Keeping your company safe from security risks is one of your basic duties as a business owner. If you run a business which employs staff to work on commercial premises – such as a factory, an office, or in a shop – then it is your responsibility to ensure that the building is safe and that there are no intrinsic security risks in your staff’s day to day duties that could cause them harm.
Furthermore, if you own valuable equipment, you will want to ensure that it is safe from theft. The same is true of private corporate data, which can easily fall into the wrong hands.
Acknowledging these threats, and making sure you have strategies to deal with them, is your responsibility, but knowing where to start can be daunting.
Here is how to prevent security breaches as a business owner:
Your company can face security risks on the inside
The problem with keeping your business secure is that you are never quite sure who you are keeping it secure from. Some thieves could break into your premises, cyber hackers who target your website, or even individuals close to the company who could pose a threat.
It is the latter category that is the hardest to protect yourself from. While it is relatively straightforward to protect yourself from outside threats, it is tricky to protect your employees while protecting yourself from them in turn. This is not to say that you should suspect your employees of wrongdoing – far from it – only that you need to be careful with sharing private data within your company and ensure employees are locked out of private company accounts when they don’t require access to them.
Insider threats are not always deliberate, so you are essentially protecting your members of staff from making a mistake (by opening a phishing message, sharing the wrong email, or losing their laptop with passwords saved on it). However, you may suffer the misfortune of a deliberate inside data breach, which could potentially ruin your company.
As a result, you should consider using an insider threat management program that helps you pinpoint potential leaks before they happen, protecting your business in the process. You can find out more by visiting Proofpoint.
Ensure that your employees are security-checked and have been educated about cyber threats
Another tip for preventing security breaches is to do a full background check on anyone who comes into contact with your business in a professional capacity – which means new employees, business partners, freelancers, and even investors. These people will, at times, have direct access to sensitive information, so it is in your interests to ensure they are who they say they are.
It is best to employ this principle on a more relaxed level when meeting new staff members or business partners in person. Try and get to know them, and get a feeling for who they are and what they are really like. It will help you stay informed and make balanced business decisions.
Hire a dedicated security team
Of course, if you want to keep your company secure, the most straightforward action to take would be to hire a security team.
This could mean fitting surveillance cameras to your commercial premises and having someone keep an eye on them throughout the day and night.
Alternatively, if you are an online business, you could hire a cybersecurity expert to maintain your website and prevent any attacks from taking place.
