunists. If someone comes into the area, the light will be activated. It can be enough to alert anyone who is in the area such as a security guard. This kind of security measure is popular amongst small business owners who are looking to keep their security levels high without a huge investment. 

• Locks placed on doors 

Common sense would suggest that all door locks are checked. But you would be surprised how often details like this are missed. Ensuring that you have decent locks placed on doors and entrances is a great security measure to put in place. Some locks can be placed at the top and bottom of doors, making it harder to smash through an originally locked door. 

• Access control

Install a business intercom. On any given day, a wide range of people could enter your business - from employees to visitors to delivery personnel. As a business owner, you must take access control seriously, as you must ensure that no authorised personnel gain access to your facility. One way in which you can achieve this goal is by installing a business intercom. This allows you to remotely control and monitor who enters your business. 

 

Protecting your Assets and Finances

Another thing to think about would be the protection of your finances. It may be that you have companies that owe you money for goods or services, or perhaps you need to consider chasing unpaid payment for services that have been given and not paid for. Protecting your finances and assets is key and this is when employing the help of debt collectors could help your business out. They can manage a solution for you and can often get better results than you could. 

Cyber Security

Install cybersecurity software. There are many different benefits of installing cyber security software onto your business devices. This is because they can prevent hackers from gaining access to sensitive or vulnerable data. This way, you’re much less likely to deal with a data breach that could cost you thousands. It can also inform you whether or not certain websites you are accessing are ‘risky’ (i.e, whether they contain damaging viruses or other security threats), helping you to stay safe online. 

Here are some additional ideas to make your business cyber secure:

• Conduct regular software updates: Keep all software, including operating systems and applications, up to date with the latest security patches to address vulnerabilities.
• Educate employees about cyber threats: Provide training on how to recognise phishing emails, avoid clicking on suspicious links, and adhere to safe browsing practices.
• Enable firewalls: Activate firewalls on all business devices to monitor and control incoming and outgoing network traffic, reducing the risk of unauthorised access.
• Secure Wi-Fi networks: Use encrypted Wi-Fi networks and change default router passwords to prevent unauthorised access to your network.
• Backup data regularly: Implement automated backup systems to ensure that critical business data is regularly backed up and stored securely, reducing the impact of data loss in the event of a cyber attack.
• Limit access to sensitive information: Grant access to sensitive data only to employees who require it for their roles, and regularly review and update access permissions.
• Invest in cybersecurity insurance: Consider purchasing cybersecurity insurance to provide financial protection in the event of a data breach or cyber attack.

Strong passwords

Use a good password. Poor passwords (such as those that are easy to guess), are one of the key causes of digital data breaches. As a result, you must use a strong password that does not relate back to your personal life (birthday, pet names etc.). You should also ensure you use different passwords for different parts of your business, such as email and document access - as 50% of people use the same password for all their logins. This may not seem like a big deal, but it means that if a hacker gains access to one of your accounts, they can access them all.  

Final thoughts

Let’s hope this has enlightened you on some of the ways you can protect your business to make sure that it is safe and secure at all times. With a bit of care and dudiligence you can avoid costly mistakes that could potentially cripple your new business.  These are our top tips for any new business and a great starting point for investing in your future business.  Take these seriously and you're off to a great start.