Southport Magazine

Odds are, you’ve worked hard to establish your business. You’ve made tough decisions and dodged countless pitfalls. Nevertheless, don’t let the excitement of moving forward distract you from the present: What are you doing to protect what you’ve already built?

Beyond the physical damage that burglaries, robberies, floods and fires can cause, the interruption to your normal business operations is devastating. Luckily, many of these unexpected setbacks are preventable.

Follow these guidelines to not only help you prevent loss, but to help your business get up-and-running again as quickly as possible.

Security
Keeping your place of business secure often comes down to taking the right preventative measures.

• If possible, avoid having a concentration of valuable items located in one area, especially near windows, as it can provide a would-be thief an opportunity to “smash and grab” your property.

• Improve your lighting. Good interior and exterior lighting is one of the most effective deterrents against crime.

• A door-buzzer is a relatively inexpensive way to increase your business’s security without interfering with the flow of traffic. Combined with an intercom system and a reinforced door, a buzzer can ensure that only legitimate customers and colleagues can get inside.

• Many window locks are simply latches that can be pried open. Ask a locksmith or security supplier how you can select more secure window locks.

• Video technology gets smaller, better, and cheaper every year. For a modest investment, you can cover the perimeter of your business with video surveillance, and also digitally record footage.

• When you buy equipment, record the serial numbers of each item.

Surge Protection
Electrical spikes and surges can damage your electronic equipment. However, properly installed electrical service meter surge protection devices (SPDs) used in conjunction with individual plug-in SPDs offer a high level of protection for your building(s) and business equipment.

• Make sure any surge protectors you purchase are listed as UL Standard 1449. This is a national benchmark and means the product has been thoroughly tested.

• Point-of-use devices can protect particular appliances in your home, but a more comprehensive approach to surge protection is to combine point-of-use devices with another device, like a service entrance surge protector or an electrical panel surge protector.

• Direct lightning strikes are powerful enough to overwhelm even the best surge protection. That said, the ultimate surge protection is to unplug equipment from the wall if you suspect a surge may be coming.

Water Damage Protection
Water damage in the workplace can be a major problem. Not only can it cost you quite a bit to clean up, but it can also slow—or even shut down—your business operations.

• Always have adequate insurance coverage. Although you can do much to prepare, you can’t prevent every calamity. That’s why the proper insurance is crucial, as it will help to repair or replace your damaged or destroyed equipment after a covered loss.

• You’ll be able to expedite the claims process if you’ve kept an up-to-date inventory of your business equipment. Remember to include leased equipment that is not specifically insured by the leasing company.