Keeping your business secure offline – where do you start?

Where should you start when it comes to offline business security?

Wouldn’t it be amazing if Spiderman was on your company’s payroll? If every time a thief broke into your office, they found themselves caught in a web and served on a plate to the cops? Of course, criminals in the real world don’t punch their way through showroom walls or fly in on a glider, supervillain-style. And keeping your company safe offline doesn’t necessarily mean stopping crooks from breaking down doors or dancing their way around laser beams like they’re doing the limbo.

Today’s villains look and sound less like The Joker or Harley Quinn and more like you and I. They are constantly seeking new ways to steal from companies and wreak havoc. Physical elements like safes and security cameras play an essential role in business safety, but they are not the whole package. That’s because, when it comes to brute force, many aggressors’ law-breaking is of the attempting-to-guess-your-password variety, either on or offline. In an online attack, like password cracking, criminals must interact with your business system, which can be bolstered by several protections. Examples being limiting password attempts or sending verification codes to cell phones.

But, offline attacks do not require a direct connection with a targeted system. Criminals can exploit already stolen information, like password hashes or encryption keys. It means they can try numerous key combinations to gain access without the risk of discovery or interference.

6 ways to improve the offline security of your business

1. Carry out a risk assessment
   Despite being unkillable, even Clark Kent has a weakness. Likewise, every business has its kryptonite. Once you have performed a risk assessment and identified vulnerabilities to attack, you can take the necessary steps to protect them. Employees also need to be aware of this, so be sure to create a detailed training program on safety and security in the workplace based on the risk assessment so that everyone can respond to problems correctly.
2. Use physical storage
   Keep your assets and sensitive documents in a secure location, such as a locked drawer or safe. Take our electronic key and asset control systems. KEYper’s 16-gauge powder-coated steel cabinets offer superior physical protection. Powder-coated steel is tremendously strong, corrosion-resistant, and highly durable, giving you peace of mind.
3. Update your security cameras
   Who needs Iron Man’s intellect with modern security cameras? A shining example is Niō, KEYper and iDter’s intrusion deterrence and monitoring solution. It uses intelligent guardian nodes to recognize intrusion and act immediately, deterring over 98% of intrusion attempts. Niō activates flood lights, red and blue strobes, and piercing sirens while offering instant notification, visibility, and control through iDter’s mobile apps. In addition, iDter personnel can call on the police by issuing a video-verified alert through redundant 5 Diamond TMA Certified and UL-listed central alarm stations.
4. Implement physical access control
   Some businesses may need to physically prevent people from accessing certain assets. Our KEYper^® MXi LOCK-IN Electronic Key System uses remote administration software that provides management tools for controlling item access. From their smartphone, administrators can allow authorized persons to physically remove only the keys they have permission to use from our cabinets while all others remain locked.
5. Enhance authentication
   All staff members must use strong and unique passwords when accessing business systems. Attacks can involve taking a hash of your password offline and trying to crack it. Your company could benefit from wrap-around protection with multi-factor authentication. KEYper’s MX Electronic Key System offers multiple access options: PIN, biometric fingerprint, and a proximity or swipe card reader, for integration into our MXI Key Cabinet to support existing credentials.
6. Educate, educate, educate
   Everyone can be a superhero of offline business safety, and one of the most potent weapons in your armory is education. You and your employees must be aware of offline attacks and trained to effectively protect data and passwords and identify ways criminals convince people to reveal sensitive information or perform a specific action for illegal gains.

How important is offline security in your sector?

1. Automotive.
   Anyone in the automotive business – whether it is sales, PDI, service, rentals, fleet management, or a body shop – knows car theft is a huge loss. That’s why our electronic key and asset control systems are such a popular security solution throughout the industry.  But many criminals also lift dealer plates to sell or trade. And that’s where the KEYper Dealer Plate Extension Cabinet comes in. Each dealer plate is securely attached and locked using our metal Lock-In iFob. The cabinet enables strict control over access, and authorized users can select to check out a dealer plate in the same transaction as a vehicle key, driving a fast and smooth sale.
2. Government and law enforcement agencies.
   The people behind our police forces, government agencies, military applications, state-run research, and healthcare facilities are real-life superheroes saving lives and fighting crime and national crises on the frontline. They often deal with sensitive data, substances, tools, and weapons, which can be a matter of life and death in the wrong hands. That’s why agencies need to be able to restrict access to the above to authorized users at times they specify.
3. Universities.
   Staff members at universities must manage access to facilities, housing, vehicles, valuable technology, and tools to maintain a free and open campus while protecting students and other employees. Installing our KEYper cabinets across buildings where keys are needed most also grants campus police quicker access to secured areas in an emergency.

Stay one step ahead with KEYper  

Modern-day villains can use the internet to cause chaos without exercising physical brute force. But that doesn’t mean they have stopped attacking businesses offline or in real life. Company offices, stores, and warehouses are treasure troves for robbers and vandals, filled with valuable assets and data, including goods, technology, equipment, documents, and contracts that need formidable protection. Firms must also protect themselves against offline digital assaults like data decryption, password cracking, malware analysis, and data manipulation. After all, business safety can help boost your reputation, attract more customers, reduce staff turnover, and retain clients, suppliers, and shipping partners.

Speak to KEYper Systems today, and let our expert team of professionals answer any questions you may have.