January 10, 2018
According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, many businesses are now home-based. Home offices and businesses provide flexible schedules, eliminate commuting time and limit overhead costs. You work in a comfortable environment and you don’t even need to leave your house! Sounds like the perfect plan, right?
Maybe. Home offices require diligence and self-discipline. Best practices should be established, such as office hours, a designated work space and a professional mindset. Additionally, quality control security measures must be in place to keep your business’ and clients’ data safe.
Finally, the office space must be physically safe and secure in the event of an emergency evacuation, such as a home fire or carbon monoxide poisoning. In honor of Home Office Safety and Security Week, here are a few tips you can follow:
First, ensure sensitive data on your computer is encrypted, client data is confidential and your virus protection software is up-to-date. Back up all data on an encrypted hard drive. If you have client data on paper, store this information in a locked cabinet at all times.
Next, check the physical surroundings of your office. You should always have a clear path to the exit. Additionally, electrical sockets should never be overloaded. You could be at risk for an electrical fire.
Finally, check your insurance coverage. Contact your independent insurance agent to see if your home and your business are properly insured. Also, talk with your agent about cyber insurance coverage. This coverage provides an additional layer of protection preventing hackers from accessing secure data. Cyber coverage assists with privacy breach response costs, notification expenses, customer support, credit monitoring expenses and more.
This summary is for general informational use only and may not include all relevant information.
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