Your Businesses Can’t Neglect Physical Security (Here’s Why)

While you’re busy shoring up your cybersecurity measures, it’s worth asking what you’re doing about physical security breaches. Considering the risk they pose to your employees, data, and equipment, you shouldn’t leave this issue unaddressed for your business. Any small business owner should strive for the peace of mind that physical security can bring about.

But what does a modern physical security solution look like, and why should you implement one?

What Exactly Goes Into Physical Security?

Simply put, a physical security system might include any of the following security features that protect your business’ physical office space:

  • Access control systems, like key cards or biometrics
  • Video surveillance systems for documentation and investigation
  • Intrusion detection in the form of alarm systems and sensors for rapid response
  • Environmental monitoring of your IT systems for issues like server room temperature, water, and fire

The costs of ignoring physical security are great. If you’re not careful, your business could suffer from theft, equipment loss, unauthorized access to the server room, or even workplace violence. All of these issues lead to increased downtime, which creates further financial loss.

How Integration Solves the Physical Security Dilemma

SMBs, in particular, face numerous challenges in implementing physical security systems, including budgeting constraints, older facilities, a lack of dedicated IT staff, and the use of a patchwork of systems piecemealed together over the years.

Modern security solutions are integrated, however, which means they combine several of the features mentioned above into one centralized platform for ease of use. These systems are designed with remote control in mind, allowing you to grant and revoke access as needed, easily check camera footage, and maintain a clear audit trail for unauthorized access or activity.

As you can imagine, treating physical security as an extension of your IT systems can be beneficial, and it’s crucial for efficient monitoring and management of your office space.

What If This Is Too Much for Your Business?

It might sound like overkill to implement security systems, but if you’re being honest with yourself, wouldn’t you sleep better at night knowing your office is locked down and protected from both digital and physical threats?

The fact remains that businesses already have a hard enough time with cybersecurity, let alone the nuances of physical security. SMBs can leverage a strategic partnership with managed service providers to handle this responsibility. Not only can the right MSP handle the management and monitoring of these security systems, but they can also equip your infrastructure with a layered security approach to protect servers and other sensitive hardware.

The goal is to make security as optimal as possible without restricting operations. Tell us… Can your in-house team do this? Probably not.

Don’t let the lack of a strong foundation lead to the physical vulnerability of your people, property, and digital assets. Implement physical security solutions now. To get an idea of your physical security blind spots and to discuss opportunities for improvement, contact White Mountain IT Services today at (603) 889-0800.

White Mountain IT

Related Posts

A Firewall Will Do Nothing to Stop a Crowbar

Let’s say that a small business, maybe even one of your neighbors, just poured thousands of dollars into the latest and greatest security software and firewall system. You’re impressed… until a disgruntled employee walks in one night, nothing to stop them, and takes a hammer to the server they have behind an unlocked door. Suddenly, there’s one less small business, and there was nothing that expe...

Achieving the "It Just Works" Reality with a Proactive IT Strategy

Business leaders and decision makers have plenty to deal with… and that’s before factoring in all the problems and obstacles that pop up over the course of their normal operations, particularly when it comes to the technology their businesses rely on. Naturally, a smart business owner would want their technology to be as reliable as possible, available without requiring conscious effort. As it ha...

Is Your Business' IT Holding You Back?

Running a small or medium-sized business means juggling countless priorities. You're focused on your customers, team, and bottom line… but what about the technology that powers it all?  Often overlooked, your IT infrastructure is far more than just the computers on desks. It's the complex web of network equipment, essential software subscriptions, cloud services, and even the personal smartp...

These 3 Issues Tank Most IT Audits

What goes through your head when you hear the words “IT audit?” Are you worried about your business’ deepest and most shameful technology secrets being exposed, or are you excited about the opportunity to resolve issues that you might not even know exist? We hope you have the latter mentality, as it’s the appropriate one—especially if you want to build a business that stands the test of time. A...