At Empreus IT, we want to help you keep your business and its critical data secure. That’s why we’ve been running a series of articles called IT security 101.

So far in the series, we’ve covered the importance of firewalls and anti-virus, and their roles in defending your business data from inevitable threats.

Using the analogy of your business as a castle, we have explored the idea that:

• Firewalls are a moat that surround the castle and limit the number of attackers that make it onto castle grounds
• Your anti-virus is the castle guards that detect and eliminate threats swiftly and effectively

In this third article, we want to explain why it’s essential to have good physical security to protect your IT hardware. In keeping with our castle theme, think of physical security as the heavy duty locks and latches on your castle door.

What is physical security?

Physical security is the tangible barrier you place between people and IT systems. It makes it physically difficult to get to your IT systems and damage, steal or break them.

Physical security can include:

• Locks
• Keyless doors (requiring a fingerprint)
• Security systems
• Server cages

There are many options to choose from, including revolutionary new Cloud technology systems that monitor and store security data and camera feeds in the Cloud (so they cannot be edited or deleted easily).

Why is physical security important?

Critical IT hardware (such as your server) houses your business’s confidential and critical data.

Whether or not it’s intentional or accidental, if people can touch your IT hardware, they can break it. For example, if your server sits in the same area as your staff and someone accidentally spills coffee on it, it could be destroyed….along with all of your data.

Imagine that – all the documents you have worked countless hours to create, gone in an instant!

Keeping expensive and critical hardware in a separate room and ensuring that room has security is the best way to avoid accidents, protect your proprietary information, and reduce the risk to your business.

How can Empreus IT help with physical security?

While we do not supply locks, bolts, cages or cameras, we can advise you on:

• The physical security you need for your specific business
• Where to buy it
• How to install it (some systems will require an electrician)

We are experienced in mapping camera networks and ensuring full functionality, as well as setting up access rules and monitoring IT systems for integrity and longevity.

For a confidential consultation on adding physical security to your business castle, call Empreus IT on (02) 6189 1322 or contact us now.