flevyblog

Flevy Blog is an online business magazine covering Business Strategies, Business Theories, & Business Stories.
MANAGEMENT & LEADERSHIP STRATEGY, MARKETING, SALES OPERATIONS & SUPPLY CHAIN ORGANIZATION & CHANGE IT/MIS Other

Five Ways to Increase Your Business Security

Editor's Note: Take a look at our featured best practice, Digital Transformation Strategy (145-slide PowerPoint presentation). Digital Transformation is being embraced by organizations across most industries, as the role of technology shifts from being a business enabler to a business driver. This has only been accelerated by the COVID-19 global pandemic. Thus, to remain competitive and outcompete in today's fast paced, [read more]

Also, if you are interested in becoming an expert on Digital Transformation, take a look at Flevy's Digital Transformation Frameworks offering here. This is a curated collection of best practice frameworks based on the thought leadership of leading consulting firms, academics, and recognized subject matter experts. By learning and applying these concepts, you can you stay ahead of the curve. Full details here.

* * * *

In the modern age, site security for even a small business is paramount to success. The potential risks from theft and vandalism are ever-increasing, so business owners are constantly looking for ways to improve their site’s security. While there are countless security strategies you might implement, here are five key areas you should secure first.

1. Security Technology and Maintenance

One of the first steps to securing your business is to have a quality security system installed. That means CCTV cameras, motion sensors, glass-break sensors, and pick-resistant locks. While you might get a better deal on older system models, investing in the top-tier, current generation of security systems usually provides the best level of security.

In addition to these measures, installing a quality security team and implementing routine maintenance of all your security systems should be given a high priority. A good security team can consist of a few reliable security officers and installing security gates and guard shacks if your business site has multiple entrances. Routine maintenance ensures that your CCTV system and sensors are working properly.

2. Crisis Management Plan

One of the worst mistakes that business owners have made in the past is failing to establish a crisis management plan of action. Regardless of the quality of service your security system provides, your business will always be at risk of undergoing a crisis in one form or another. The likelihood of security incidents can be reduced but never eliminated.

Having a plan in place ensures that your employees and customers have the highest possible chance of avoiding dangerous situations. It is critical that your site has designated points of contact for your employees as well as evolving strategies built on regular training for how to act in various situations.

3. Restrict and Regulate Site Access

A good strategy for reducing the risk of an incident is to restrict access to your site. How you implement these restrictions will be determined by the type of business, of course. For example, a brick-and-mortar retail store relies on customers coming and going regularly, so access to the storefront can only be restricted to a certain extent without limiting earning potential.

It is a good idea to designate certain areas for employees only and prohibit access to any unauthorized individuals. That should include the family of employees and vendors, which is as much for their own protection as it is for the protection of your business.

4. Keep Security Details Private

Consider the details of your security measures just as private as your business finances and accounting. The fewer people who know the specifics of your CCTV system, sensors, or guard routine the lower the chance of having that information leaked. While quality hiring practices will help reduce the chances of vital information reaching criminals, many thieves are on the lookout for the slightest opportunities that can be revealed unintentionally.

One strategy you might consider is to hire one person to oversee all of your security measures. This security professional will then be personally responsible for all delegation and managing those who have access to secure areas and computer systems.

5. Monitor For Innocuous Risks

Not all security risks are obvious at first glance. Seasonal changes and weather conditions can impact your alarms and CCTV system and plants can grow up to block the line-of-sight from security checkpoints. Even employee parking habits can create an opening for potential intruders.

Aside from physical risks, the digital age paved the way for additional security challenges. Social media provides a great opportunity but also creates the potential for leaked information. Business computer systems are also under constant threat from cyber attacks that require up-to-date antivirus and anti-malware software for protection.

In a world where potential threats abound, every business owner knows the value of quality security. The application of that knowledge is what sets the dividing line between fledgling businesses and those that soar into success. Start by focusing on these areas, and you can transform the security of any business securing both your physical site and your future sales potential.

77-slide PowerPoint presentation
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Cybersecurity Framework stands as a pinnacle of guidance in the realm of cybersecurity. Developed by NIST, a non-regulatory agency within the United States Department of Commerce, this framework has garnered widespread [read more]

Want to Achieve Excellence in Digital Transformation?

Gain the knowledge and develop the expertise to become an expert in Digital Transformation. Our frameworks are based on the thought leadership of leading consulting firms, academics, and recognized subject matter experts. Click here for full details.

Digital Transformation is being embraced by organizations of all sizes across most industries. In the Digital Age today, technology creates new opportunities and fundamentally transforms businesses in all aspects—operations, business models, strategies. It not only enables the business, but also drives its growth and can be a source of Competitive Advantage.

For many industries, COVID-19 has accelerated the timeline for Digital Transformation Programs by multiple years. Digital Transformation has become a necessity. Now, to survive in the Low Touch Economy—characterized by social distancing and a minimization of in-person activities—organizations must go digital. This includes offering digital solutions for both employees (e.g. Remote Work, Virtual Teams, Enterprise Cloud, etc.) and customers (e.g. E-commerce, Social Media, Mobile Apps, etc.).

Learn about our Digital Transformation Best Practice Frameworks here.

Readers of This Article Are Interested in These Resources


Excel workbook
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) U.S. Department of Commerce Cyber Security Framework Aligned. Governments, sectors, and organizations around the world are increasingly recognizing the NIST Cyber Security Framework (CSF) as a recommended cyber security [read more]


 
87-slide PowerPoint presentation
 
 
53-slide PowerPoint presentation

About Shane Avron

Shane Avron is a freelance writer, specializing in business, general management, enterprise software, and digital technologies. In addition to Flevy, Shane's articles have appeared in Huffington Post, Forbes Magazine, among other business journals.




Complimentary Business Training Guides


Many companies develop robust strategies, but struggle with operationalizing their strategies into implementable steps. This presentation from flevy introduces 12 powerful business frameworks spanning both Strategy Development and Strategy Execution. [Learn more]

  This 48-page whitepaper, authored by consultancy Envisioning, provides the frameworks, tools, and insights needed to manage serious Change—under the backdrop of the business lifecycle. These lifecycle stages are each marked by distinct attributes, challenges, and behaviors. [Learn more]

We've developed a very comprehensive collection of Strategy & Transformation PowerPoint templates for you to use in your own business presentations, spanning topics from Growth Strategy to Brand Development to Innovation to Customer Experience to Strategic Management. [Learn more]

  We have compiled a collection of 10 Lean Six Sigma templates (Excel) and Operational Excellence guides (PowerPoint) by a multitude of LSS experts. These tools cover topics including 8 Disciplines (8D), 5 Why's, 7 Wastes, Value Stream Mapping (VSM), and DMAIC. [Learn more]
Recent Articles by Corporate Function

  

  

  

  

  


The Flevy Business Blog (https://flevy.com/blog) is a leading source of information on business strategies, business theories, and business stories. Most of our articles are authored by management consultants and industry executives with over 20 years of experience.

Flevy (https://flevy.com) is the marketplace for business best practices, such as management frameworks, presentation templates, and financial models. Our best practice documents are of the same caliber as those produced by top-tier consulting firms (like McKinsey, Bain, Accenture, BCG, and Deloitte) and used by Fortune 100 organizations. Learn more about Flevy here.


Connect with Flevy:

     
  


About Flevy.com   /   Terms   /   Privacy Policy
© . Flevy LLC. All Rights Reserved.