Why small businesses need managed security (CCTV, firewall, backups)

Small businesses depend on the same things large companies do: a safe location, a working network and data that is there when you need it. The difference is that a small business rarely has an IT team watching over them. Managed security covers three practical layers: security cameras for your location, a firewall for your network, and backups for your data.

CCTV: protect your location

A security camera system lets you see what is happening at your entrances, registers, work areas and parking, and review recordings when something goes wrong. Good camera placement matters more than the number of cameras: cover the doors, the places where money or inventory changes hands, and anywhere an incident would be hard to reconstruct.

• Plan camera locations around entrances, registers, work areas and parking
• Choose recording equipment and how long recordings should be kept
• Set up secure remote viewing on your phone or computer
• Keep camera systems on their own network segment, away from staff computers

Firewall: protect your network

Your office network carries computers, phones, card terminals, cameras and guest devices. A business firewall sits between that network and the internet, and lets you separate those devices into their own networks so a guest laptop or an outdated device cannot reach the systems that matter. A firewall also needs updates and occasional rule changes as the business changes, which is where ongoing management helps.

• Separate networks for staff, guests and devices such as phones and card terminals
• Firmware and security updates applied, not left for later
• Secure remote access for staff who work outside the office
• Rules reviewed when you add locations, staff or equipment

Backups: protect your data

Hardware fails, files get deleted by accident, and ransomware can lock up an entire computer or server. A backup is only useful if it is recent, stored somewhere separate from the original, and can actually be restored. That means keeping copies off-site or in the cloud and testing a restore from time to time.

• Back up important files and systems on a regular schedule
• Keep at least one copy off-site or in the cloud
• Test restoring files, not just creating backups
• Write down a simple recovery plan: who does what, and in what order

A backup you have never restored is a hope, not a plan. Test it.

Why managed, and why together

Each of these layers needs attention after it is installed: cameras need to keep recording, firewalls need updates, and backups need to be checked. When one team plans, sets up and supports all three, it is clear who is responsible, the pieces are designed to work together on the same network, and you have one number to call when something needs to change.

1-800GetConnected.com provides managed security for businesses: CCTV camera systems, firewalls, and backup and disaster recovery. Learn more on our Managed Security page.

Talk to us

Every office is different, so the best next step is a short conversation about yours. Call (877) 849-9995 or request a free quote and tell us about your location, your network and your data.