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There are a lot of amazing benefits of working from home on your own business (hello, no commute), but there are also disadvantages, including being responsible for your own security. While not a lot of work-from home business owners consider security a top priority, it really is crucial for making sure your business assets are safe and secure.
Even if you don’t have inventory at your home, your computer and other valuables (including your home office workspace) still need to be protected.
Below are five tips that will help you take smart precautions for protecting your small business.
1. Protect Your Devices. Viruses and malware a serious threat to all computers. But, when you are using them as the main hub for your business, there’s even more potential for serious issues. To make sure you stay in business, take the necessary steps to keep your devices safe from malicious viruses and malware. Using additional backup security on top of the antivirus software your devices are already equipped with can keep your devices secure and operational 365 days a year.
2. Separate Work from Personal. Your personal devices shouldn’t be the same devices you do business on, at least as much as possible. When you’re first getting started, it’s likely you will share devices just to save money. But, as soon as possible, invest in designated business-only devices. This can help prevent friends and family from accidentally accessing private files and information, as well as reduce the risk of your device being affected by a virus.
3. Use a Safe. A fireproof safe should hold all of your business’s most important assets, including documents, passwords, and memory devices. While you might not use the safe every single day, having one that you can store your most-valuable items in while you’re away (especially for an extended time) can help give you peace of mind and prevent any major headaches. And a great fireproof safe doesn’t have to cost a lot of money. For most small home-based businesses, even a $50 version can be sufficient.
4. Get Insured. The portion of your home you use as your office should be insured as such. Whether you rent your home or own it will make a difference in how your office is insured, but either way it’s necessary. Everything in your home office needs to be insured as business property so that you’re covered in case of theft or accident. No matter how safe your area is, or how unlikely you think an accident is, having the protection of a good insurance plan is irreplaceable.
5. Extra Security. When you use your home as your business office, you need to take the same measures you would at an office or commercial property. Things like keypad entries (even just for one room) and robust security systems can make the difference between getting broken into (and having your business wiped out) and staying safe.
At CFA, we can help you understand what you need to keep your home-based business safe and secure. Get in touch with us today and we’ll help you get set up with a security system that makes sense for you and your business’s unique situation.