Owning a small business means juggling many hats. But internal security is a hat that many business persons often fail to take as seriously as they should. While they know that they should keep the office secure from threats within and without, they may struggle to put that into practice. Are you doing your internal security justice? Or are you making any of these common mistakes?
1. Not Using Internal Locks.
The first mistake that many small businesses make is simply not having internal security in the first place. You lock the front door, but is there a lock on the owner's office? On the accounting office or specific cabinets? Many owners would answer 'no' — largely as a reflection of old habits, complacency, or a lack of obvious threats. But just because internal security hasn't been a problem doesn't mean it will stay that way.
2. Giving Indiscriminate Access.
If you do have an internal door lock who has access to the keys? While only a few key persons may have an actual key, others may be allowed to use it or it could be placed in a central location. Access control measures are only as good as the measures used to control access to them. Take stock of how keys are given out, secured, and returned.
3. Never Changing Locks.
How long has it been since you changed any internal door locks? Chances are that it has been a while. You may only change locks when a threat occurs or something breaks. Instead, implement a policy to change important locks on a regular schedule, preventing old problems from coming back to haunt you.
4. Not Enforcing Policies.
Enforcement of company policies can be difficult for small business owners. You know your employees and customers, after all. It may feel unkind, suspicious, or domineering to insist security procedures are strictly followed. But universal enforcement helps alleviate these concerns when it becomes a habit and doesn't single out anyone.
5. Failure to Update.
Security technology is changing all the time, and many of these changes could make things easier or safer. But are you making use of them? It may be more efficient in the long run, for instance, to switch from keys to code access you can regularly change or even track. And updating may be less expensive than you thought.
Are you making any of these security errors in your company? No matter how you could improve, the best place to start is by consulting a commercial locksmith. Together, you can come up with a plan that keeps the business and its people safe so you can focus on other things.