The Hustler's Digest StaffIf you have only recently established a business, money could be a major strong source of worry. That’s especially inconvenient when you consider that, in the COVID era, when many people have switched to working from home, corporate security has become more vulnerable.
According to statistics cited by Forbes, attacks on cloud services increased by 630% in 2020’s first quarter – and, since the pandemic’s onset, phishing attacks have grown by 55%. So, how can you secure your start-up without spending over the odds on doing so?
Specify what employees can share and with what people
You should draw up policies detailing what kinds of information your workers are able to share with the likes of customers, vendors and suppliers.
As human error is the leading cause of cyber attacks, you should educate your staff on not only the above policies but also good cybersecurity practice – for example, how to safely use personal devices for work purposes and identify and counter common online threats.
Impose a ‘clear desk’ policy
This is where employees would, come the end of a workday, be required to store all files, folders and paperwork safely away, such as in locked drawers or file cabinets.
Any document constituting a ‘work in progress’ should still be tidied away in this manner – even if the work isn’t strictly sensitive or confidential in nature.
Get the storage you need with the office you need
If you are currently running your start-up from home, rather than in a dedicated office space, you could understandably feel daunted by the thought of having to invest in storage for the paper-based fruits of your business labour.
However, you could find that suitable storage is supplied as standard when you do eventually rent an office space. For example, renting a start-up space with BE Offices would give you access to a lockable storage unit the cost of which is covered in the overall price of the office rental package.
Number and assign all entry cards or keys
Whatever office space you do rent could provide you with specific means of access, such as keys or perhaps swipe cards.
In any case, it would be wise to make sure any cards or keys you are indeed issued are numbered as well as assigned to specific members of your team.
NevadaSmallBusiness.com advises: “Make as few ‘master’ keys as possible, and ensure that only top management has access to master keys.” Meanwhile, any keys lent to temporary employees should be returned at the earliest practical opportunity.
Make sure each visitor wears a special badge
This would have multiple benefits. It would, for example, let employees quickly ascertain whether any person they see on the premises but don’t personally recognise is truly authorised to be there.
Also, visitor-specific badges would enable workers to more easily notice guests so that they can be greeted in a timely fashion. As a member of your team could give a visitor their badge at your workplace’s reception area, you should never leave it unattended.
