If you want to try and protect your company from cybercrime and theft, then you need to make sure that you do what you can to take the right steps now. If you don’t, then you may find that you end up struggling more in the future when things do go wrong and that you put yourself at an increased level of risk. If you want to do something about this, then take a look below to see the steps you should be taking.
Carry out a Risk Assessment
The first thing that you have to do is figure out where you are the most vulnerable. It may be that you are aware that your company has been the victim of crime in the past, but you don’t know the full story. If you can carry out a risk assessment now, then this will help you to pinpoint any potential issues, and it will also help you to make the right kind of changes for the future. If you do not carry out a risk assessment, then you may find that you have a lot of flaws, and that implementing solutions that do not address them ends up putting you in an even more compromised situation.
Secure Premises
If you can, you need to fit window locks, install some security lighting and fit some additional door locks. If you can do things like this, then you will soon find that you can deter burglars and this can prevent crime more than you realise. Make sure that you put up some CCTV cameras and take note of the data protection rules. If you do not have an alarm, then now is the time for you to get one. Consider whether you should be using grilles or shutters, as well. Now would be the time for you to get some kind of door access control system if you can, as this will limit who can access what area.
Protect your Team
You have to ensure that security training is available and that everyone is more than aware of what they should be doing in the event of any kind of threat. It is always better to give up some goods than it is to hurt yourself trying to defend them. If you can, you should also be trying to train your staff to recognise any suspicious behaviour from those who may be trying to enter the premises. If possible, your team should know how to report crime too. You need to keep very little cash on the premises, and you also need to empty your tills on a regular basis. Take excess cash to the bank and put up warning signs telling people about this.
Secure your Gear
If you can, you have to make sure that you carry out regular business audits and that you allocate responsibility for any particular items where possible. You need to do this to your individual employees. Tag your computers and also detail any serial numbers. If possible, you need to consider securing any expensive gear or equipment that you may have to the walls and the floor. Vehicles and bikes of course, should be kept secure too. If you don’t do this, then you may find that you end up having a harder time keeping things safe.
Protect your stock
Being organised as much as possible will help you to pinpoint any possible discrepancies in your stock count. Make sure that you keep an eye on your paperwork and question any expensive damage claims. If you can keep an eye on your stock, then this will also help you to make sure that you are not losing out to team members who may be taking advantage. Little things like this can really help you in the long run so make sure that you keep things like this in mind.
Stop theft
Before you even think about hiring someone, you need to check references. You need to do this with your casual employees as well as your part-time employees. Introduce very clear policies regarding theft, and also make sure that you inform staff of them. Exercise a lot of caution whenever you grant keys or even reveal security codes. At the end of the day, every instance of theft should be met with some kind of decisive action.
Put an end to Data theft
If you want to do your bit to safeguard sensitive information, such as the financial records of your clients and even your employee details, then the best thing you can do is use access.
