One of the easiest parts of the business to neglect or make mistakes in is its security. Why? A lot of times, people are unaware of all the security threats they could be facing until they actually happen. And without a proper security risk assessment that covers all areas — physical, digital, operations, etc — it can be really easy to overlook some aspects. But the thing is, businesses show time and time again that there are common mistakes they make that put them at risk every day.
Let’s take a look at some security mistakes you should make sure you’re not unintentionally making.
No Employment Pre-Screening
In the UK, over 6,000 incidents of employee theft were recorded in the UK and this number could be higher due to issues that don’t get reported. But the reality is that those businesses that don’t conduct a proper screening process before taking on new employees put themselves at risk unnecessarily.
Make sure to run background checks and have screening processes in place so you can filter out those that might pose a risk to your company.
Overlooking Different Types of Security
It can be really easy to hone in on one type of sector or threat. For example, cybersecurity. It’s essential that you have stringent cybersecurity measures for your business. However, neglecting things like physical security — access control, CCTV, perimeter security, security personnel, etc — can expose your business premises. So while you’re protected digitally, you’re not physically.
It’s imperative that you ensure you address all security concerns so you’re not making any major mistakes and leaving your company exposed.
Neglecting Access Control
If you have a physical location, not restricting access to different parts of the building is a huge problem. Allowing people to free roam around where you work puts both the company and all employees at risk. Even the wrong employee in the wrong place can be a huge problem, not just visitors in employee-only areas. Access control solutions allow you to restrict different areas, lock doors and only grant access as per status, so you can increase security and protection across the board.
Not Utilising Video Surveillance
Video surveillance allows you to have eyes on all areas at all times. This is something you cannot manage with human patrols alone. This can be used alone or in conjunction with the security team, but neglecting to install a camera is a huge mistake and can expose you to criminal or internal theft, as there’s no way to monitor anything unless you’re physically there.
Place CCTV or video surveillance cameras in high-risk areas, entry and exit points and in places that need more coverage.
Only Using Firewalls
Firewalls are an essential tool in your cybersecurity toolkit. But they shouldn’t be the only tool you use. Small businesses, especially, might find more stringent cybersecurity out of reach financially or even be unaware of the different ways they can be targeted. It can be worth partnering with a cybersecurity outsourced partner to help you understand the risks, the lengths cybercriminals go to and get the protection you need thanks to tighter infrastructure.
