You can invest all you want in security software and firewall systems, but how much will these systems help when someone physically breaks into your office and steals data or destroys property? This is why you need to shore up weaknesses not just in your digital infrastructure, but physical infrastructure as well. Today, we want to go over how even a passing thought at physical security is better than the alternative (and how it can make a big difference in your approach to business continuity).
Cybersecurity Won’t Stop a Physical Threat
It’s easy to focus on the cyberthreats out there, but old-fashioned crime is also still a thing, and it can strike your business when you least expect it. If someone really wants to break into your business, they don’t need to bypass your passwords or encryption; they can just break down the door or smash a window.
If you want to protect your business, you need both digital security and physical security—but what are the most common threats to physical infrastructure, and how can you address them?
The Biggest Risks to Physical Security
Unsecured Infrastructure
If you’re worried about people getting to your servers, whether they’re a disgruntled employee or a thief, you’ll need to take action to prevent it. We recommend that you store servers and other important networking hardware in a controlled, secure environment. This goes for environmental conditions and access control.
Employee Equipment
These days, a lot of employees work outside of the security of an office, which means they have technology out in the wild. You might find your technology subject to theft, especially if it’s left unattended in public, or it can be stolen out of a vehicle or a bag. Ensure your employees know they should remain vigilant and that they should absolutely never leave devices unattended.
Visitor Access
Your office might get visitors, including vendors and clients, but they shouldn’t be left to their own devices, especially not where your employees are working. A simple glance at a screen could expose untold amounts of data. We recommend you have all visitors sign in and out in addition to having escorts around the building.
Old Equipment
This is a big one. When you throw out old technology, you need to be absolutely certain that you do so in a secure way. This is important from an environmental and a business security standpoint. When you’re disposing of old hardware, you’re also throwing out all kinds of hazardous material that could negatively impact the environment in a landfill somewhere, but you also could be throwing away sensitive data. A cybercriminal is certainly not above digging through the trash for their next big break.
We recommend you work with a professional recycling company that can help you properly dispose of electronics. They will help you do so in a way that reduces the ecological footprint the device will have on the environment. It’s also key, however, for destroying all data storage media on the device beyond repair. Another alternative you can consider is donating your old technology to those who need it, but know that you need to ensure you’ve done your part to destroy the hard drives before committing to this decision.
Let Us Protect Your Business
Whether it’s physical security or digital security, Business Solutions & Software Group has got you covered. We can help you protect the technology that makes your business tick and consider every possible avenue of danger. To learn more, call us at (954) 575-3992.
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