Building a company from the ground up takes a lot of dedication and endless hours of hard work. Sadly, there are unscrupulous people out there who would take advantage of that hard work and try to steal proprietary ideas or the personal information of employees and customers. In this current age of technology, it's more important than ever to take steps to secure both physical and digital data. These are five ways to keep a business more secure.
1. Physical Security and Surveillance
All business owners should take steps to secure their property. Physical safeguards are the first line of defense, and security guards can be employed for increased safety. In the event that an intruder does gain access to a business and steals any sensitive information, it's important to be able to retrieve that data. Surveillance systems are often critical when trying to identify a suspect. For added security, use both video and audio recording devices and transmit recordings to secure off-site storage.
2. Document Shredding Services
Many companies aren't aware of how much of their sensitive data is disclosed through their discarded paperwork. Employee and customer names, credit card information, and even trade secrets can be found by going through an organization's discarded papers. While some companies may think to shred these papers, they may not know that they can turn to document shredding services to perform this function. Using document shredding services eliminates having an employee spend valuable time destroying paperwork. It also avoids putting excessive strain on an office paper shredder that is often only designed to process small batches of paperwork.
3. Internet Security
Internet access is a vulnerable security point for many companies, but there are steps that can help prevent access to confidential information through computer systems. Security software is more advanced than ever, and the protection it offers is worth the price tag. Firewalls, secure passwords, updated antivirus software, and encryption technology to protect outgoing emails are all recommended protective features. In addition, if a business provides free public internet access, this should be a separate connection than the one used to transmit business data.
4. Financial Monitoring
Business credit protection can save a company a fortune in the long run. Many organizations use credit cards or maintain open lines of credit with financiers, and companies are rated with a credit score just like individuals. Just as with personal identity theft, someone impersonating a representative of a business can do serious financial damage. A credit protection service can monitor any suspicious activity and alert the company to potential fraud, saving them from losses.
5. Non-Disclosure Agreements
Unfortunately, a great deal of leaked information comes from within an organization. Having employees sign non-disclosure agreements before they come into contact with trade secrets can give a company legal recourse in case any sensitive data is exposed. It's usually wise to have an attorney draft these documents in advance, then to have all workers sign the agreements as soon as they are hired.
Intellectual, digital, and physical securities are essential for modern companies. Following these rules can help to protect the interests of any size business.
1. Physical Security and Surveillance
All business owners should take steps to secure their property. Physical safeguards are the first line of defense, and security guards can be employed for increased safety. In the event that an intruder does gain access to a business and steals any sensitive information, it's important to be able to retrieve that data. Surveillance systems are often critical when trying to identify a suspect. For added security, use both video and audio recording devices and transmit recordings to secure off-site storage.
2. Document Shredding Services
Many companies aren't aware of how much of their sensitive data is disclosed through their discarded paperwork. Employee and customer names, credit card information, and even trade secrets can be found by going through an organization's discarded papers. While some companies may think to shred these papers, they may not know that they can turn to document shredding services to perform this function. Using document shredding services eliminates having an employee spend valuable time destroying paperwork. It also avoids putting excessive strain on an office paper shredder that is often only designed to process small batches of paperwork.
3. Internet Security
Internet access is a vulnerable security point for many companies, but there are steps that can help prevent access to confidential information through computer systems. Security software is more advanced than ever, and the protection it offers is worth the price tag. Firewalls, secure passwords, updated antivirus software, and encryption technology to protect outgoing emails are all recommended protective features. In addition, if a business provides free public internet access, this should be a separate connection than the one used to transmit business data.
4. Financial Monitoring
Business credit protection can save a company a fortune in the long run. Many organizations use credit cards or maintain open lines of credit with financiers, and companies are rated with a credit score just like individuals. Just as with personal identity theft, someone impersonating a representative of a business can do serious financial damage. A credit protection service can monitor any suspicious activity and alert the company to potential fraud, saving them from losses.
5. Non-Disclosure Agreements
Unfortunately, a great deal of leaked information comes from within an organization. Having employees sign non-disclosure agreements before they come into contact with trade secrets can give a company legal recourse in case any sensitive data is exposed. It's usually wise to have an attorney draft these documents in advance, then to have all workers sign the agreements as soon as they are hired.
Intellectual, digital, and physical securities are essential for modern companies. Following these rules can help to protect the interests of any size business.
No comments:
Post a Comment