Business Security: The 10 Best Ways to Secure Your Locations

All small business owners spend an inordinate amount of time and energy worrying about their business; it’s part of the job. The security of the facility, equipment, and inventory is one of the most often-mentioned worries. And it’s no wonder why; crime can be particularly devastating to small businesses, collectively costing them billions of dollars a year.

The #1 Culprit for Small Business Theft

According to statisticbrain.com_[1], about $50 billion is stolen from U.S. businesses by employees each year, with 75 percent of employees stealing more than once. A study by Hiscox_[2] revealed that the hardest hit were small and midsize companies, whose median loss last year was $289,864.

These businesses made up 68% of employee-theft cases. Employee theft isn’t the only threat facing businesses. Burglary, cyberattacks, vandalism, even small things like employee turnover can cost money and make your business more vulnerable.

When small businesses are victims of crime, they often react by changing their hours of operation, raising prices, or spending a lot of money to relocate to a safer location. These changes are expensive and may not even be successful. Sadly enough, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, crime is a factor in 30% of all small business closures.

What You Can Do To Help Protect Your Small Business

There are several inexpensive (and easy-to-install) ways to help deter burglars and keep any business environment safe - without eating up all your profits. Here are a few from the security experts at ADT.

Access control

Controlling who can enter and access the safe after hours is the first step towards helping to secure your small business. Keep your keys stay in trusted hands and make use of defense mechanisms you may already have installed with these 4 security tips.

1. Lock-up right: Using locks like deadbolts on all outside entrances means that any burglar must use more than a basic tool to break-in. All outside doors should be metal-lined and secured with metal crossbars, if possible.

2. Keep track of your keys: Only essential personnel should be given keys and each should be numbered and coded for tracking purposes.

3. Install a safe: Put all cash and valuables, as well as important records, in a fire-proof and securely anchored safe each night when closing the business.  This may be something you can trust with lower-level employees, as with most safes you don’t need the combination to lock the safe, just to open it.

4. Empty your register: By taking the cash out of the register each night AND opening the door to show it is empty, crooks can see there’s nothing to steal.

Help Secure the Exterior

Visibility is important. Potential intruders want a clear view of your valuables so they can make a quick get-away. Help safeguard your business and employees with these next 5 security tips.

3. Install Proper Lighting: Proper lighting is important, not only for the front and back entrances of the business but also for the parking lot. You never want employees to feel unsafe when they’re leaving work. Also, leave a few interior lights on at night to give the impression that someone may still be working

4. Protect your windows: One way to help prevent intrusion through windows is to use re-enforced glass or cover them with special glazing. All windows should be locked. In high crime areas, consider metal grates, except for display windows.

5. Lose the shrubs: Reduce vegetation around the business. This eliminates any intruder hiding places and provides police a clear view.

6. Clean up your trash: Don’t leave discarded boxes outside. Fresh boxes indicate that a fresh shipment of expensive merchandise or equipment has been stocked inside. Instead, break down boxes and drop them at your local recycling facility on your way home.

7. Be smart about your layout: Display expensive items near the center of the store and not near exits to benefit “grab and go’s”.

Install a Small Business Security System

If you’re ready to take your small business security to the next level, then it may be time to consider a professionally installed and monitored security system.

10.  Install and use an alarm system monitored by a reputable security company. Video surveillance cameras can add extra protection as well. Business security systems are a relatively small investment considering what a business gets back, including

• Discouraging burglars with window, door and motion sensors
• Keep an eye out with night vision security camera systems
• Get real-time alerts with the ADT Mobile App
• Potential Insurance discounts
• Safer employees (which could mean less turnover!)
• Reduced employee theft

Implementing these inexpensive solutions can help you take back control of your life and your business while reducing the worry that your livelihood is at risk. To learn more about what security solutions we have for your small business and peace of mind, check out our small and medium business offerings.

Sources:

[1] https://www.statisticbrain.com/employee-theft-statistics/

[2] https://www.hiscox.com/documents/2017-Hiscox-Embezzlement-Study.pdf

Mapping security to regulatory requirements

Next, make sure the elements of your security program support compliance with relevant rules and regulations governing customer data privacy and protection. Deconstruct the elements of each regulation governing your company's activities and map the elements of your security program against each regulations' requirements. For example, if subject to the GDPR, how can your company comply with an individual's data protection rights?

If this exercise uncovers gaps in your ability to protect data, assign the responsibility of addressing the deficiency to someone in the organization who possesses the authority and proper resources to handle the matter. Just as importantly, establish an expected completion date and make sure a third party, such as the internal audit department, follows up with the responsible party to ensure the remediation effort takes place.

The goal here is to ensure your security program includes basic—as well as advanced—security protections, such as firewalls, encryption and malware detection capabilities, to protect data wherever it resides within the IT environment, while also achieving compliance with industry, state, federal and international data protection laws and regulations. To improve your understanding of data privacy laws and regulations in the United States and overseas, visit DLA Piper, a multinational law firm.²

Put it in writing

If you've not done so already, create a data protection policy that documents the people, processes and technology your business depends upon to protect customer data, and remain in compliance with relevant rules and regulations.

Make sure someone within your organization reviews and updates the data protection policy on at least a bi-annual basis. To set the tone regarding how your organization handles customer data and ensure that employees and executives know their role in the process, share a copy of the policy with employees and executives regularly. To help you develop a data protection policy, here's an example from Daimler, a German multinational car manufacturer.³

Commit to continuous improvement

If you've not done so already, create a data protection policy that documents the people, processes and technology your business depends upon to protect customer data, and remain in compliance with relevant rules and regulations.

With businesses of all sizes embracing digitization, the degree to which companies rely on technology grows daily. So too does the potential for a cybercriminal to uncover weaknesses in a company's digital backbone to exploit. Therefore, combating customer data theft requires an unwavering commitment to security, which includes a willingness to dedicate attention and resources to evolving your security program to combat the latest threats.