In order to understand and apply any form of security to
your business, first you need to know what is meant by
"security" and what is "practical" for your business.

When talking about security, you need to realize that NO
man-made system is truly 100% secure. For example; in the
physical sense, when you leave your business for the day,
you probably lock and deadbolt the building. You may even
set an alarm system to deter burglars from making off with
your "stuff".

If you are the owner of a dry-cleaning firm, those limited
precautions may very well "do the trick". But, if a would-be
thief were to walk past your establishment after hours, and
notice a neglected cash drawer, the locks and alarm system
might not be enough to completely "secure" your property.

What if you owned your city's most prestigious diamond
jewelry business? In that case, you might go so far as to
add a "night-watchman" whenever your doors are closed.

Now, if the rumour got out that you were displaying a
"Hope Diamond" of your very own design in your jewelry
shop, someone might just risk a daytime armed robbery.

NO business is really 100% secure. You KNOW that!
That is the reason you most likely have an insurance policy.

"Security" for ANY business, large or small is all about
control. To the extent that you can control the integrity
of the assets that make up the 'sum and substance' of
your business, you will have a "secure" business.

So what EXACTLY are the assets of your organization
which you can and should attempt to control? And how
SPECIFICALLY do you go about controlling them in a
practical manner?

The answers to those questions will form the basis for the
remaining articles in this series.

The examples listed above show different types of concerns
with different security needs.

Could the owners above DO more to BE more secure?
Of course they could. But would it be practical to use
every known security device or process to reach that level
of protection? Probably not.

Systems and strategies for securing the PHYSICAL property of
a business have been around for a very long time. But what
about OTHER kinds of assets?

For many business owners and professionals, their personal
data, such as sales records, contact information, databases,
agreements and contracts, etc., are the most important parts
of their businesses.

Today, your 'bread and butter' depends upon computer systems
and servers that may be located anywhere and that are usually
connected to one or more networks, including the Internet.

The direct security and control of these systems and networks
is often out of the hands of the business owner. In the future,
you can count on these processes to evolve and change
even more.

What is practical for your business today, will vary depending
upon your business type, how well you understand the risks
to your business assets, and the value that you place on them.
In the future, changing technology may force you to use new
systems and strategies to maintain your security in new ways.

A good security system that is practical for small business
will have the following primary characteristics:

It must WORK as you expect it to for YOUR business.

It must allow you to MAINTAIN CONTROL of your assets.

It must GUARD against unauthorized access.

It must include a WORKING BACKUP process.

It must ADAPT to changing technology.

It must be COST EFFECTIVE.

It must allow you to work WITHOUT excessive interference.

While it is true that no system is completely secure, it IS
possible to effect good, balanced security that is practical
for your business.

By sticking to the rules listed above, and by paying attention
to your business and how it functions in our changing
connected world, you CAN maintain control of your
successful business.

Ralph Moore, editor of the FREE Eagle Flyer Newsletter,
Provides "Motivational, Marketing and How To Technology
Tips That Can Multiply Your Business Online".
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