How to Enhance On-Premise Security for the Workplace

Security breaches from the outside are a nightmare scenario for establishments that have worked hard to build their identities. Equally critical are threats that lie inside. While you can rest easy knowing your premises have solid external protection from both physical and cyber attacks, you should know that internal security breaches can still happen, and your brand will pay a hefty price for its vulnerabilities.

Human and technical errors, deliberate acts of sabotage, and theft from within can significantly impact business operations and brand reputation, just as much as any outside threat. As much as you want to shore up your defenses against external factors, you will also need to be prepared when security breaches and other fatal scenarios happen from the inside. The quick guide below should walk you through the process.

1. Do an Internal Assessment

Enhancing on-premise security requires a thorough understanding of your business’s exposure to major threats. You will have to identify gaps in each department, ensuring compliance with established standards and allowing you to invest in tools and equipment that will enhance your business’s security posture.

Your assessment should not only focus on who is authorised to access certain areas, like the server room and executive offices. It should also help you determine what mitigating measures to implement to thwart insider attacks. When done right, an internal assessment will help you allocate the bulk of your time and resources on protecting sensitive assets.

2. Screen Employees and Manage Access

When it comes to on-premise security, setting access protocols is an effective way to prevent illicit activities from happening within the work environment. To begin with, you will have to enhance how you screen new employees, especially for roles that let them handle sensitive assets.

A thorough screening process is only the beginning, as it does not always guarantee that the people who passed background checks are trustworthy enough. Implementing stringent access policies adds another layer of security since it restricts employees to software, hardware, and other facilities essential to their tasks.

3. Invest in the Best Physical Deterrence

Improving internal security would also mean monitoring how people within business premises behave and move around. Theft can happen among employees, so aside from browsing from a selection of new and used lockers that fit the size and security needs of your establishment, consider placing surveillance cameras near entry points and strategic locations that eliminate blind spots.

Depending on your budget and the number of valuable assets that need to be secured, you may have to consider investing in a smart security system that alerts you to any attempt at a forced entry. Not only that, but a smart security system can help aid investigations after a successful breach and qualify your business for insurance discounts.

4. Train and Get the Right People for the Job

As your business grows, so does its exposure to internal threats as its workforce broadens and the number of assets increases. Having the best tools and facilities does not always guarantee a stronger security position. You still need the right people to monitor your vulnerabilities and provide immediate response to possible breaches happening within business premises.

Aside from providing technical assistance, their visibility can also thwart any attempt from threats outside and inside your establishment. Even more crucial is the need to train your employees to serve as another layer of protection. Organise regular seminars or training sessions that touch on the best practices when it comes to using hardware and software, as well as identifying suspicious activity wherever it emerges.

Endnote

Your business has trade secrets, sensitive information, and valuable tools that could disrupt normal operations and impact its reputation if ever they become subject to a breach. By following the basics above, your business can thrive well into the future.