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Your store is your livelihood, so it should always be protected. Even when you aren’t on-site, there are ways to safely guard your store and inventory. These tips will give you peace of mind no matter where you are in the world. By investing in your store’s safety, you can assure that your most valuable asset is always being looked after.
Buy the Right Locks for Your Doors
Weak locks make it easy for thieves and vandals to enter your store without problems. The best way to safeguard your entry and exit points is to invest in heavy-proof locks. Commercial door locks can even be high-tech, linking to your smartphone. Not only can you remotely access the door, but you can also get instant notifications if someone tampers with it.
Change Keys With Your Staff
If you let someone go, make sure that you update your store’s manual locks and that you change any entry codes they might have had access to. A disgruntled employee may have made a copy of the key, and it’s not uncommon for someone to lash out and vandalize or rob a property when they’re angry. While this does not happen in every case, it is a real risk that merits protection.
Hire Reliable Security
A personal guard or small team can help keep your store protected at all times. In addition to bringing peace of mind to owners, they also help customers feel more at ease. Security can offer round-the-clock monitoring, rapid response when alarms go off, and help prevent theft and avoid disruptions. Talk to a security company about what security procedures would best protect your shop.
Keep Video Surveillance on at All Times
You should have cameras mounted outside as well as indoors. Have a live security feed available 24-hours a day, seven days a week on your smartphone for remote monitoring. Surveillance is not only useful for immediate safety; it can be case-changing in the event of an injury lawsuit or other litigation. Video records also ensure that your business always has digital archives of its operations, and it just may capture misconduct that would otherwise go unnoticed.
Make sure that cameras are visible or that you have signs posted around your store. In addition to capturing evidence of theft, vandalism, and misconduct, it can help deter these problems as well. If potential thieves know they can be identified on your footage, they’ll be less likely to target your business.
Improve Your Network’s Security
Your physical premises aren’t the only places you need to protect yourself. If you utilize technology—and with the prevalence of credit cards, nearly every business does—you need to ensure that your point-of-sale system is secure. Encrypt customer data, install antivirus software, and ensure that passwords are changed regularly. Additionally, make sure you update your system whenever software updates are available. An outdated system is easier to hack.
Conduct a detailed assessment of your store’s current safety. What are your biggest risks? What steps can you take in terms of property and protocol to minimize risks? Use what you find to create a prioritized checklist that you will cover over the next few weeks. These will allow you to gradually cover all the most important aspects of your store and feel confident that it’s always protected.
By Anita Ginsburg
who is a freelance writer and residing in Denver, CO. She studied at Colorado State University, and now writes articles about health, business, family and finance. A mother of two, she enjoys traveling with her family whenever she isn’t writing. She recommends talking to a security company like Marvasti Security about more ways to protect your business.
Member since July, 2019
View all the articles of Anita Ginsburg.
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