Safety First: 5 Ways to Keep Your Business Safe (On and Offline)

Having a small business-sized budget shouldn’t mean cutting corners on security. With the right approach, you can protect your online data, secure your storefront, and keep your business safe—without breaking the bank. Take a look at these six areas of business security and what you can do to make them even safer.

1. Keep Your Business Safe with Insurance

If your business has a brick-and-mortar storefront, you’ll need to protect it against things like theft, damage from severe weather, and other unexpected catastrophes. A robust business insurance policy can help. If you settled for a cut-rate insurance plan in an effort to stay on a budget when you first opened up shop, now is the time to upgrade.

That crack in your ceiling may seem like part of your shop’s architectural charm, but it could lead to serious damage after the next thunderstorm rolls through. Slippery ice outside your door may not seem like your fault, but an injured customer armed with a lawyer might disagree. Take a second look at your policies, which likely include workers’ compensation, general liability insurance, errors and omissions, cyber liability, directors and officers, and employment practices liability.

You should also consider your relationship with your current insurance broker and if they’re the best option for your industry. Reflect on how responsive, reliable, and experienced they are. Your broker options may have felt overwhelming when you first went into business; now that you’re more familiar with your needs, it may be time to revisit.

2. Protect Your Business Data with the Cloud

For some business owners, protecting digital property doesn’t inspire the same urgency as protecting physical property. Don’t give in to the impulse to procrastinate. Arm yourself with a secure cloud backup solution.

Google Drive and Dropbox are great for cloud storage, but they don’t quite count as cloud backup. Cloud storage is suitable for sharing documents and resources, but a cloud backup system is better equipped to protect vital databases and servers. Familiarize yourself with the ways cloud backup can minimize the risk of data loss, which includes sophisticated encryption, restoring earlier versions of important files, and much more.

3. Make an Emergency Plan

Both physical and virtual workplaces face risks like power outages, internet outages, and severe weather emergencies. Smart business owners set emergency plans before disaster strikes. A comprehensive plan can minimize risk to your employees, risk to your storefront, and revenue lost to time spent closed for business.

As the boss, it’s your job to create a system for informing employees and customers when your business shuts down for the day. Allowing employees to work remotely is a great solution for emergency scenarios, but be diligent about security in these cases as well—personal devices and connections may not be as secure as those inside your shop. Encryption, secure file storage, and clearly articulated employee guidelines will make your business data less vulnerable to attack in these situations.

Sites like the Red Cross’ ReadyRating.org offer additional information on keeping your business as prepared as possible.

4. Secure Your Storefront

Beefing up the security on your brick-and-mortar shop might seem paranoid, but when it comes to your small business, you’re better safe than sorry. If you’ve never considered the ways in which your business might be vulnerable to robbery or vandalism, begin your investigation today. Better security could be as simple as buying a few pieces of equipment or as robust as hiring on-site personnel.

Consider how you stay informed on local crime. If a rash of robberies were to strike the neighborhood, how would you find out and stay up-to-date? Befriending neighboring business owners and staying connected with your community will not only help you stay informed on crime trends, but being known in the neighborhood could also deter potential vandals as well.

If your business sits in a poorly lit area at night or near an easy escape route, consider investing in hardier exterior lights, alarm systems, and locks. If you sell merchandise that might appeal to shoplifters, RFID tags, ink tags, and interior surveillance cameras might be a smart option. Even small additions to your robbery prevention strategy can have a major impact on your business’ security.

5. Get Legal Protection for Your Intellectual Property

Keeping your business safe doesn’t stop at physical and digital property. Smart business owners protect their intellectual property, too. Ensure your brand assets and products are protected by the appropriate trademarks, copyrights, and patents. Make sure contracts with outside contractors and agencies are accurate and up-to-date. This kind of security may not have seemed like a big deal when your business was little more than an idea, but as your range of products and services grows, it becomes more and more crucial to secure your intellectual property.

Don’t allow a false sense of security to endanger your small business. Secure your physical, digital, and intellectual property, and plan what you’ll do if disaster ever does strike. Be a safe and savvy business owner by preparing for the worst while hoping for the best.

The post Safety First: 5 Ways to Keep Your Business Safe (On and Offline) appeared first on AllBusiness.com

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