There are dozens of ways your small business can take a hit: Identity theft, fire, natural disaster, data and equipment theft. Any of those can threaten the very existence of your enterprise.
But there are also ways you can protect your small business. Here’s a checklist to help you spot vulnerabilities and take steps to reduce your risk.
Protect Your Paper
Done with a document? Don’t just toss it in the trash. Shred it to protect yourself from identity thieves.
Look for these features in a shredder:
Choose a cross-cut shredder instead of a strip-cut machine. Cross-cut shredders produce tiny paper scraps the size of confetti.
Want to shred more than paper? You can buy a machine that slices and dices credit cards, compact discs and staples.
Shredders are typically noisy, but you can spend a few dollars more to buy one that operates quietly.
Choose a shredder that accepts more than one sheet of paper at a time, unless you want to spend your day shredding.
Secure Your Data
A 2005 report from the Small Business Technology Institute (SBTI) and Symantec Corp. showed that 56 percent of small businesses have experienced at least one information security breach.
The report, “Small Business Information Security Readiness,” confirmed that small-business information systems are increasingly vulnerable to attack. Computer viruses, spyware and malware were cited as the main causes of the security attacks.
Take these steps to secure you critical data:
Evaluate your risk. Mobile computers, always-on, high-speed Internet connections and wireless networks pose significant security risks, even for home-based businesses.
Identify areas that are vulnerable and look for ways to add layers of security.
Start by installing firewalls and anti-virus software. But don’t stop there. Depending on what systems your small business uses, you may want more sophisticated solutions tailored to your specific needs.
Educate yourself and your employees about phishing scams and ways to avoid them.
Prepare For Disaster
Hurricanes. Floods. Earthquakes. Could your small business could be in the path of the next natural disaster?
Check out these online resources to make sure your small business is prepared.
The SBA reports that most of the 143,000 disaster loans it made after last year’s Gulf Coast hurricanes were for flood damage. Find out about the National Flood Insurance Program at www.floodsmart.gov.
Preparedness tips for businesses are available on the SBA’s Web site, www.sba.gov/disaster_recov/prepared/getready.html.
The Institute for Business and Home Safety, www.ibhs.org, offers information on protecting your business.
The federal government’s preparedness Web site, www.ready.gov, offers a special section for businesses.
Get A Safe
Don’t leave important papers and backup data unprotected. Stash your crucial business stuff in an office safe. Fire-resistant safes protect paper and electronic media from heat as well as from burglars.
Look for these features when shopping for a safe:
Get a safe rated by the Underwriters Laboratory (UL).
Safes designed to protect paper documents must not exceed 350 degrees inside.
Safes that protect electronic media, like CD-ROMs, can’t exceed an interior temperature of 125 degrees.
Typically, fire-resistant safes are one-hour or two-hour rated, usually enough for average office fires.
Determine how many documents and how much media you need to store before purchasing a safe so you’ll be sure to buy one large enough to meet your needs.
Cover Yourself
Make sure you’re covered by insurance if disaster strikes. AFS can help. Check out these benefit offerings:
1. Home Office Protection
Home Office Protection is provided at no extra charge to Premier Resource Members of AFS. You’re protected in case of fire and lightning, theft and burglary, ice and snow, as well as other events. You get coverage for up to:
$7,500 worth of equipment
$20,000 worth of business liability coverage at your residence
$1,500 for temporary relocation of your home business
2. Business Insurance
Through AFS, you have access to protection for your business assets. This insurance will:
Replace damaged or stolen property
Provide a stream of income if your business is temporarily closed due to a covered loss
Protect you if a claim is made against you for bodily injury or property damage alleged to have been caused by your business operations or products
Availability of these benefits is dependent upon membership level and state of residence.
(Posted July 2006)
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