Theft is a serious element of risk to any business, regardless what form it takes. The truth is that there is no single identity or stereotype that fits every kind of theft. You need to be vigilant in a manner of ways at all times, whether you’re a home business, a small retailer or the proprietor of an immensely popular app.
Here is how you need to protect yourself from theft:
Loss prevention.
Anyone who works in retail has no doubt heard a lot about loss prevention. Perhaps even watched multiple training videos on it. But the truth is that loss and shrinkage can happen in any environment. If you have tools, products or supplies you spend money on, losing them might hurt you. That’s why it’s a good idea to have inventory systems, to better track when things go missing and what the source is.
Protecting your business physically.
Of course, compared to the kind of theft that can occur, loss can seem somewhat innocuous. There is the focus that you need to put on the security of your premises and even larger thefts. Business premises can be frequently targeted precisely because they are more likely to be worth the break-in. Virtual security systems, CCTV and strengthened entrances can all help you protect your business. You need to decide the value of your business and the investment you want to make in keeping it.
Protecting your business digitally.
With the amount of business done on the web now, it’s only natural that criminals would look for weak spots to infiltrate you digitally, too. Cybersecurity has become a much more commonly used word nowadays. You need to take two approaches to it. Securing your network from virtual intrusions and from falling physically into the wrong hands. This requires both tech and personal security measures.
Protecting your ideas.
It’s not just money and assets that can be stolen from you, of course. It’s the very nature of the business you do and the products you create. Someone infringing on your ideas reduces their profitability and your ownership of them. So don’t let it slide. Get the law on your side with the help of people like trademark attorney Xavier Morales. Not contesting stolen ideas can make it harder for you to protect them from widespread use down the line.
Protecting your customers.
It’s not just you at risk, either. Particularly in regards to environments where face-to-face contact isn’t involved, the customers are, too. Particularly from fraud and identity theft. It’s not only beneficial to them but a legal requirement for you to fight fraud in your business. Make sure you take the identification verification measures necessary for the kind of business that you do. No-one wants to be known as an unsecure business.
Stopping theft is about identifying what people will want from your business and erasing the vulnerabilities that allow them to access it. Failing to do so will not only cost you; it can even get you in legal trouble. Start taking theft seriously.
