20 questions to help you in securing your business

When you talk about securing your business, there are two basic categories that all forms of security fall into

1. The physical aspect
2. The digital aspect

Depending on the type of business, both these categories and their requirements can change drastically. Unlike in the past, you can now digitalize all of your assets and secure them online. The majority of data has gone digital as the world has evolved. It is important to protect both aspects to secure your business.

Physical aspect for securing your business

Is the access to your workspace limited to authorized personnel?

Establishing clear guidelines and expectations for your workspace will help in securing your business by making it apparent who is allowed in and who is not.

• Ensure that all personnel, vendors, and guests are given an authentication card/key that they carry with themselves at all times, and make sure they sign in and out.
• Keep your workspace organized to reduce the chance of theft or tampering.
• To find flaws and make improvements, conduct routine audits of your security protocols.

Are your employees trained and informed?

When it comes to securing your business, it’s important to educate your employees on the protocols that are in place and empower them to report any suspicious activity. By doing so, you can help create a culture of security awareness that will benefit both your business and your employees. Here are a few ways to go about doing this:

• Make sure your employees are aware of the security protocols that are in place.
• Empower your employees to report any suspicious activity. This can be done by providing a dedicated hotline or email address for reporting, as well as making it clear that reports will be taken seriously and investigated promptly.
• Educate your employees on the importance of securing your business. This can be done through regular training sessions, security awareness days, or even just by sending out regular reminders.

Do you background check the employees you hire?

When you’re hiring employees, it’s important to do a background check to ensure they are who they say they are and to confirm their qualifications. You can run a background check yourself or hire a professional service to do it for you. Besides confirmation of their identity, it can also reveal any past records that are undesirable for the company and can be a potential security risk.

How will you securely deploy work devices to your employees?

If you’re looking to deploy work devices to your employees, there are a few things you’ll need to keep in mind in order to do so securely. First, consider the type of device you are planning to deploy and gather information on the device like OS, its use in the business etc. Then identify a suitable UEM that has remote management capabilities making the management easier and secure for the IT admins.

What happens when a work device is stolen/lost

If your work device is stolen or lost, it’s important to take action quickly to protect your company’s data. Here are a few things that your IT team will do:

• As soon as you notify your company’s IT department or security team immediately. They will be able to help you track down the device and take steps to protect your company’s data.
• When a device is enrolled with UEM like Hexnode, it helps IT track down any device that is lost through its remote tracking feature.
• The user is then asked by IT to change all of his/her passwords that were on the device. This includes any passwords for company accounts, email, social media, and any other online accounts.
• As a final measure, if the device cannot be retrieved, the IT admin has the ability to remotely wipe the device.

Have you digitalized your systems wherever possible?

Digital transformation is inevitable for businesses today. More and more businesses are turning to digital solutions to solve various business challenges. One of the main reasons for this trend is the need to improve security and operational efficiency. Having on-premises solutions has many downsides; since they are an expensive ordeal, corporations tend to compromise on the best-in-class solutions.

Digitalizing solutions also include documentation; having physical documents makes storing, retrieving and safekeeping harder. It is safe to say that making digital copies of these documents is much more efficient and secure.

What are the security systems installed in the workspace?

There are a variety of security systems that you can implement at your workplace, depending on your needs. Some common security measures include installing CCTV cameras, hiring security guards, and using access control systems.

There are a few security systems that you should consider for your workplace:

• Alarm systems: These can be used to alert employees and security personnel to potential intruders or other dangers.
• Access control systems: These can be used to restrict access to certain areas of your premises or to monitor who is coming and going.
• CCTV cameras are a great way to deter criminals and monitor activity around your premises. If you have valuable items on your premises, it is also a good idea to invest in a security guard.

Digital aspect for securing your business

Physical security measures are a common ground for most businesses, but what some businesses fail to recognize is that, in the growing age of digitalization, securing your online ecosystem is just as important or rather more important.

What valuable data does your business have that could be lost or stolen if it were not properly protected?

To protect your data, the first step would be to find out what data is important for your business operations, and there are many ways to find valuable data in your business.

• One way is to simply look for data that is related to the cash flow of the company, this is data that hackers can use as leverage to get inside your system.
• Another way to find valuable data is to look for data that is critical to the operation of your business; any problem pertaining to the loss of such data can lead to a halt in everyday work.
• Finally, you can also look for data that is valuable to your customers or clients. This can be customer data like their personal information and account number that are saved within the system.

What kind of digital security do you require?

In succession to the earlier points, when you learn about the data that is important for your business, the next step would be to find out what kind of digital security is required for your business. There are a few key factors to consider when trying to find the right digital security for your needs:

• If you are just looking to keep your personal information safe, then a basic password manager coupled with encryption protocols for your data will suffice. However, if you are trying to protect sensitive data such as financial information or healthcare records, then you will need a more robust solution like a UEM.
• If you are just looking to keep your data safe from casual hackers, then a basic firewall may be enough. However, if you are concerned about more advanced threats such as nation-state actors or organized crime, then just like earlier, a UEM is required.
• Finally, you need to consider your budget. There are a variety of digital security solutions available, ranging from free open-source options to expensive ones. Finding the right balance between price and a useful feature set is the best way to find a suitable UEM.

Do you have a strategy to protect your businesses?

