Businesses cannot thrive without being safe. If your office space is a walking health hazard or your customer databases aren’t securely protected, you’re running a huge risk. After all, it only takes a single accident or data breach for an entire business to collapse financially and in terms of reputation.
So, what should you do? It’s simple: keep your business safe offline and online. In other words, protect your physical premises and employees; while also protecting all your online files, data, and everything in-between.
Thankfully, you don’t need to plan everything alone. Instead, this complete guide is here to help you. It’s split into two sections: offline and online. Let’s get started.
Section 1: Keep your business safe offline
Invest in first aid kits
Whether you have an office of 10 people, 100 people, or 1000 people, you need to have a first aid kit (or kits) on standby. After all, you never know when an accident might happen – and a first aid kit could be a literal lifesaver.
You don’t need to break your company bank for a first aid kit in the 21st century, as they’re super affordable. You should check out these workplace first aid kits and select the ones that are best for you and your team!
Be smart. Stay protected.
Install alarms
Even giant global companies aren’t safe from robberies and security breaches. So, if you’re work premises don’t have alarms installed, your employees and resources are vulnerable. This is particularly true at nighttime when thieves often choose to strike. Therefore, it’s recommended you get an alarm system installed or upgrade your existing one if you want to truly maximize your security.
Install maintenance cameras
Like alarms, maintenance cameras are incredibly useful tools for keeping businesses safe. Just their presence alone is enough to scare away would-be criminals.
Conduct regular safety checks
It’s easy for office health hazards to go unnoticed, whether it’s food cutlery left exposed on someone’s desk or wires on the floor waiting to trip somebody over.
To stop any potential hazards from harming people, you should conduct regular safety checks. Ideally, you should do a 5-minute check each morning and at the end of the day.
Section 2: Keep your business safe offline
Ensure you have excellent cyber-security measures
Back in the old days, the biggest threat to businesses was their offices and warehouses getting raided.
However, times are changing fast, as businesses must now fight to protect themselves online, too. This can be done through having excellent cyber-security measures in place, from using anti-virus firewalls to 2-factor authentication on company accounts.
Use a reliable cloud provider
Nowadays, most modern businesses use cloud technology. If you do, make sure you’re using software from reliable, high-reputation suppliers.
Avoid phishing
Online phishing scams are a living nightmare for businesses, as employees and managers can often fall victim to them. Make sure to train your employees on the dangers of phishing so that you never get caught out!
Regularly change passwords
You and your employees should regularly change your company account passwords. It’s a good idea to do this every three months.
Only provide digital access to the right employees
From your customer databases to finance files, make sure that only the right, role-specific employees are allowed access to them.
