Security Matters

Read the latest insights, advice and updates on security services, technology and careers.

Security Best Practices – The Ultimate Checklist

Security Best Practices

How physically secure is your business? In the digital age, many security resources are focused on cybersecurity, but there are other threats.

From basic thefts to active shooter incidents, it’s important to prepare your business to handle anything.

If you’re not sure where to start, use these security best practices as a starting point to create a custom security strategy for your premises.

1. Security Inside And Out

Your security strategy should encompass your entire premises. This includes inside and out. From your parking area to your inner offices, everything must be included. You want your employees and customers to feel safe no matter where they are inside or directly outside your business.

Using guards, surveillance cameras, better lighting and access control measures ensure every area of your business is safer.

2. Have Annual Security Reviews

It’s all too common for businesses to create a security strategy and never update it. The truth is your security strategy needs to be reviewed annually and after any major changes, such as adding on to the building, changing the parking area or making structural changes inside the building.

Annual reviews are among the top security best practices. After all, these give you a chance to improve your security. That’s well worth the few days it takes to do the review.

3. Establish Clear Security Policies

What is and isn’t allowed at your business? Which exit/entrances are off-limits outside of emergencies? Are weapons allowed on the premises?

Always create clear security policies that tell employees, visitors and customers exactly what is and isn’t allowed. This ensures there are no questions and it reduces the chances of security incidents. For instance, a new employee may not realize a certain area is restricted if there aren’t clear signs and details at the doors.

4. Provide In-Depth Training

Security best practices state training is a necessity. Security isn’t just the job of your security team and security guards. Security is everyone’s job. For instance, you may enforce a rule that no one is allowed to walk to the parking lot alone at night. Creating a buddy system or asking for a security escort would be part of an employee’s security training.

Training would also include who to report suspicious activity to. They would get in-depth training and explanations on security policies too.

5. Prepare For Insider Threats

Often times, businesses spend most of their time preparing for outside threats, but many come from the inside. For instance, a McDonald’s employee in Clayton County, GA walked in and killed a fellow co-worker. Another employee opened fire in a warehouse in South Fulton County, GA, killing a co-worker.

These were employees that may have been stopped if anyone had looked for signs of distress prior to the incidents. Encourage your employees to report anything they find suspicious or out of the ordinary. If they’re threatened or harassed, ask them to report it to your security team.

6. Plan For Emergencies

Protecting your business isn’t enough. You also have to prepare for emergencies. Create clear strategies for all potential emergencies that could affect your business, such as natural disasters and employee violence. Train all employees on the correct procedures so even in the panic, they know what to do.

7. Use A Variety Of Security Solutions

One major item to check off your security best practices list is to use a variety of security solutions. Using just access control measures or just surveillance cameras leaves your business vulnerable. Some common options include:

  • On-site security guards
  • Remote guarding
  • Surveillance cameras
  • Mirrors, especially in warehouses
  • Access control (keypads, facial recognition, voice recognition, fingerprints, keycards, etc.)
  • Motion sensors
  • Improved lighting (eliminate dark areas)
  • Drones
  • Cameras with mics and speakers

8. Physical Protect Digital Assets

You probably have firewalls, malware protection, encryption and more to keep your digital assets safe. However, if you don’t protect the physical area where these files are stored, virtual protections won’t help you. For instance, if someone steals your server, they could hack into it much easier off premises.

Always ensure you are physically protecting your digital assets. With businesses storing so much information on servers, computers and mobile devices, all of these must be secured.

Contact BOS Security

If your security best practices checklist doesn’t feel complete, let’s add one more thing to it – contact BOS Security today at 404-793-6965 to find out more about how to fully secure your business.

Ready to learn more about potential vulnerabilities to create a stronger security strategy. Try our free Security Needs Assessment today.

Image: STIL

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email

Depend on the Protection of BOS Security

Why People Trust BOS Security