Aside from greedily counting your profits, strolling around your mansion and taking a dip in your indoor pool, the work of a business owner involves a variety of other more pedestrian tasks.

Namely, the fight to keep the firm secure from the threat of criminals.

Any business — regardless if it’s a dog food warehouse or a firework factory — is at risk from theft, vandalism and cybercriminals determined to extract valuable stock or information.

In the good old days before the internet and sophisticated technology, a polite warning notice about a not so polite guard dog may have been enough to deter a hapless intruder.

However, a potentially rabid mutt is unlikely to dissuade the modern criminal from attempting to plunder your business’s most valuable products and data.

With that in mind, your firm should be prepared to meet the challenge of deterring criminals, both online and offline, and reduce the risk of becoming a victim.

How? By following our five top tips below …

Install Security Fencing

Whether you require temporary fencing as a short-term solution, or an investment in something more permanent, a fence is a great first line of defence to keep interlopers off your property. Not only will it offer an imposing barrier for criminals to negotiate, but it’s likely to prevent them attempting it in the first place.

Invest In CCTV

Security cameras offer a multitude of security benefits, not least the fact that those who do choose to scale your security fencing and ignore the warnings will be caught on CCTV. Criminals who know that a premises is covered by security cameras are likely to be deterred from setting foot on your grounds.

Set Up an Alarm System

Knucklehead delinquents who choose to jump your fence, ignore the CCTV and hotfoot it your front door armed with a crowbar and an evil grin should be met with the piercing wail of an alarm system. Designed to work by alerting security guards (if you have any) or the authorites if there’s been a breach, an alarm system should be a top priority.

Defend Your Electronic Devices

With the physical threat of intruders dealt with, it’s time to secure your firm’s electronic devices. Whether it’s a PC, smartphone, tablet or typewriter (I kid), it’s important to install antivirus, antispyware antiphishing software, along with a good firewall, to prevent cybercriminals getting their hands on your company’s most valuable data.

Set a Password Protocol

In the same way you wouldn’t leave your front door open to invite criminals in unchallenged, you and your employees’ passwords shouldn’t make it easy to gain access to emails or other sensitive information. Consequently, employ a password protocol and ensure that they are at least eight to 10 characters long and contain letters, numbers and symbols.