The next step would be to make a strategy to secure your business, it is required that you protect your business by having an action plan for any unfavorable situations.
For example: In case an employee loses his work device, it is important to have a strategy to deal with such situations beforehand; in this case, it can be tracking the device or wiping it in extreme cases.

Do you allow the use of personal devices for work purposes?

There are both advantages and disadvantages to using personal devices for work purposes. On the plus side, employees can often be more productive when they have access to the tools and apps they’re already familiar with. Additionally, it can be more cost-effective for businesses to allow employees to use their own devices since they won’t have to purchase and maintain a separate fleet of work-specific devices.

However, there are also some potential downsides to using personal devices for work. For example, it can be harder for employers to keep track of employee activity and ensure that data remains secure. Additionally, employees may be less likely to follow company policies when using their own devices, which could lead to problems down the line.

Depending on the needs and circumstances of the business, the users can decide if they can use personal devices for work. If security and compliance are major concerns, it is best to stick with corporate-issued devices. However, if cost and productivity are priorities, allowing employees to use their own devices could be the way to go.

Is there multi-factor authentication for employees?

Multi-factor authentication is important for securing your business because it provides an additional layer of security beyond a traditional username and password. By requiring a second factor, such as a fingerprint or code sent to your phone, it makes it much more difficult for hackers to gain access to your account. Even if they are able to steal your password, they would still need your second factor in order to log in. This extra step can help prevent account breaches and protect your sensitive information.

Do you make sure all your software are up-to-date?

One of the most important things you can do to keep your devices safe is to ensure that the software on all your devices is always up-to-date. By keeping your software up-to-date, you can help prevent potential cyber-attacks. Along with adding additional functionalities, software updates also fix previous vulnerabilities. By keeping your software up-to-date, you can help reduce the chances of being a victim of a cyber-attack.

Do you regularly monitor your corporate email accounts?

As your business grows, so does the need to stay vigilant about email security. It’s important to regularly monitor your corporate email accounts for potential threats. By doing so, you can help protect your business from attacks that could lead to data breaches or other damage.

There are a few different ways to monitor your email for security purposes. One is to set up alerts that notify you if there are any suspicious activities going on in your account. Another is to regularly check your account settings and make sure that only authorized users have access to it. Finally, you should always be on the lookout for phishing emails or other scams that could compromise your account.

How do you remotely troubleshoot your devices?

If you suspect that there is a problem with one of your devices, but you can’t seem to identify the issue, you may need to remotely troubleshoot the device. This means accessing the device from another location in order to diagnose and fix the problem. There are a few different ways that you can go about doing this, depending on the type of device and the problem that you’re experiencing. The most prevalent solution that you can use is to have all your corporate devices enrolled in management software so you are always on top of what is happening on your corporate devices.

What are the network security measures that you follow?

One of the most common ways a digital attack happens is by breaching your network. There are many different ways to secure a network, and the most effective approach depends on the specific needs of the organization. However, some common network security measures that you should consider protecting include having firewalls, VPNs, intrusion detection and prevention systems, and encryption of data before transmission.

Do you have intrusion detection and prevention systems?

Intrusion detection and prevention systems are a combination of hardware and software that work together to detect and prevent unauthorized access to computer networks. There are many different types of intrusion detection and prevention systems, but they all have one common goal: to keep your network safe from hackers and other malicious actors.

Does your company need BYOD support?

As more and more employees bring their own devices to work, it’s becoming increasingly important for businesses to offer BYOD support. Ever since the pandemic, there has been a rise in the number of people working remotely, and even after reopening, employees tend to choose work from home or opt for a hybrid model. Not only does this make it easier for employees to stay connected and productive, but it also helps to reduce the risk of data breaches and other security threats.

BYOD support can come in a variety of forms, from simple things like allowing employees to access company email on their personal devices to more comprehensive solutions that include UNIFIED ENDPOINT MANAGEMENT (UEM) tools and enterprise-grade security features. Whatever form it takes, though, BYOD support is an essential part of any modern business.

Do you have a data security policy that you follow?

Data security policies are important for businesses of all sizes. They help protect your company’s data and can prevent costly breaches.

A well-crafted policy can also help your company to comply with data privacy laws and regulations.

There are a few key elements that should be included in any data security policy. First, there should be a clear statement of what is considered confidential information. This can include customer data, financial information, and trade secrets. The policy should also outline how this information will be protected. This can include steps like encrypting data, restricting access to certain employees, and physical security measures. The policy should also detail the measures that need to be taken in the case of a breach.

How do you secure your endpoints?

Endpoints are the weak links in most systems when they are not protected. Corporates need to manage all the endpoints that are in their ecosystem. This is possible through management software. Having a UEM like Hexnode is a step in the right direction as its lucrative feature set caters to all modern management needs.

Why Hexnode?

Hexnode UEM is a comprehensive enterprise mobility management solution that offers a complete set of features to manage and secure Android, iOS, macOS, Windows 10 and Chrome OS devices in your organization. The intuitive web-based console of Hexnode UEM makes it easy for admins to deploy and manage mobile devices and apps from a central location.

With Hexnode UEM, you can create custom device profiles and configure policies to lock down devices as per your organizational needs. You can also remotely view device information, monitor activity logs, track location and more. Additionally, Hexnode UEM provides app management capabilities that allow you to deploy internal as well as public apps on managed devices.

Overall, Hexnode UEM is a versatile UEM solution that helps you to effectively manage and secure your organization’s mobile devices and apps, in turn securing your business.