When you own a small business, it’s critical to think of three types of security for your company: the physical security of your property, the physical safety of your staff, and the security of your computer data.

Physical security starts before you even lease or purchase space. Choose a safe area of your community and look for a property that is well lit and preferably visible from the street. Protect against easy entry with deadbolt locks, metal-lined doors, and burglar-resistant glass. Don’t leave serial numbers on your locks. This can allow potential thieves to copy your keys. Your alarm system should be tested regularly and if tripped it should reach an outside organization with 24/7 response.

Take the in-plain-sight approach to your office design. If you have a safe, make sure it is visible from outside so security and police will see anyone trying to break in. If you have a cash register, make sure that’s also visible. Empty the cash register at close of business and leave it open to show that it’s been emptied. Also leave the safe open if it’s empty. Having the empty safe and register visible reduces the likelihood of a break-in.

Don’t tempt thieves by leaving valuable products on display in your windows. Place those items in a safe when your operation is closed. Be sure to leave lights on so that security patrols can see into your operation. Have a standard protocol for locking up and securing your business. This type of vigilance makes you a poor prospect for thieves.

Keep a current inventory off site so that if you are burglarized, you are prepared with accurate information for insurance purposes.

Employee safety involves setting policies for securing your business during working hours. If your operation handles expensive products or equipment, make sure that products are secure. Set a policy about how many valuable pieces of merchandise can be displayed out of locked cases at one time. If possible have at least two employees present whenever you are open for business and use mirrors to reduce the opportunity for shoplifting. Encourage employees to report any suspicious behavior on the part of a customer to you or the manager on-site immediately.

One of the highest employee risks occurs when domestic violence is brought into the workplace. Encourage your employees to keep you informed of any restraining orders or other domestic issues. If possible, remove any employees at risk to a position where they are not publicly accessible.

If female employees need to work after dark, make sure your parking lot is well lit and offer to accompany anyone who requests it to their cars. If possible, arrange for parking close to and within view of the office entrance.

Data security is critical for both your employees and your customers. Start with a secure firewall and password-protected networks and computers. Build in automatic password changes at least every three months. Keep passwords on a need-to-know basis with your employees and change the common passwords any time an employee leaves your organization.

Create a system of regular back-ups, and keep one off-site or in the cloud. Work with a skilled IT person, either on-staff or as a consultant, to ensure that you are meeting fundamental security measures for your data. If any data is compromised, notify your affected customers or employees immediately.

Keeping your business secure is at the foundation of good business practices. By following these suggestions, you are well on your way to providing a safe workplace for your staff and a good place of business for your customers.