The rise of the smart home is changing how people live, but many of us fail to recognize the role that these technological advances can help business owners. As the strategies of criminals become more sophisticated, the businesses they tend to target need to as well. Automated security systems provide both better security systems and more efficiency by providing owners with 24/7 insight into their security apparatus.
While passwords were once the standard for authenticating your employees and allowing them access to privileged information, it’s a system in decline throughout the business world. Passwords can be frighteningly insecure, and the methodology for recovering them makes them inherently risky for the security of your business’ sensitive data. A majority of hacking attacks get access to systems via weak or guessable passwords. As a result, many businesses are moving to more complex alternatives. One of these options is the use of tokens. They provide a one-time password to users through the use of a specific device. While they offer a much higher level of security and can be useful for particularly sensitive information, the system itself can be labor intensive.
More effective but more technologically advanced is the implementation of biometrics. A biometric system relies on user-specific information like fingerprints or facial recognition. Authentication is quicker than with security tokens, and while there may be an overhead cost in implementing them, they can serve as a far more advanced and convenient alternative to the traditional system of passwords.
While many modern attacks are orchestrated completely through the internet, that doesn’t mean physical security is no longer a necessity. Knowing who’s coming and going into your office or warehouse can help you protect your interests, and having a clear record of access to your facilities can create accountability for the behavior of your employees. Card control systems automate the process and reduce the need for having a security system on staff. The only people who can get in and out are the people who belong there, and you can even add multiple layers of security to restrict access to more sensitive areas within your business. Many remote access systems even log entry so that you’ll have a digital trail if the worst happens.
But perhaps the most effective and important aspect of automation is how it puts security directly into the hands of owners and managers. Apps like Pulse from ADT condense all security systems into a single app. Video cameras can be controlled or monitored directly through a phone app, and notifications let administrators know the minute a red flag is raised. Apps like Pulse even offer a dedicated portal that gives users granular control over their security configurations on the fly.
Lastly, it’s essential that those in charge of the system maintain a good understanding of how the system is working and how to improve over time. Technology has improved greatly in the past few decades, and even more in just the last few years. As such it’s of critical importance to keep on top of technological trends to have the highest level of safety possible.
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