How Cybersecurity and Physical Security Go Hand in Hand

Protecting your small business from theft is far more complex than it used to be. Gone are the days when locking the doors was enough to minimize the likelihood of intruders. Today, companies face both physical and cyber risks, and it’s critical to understand how they’re intertwined.

The problem with things

Imagine that a thief breaks into one of your employee’s cars and steals a company laptop that contains your entire customer database. Here, physical theft can grant access to digital assets. Among the possibilities are that the crook:

• Is working for a competitor who’s looking for an unfair advantage,
• Will use the customer information to commit identity theft, or
• Might share the data with other criminals on the dark web.

Or consider the risks involved with the Internet of Things. If your business uses smart security devices, such as cameras and door locks, they’re probably connected to the internet. If your cybersecurity defenses are lacking, a criminal could steal your login credentials and disarm your security system, thus gaining physical access to offices and production and storage facilities.

Effective defenses

How then can you prevent physical vulnerabilities from exposing digital assets (and vice versa)? Do the following:

Identify assets. Where do you store your most valuable digital assets? What would happen if they were stolen? Who has access to them? Could thieves easily break in and use the data for nefarious purposes?

Train employees. Make sure employees know how to protect your data and devices with strong passwords and secure practices. They should always employ a virtual private network when using public Wi-Fi and never leave company devices unattended in public. You may also want to prohibit leaving devices in vehicles.

Install mobile device management (MDM) software. MDM software can lock and remove data from a device remotely if it’s lost or stolen.

Develop a contingency plan. You need a plan of action should an incident occur. It should include who to notify and how to remediate any weaknesses that allowed the crime to happen.

Maintain adequate insurance. Review your current insurance coverage to help ensure it protects against financial losses associated with physical and cybersecurity breaches. Some insurers offer policies that combine coverage for physical and cybersecurity risks.

Engage security professionals. Evaluating the effectiveness of your defenses can be a time-consuming and demanding process. Think about hiring a professional to scrutinize your physical environment and cyber defenses.

Simple solutions

It may seem obvious, yet many businesses neglect to address physical and digital security risks. Fortunately, simple and cost-effective solutions are available to help you safeguard all of your company’s assets. Contact us for help.

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