10 Reasons To Love Monitored Security Systems
A home security system can stand between a homeowner and a happy outcome when disaster strikes. On the South Carolina coastline in the Grand Strand area, a disaster might mean the occurrence of a hurricane, or a flood.
In other parts of the country, disaster might include tornadoes or earthquakes.
For everyone, no matter whether you live in South Carolina, Myrtle Beach or elsewhere, a fire or medical emergency can quickly turn into a disaster if help is not immediately dispatched.
- A home security system is great.
- Home security systems with security cameras is better.
- Monitored Home Security Systems are best!
Today, let’s celebrate 10 reasons to love monitored security systems.
1 Get Immediate Help When Intruders Enter Your Home
First and foremost, when an intruder, thief, or burglar invades your home they have nothing but bad things in mind. If you are home when this happens, you are now in physical danger.
With a monitored security system, help is dispatched whether you are able to communicate with emergency services, or if you are incapacitated!
2 Access To Medical Assistance When Needed
The same is true when someone in your home has a medical emergency. With just the push of a button you can summon help! Seconds can make the difference between a good outcome and a disastrous one especially when the emergency is a matter of life or death like during a heart attack, a near drowning or a lightning strike.
3 In Case of Fire
Do you sleep soundly at night? What happens when your fire alarm goes off? Do you call the fire station, rescue your family, rescue your pets, rescue your belongings? What if you ONLY had to think about rescuing your family and pets, knowing that the fire department is already on their way? That is what happens when you have a monitored system! The fire department is dispatched while you are getting out of the house!
Time is of the essence during a fire emergency. A monitored system will give you that little bit of extra time!
4 Alert To Possible Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Carbon monoxide poisoning is deadly – and silent. Installing carbon monoxide detectors is step one to home safety, having these alarms hardwired to your monitored alarm so when you are incapacitated due to carbon monoxide poisoning, is even better!
5 Protect Your Assets
With a monitored system, the burden of always looking over your shoulder for danger is not on you. Having a second set of eyes on your home, your car, your pool area, your business is the best way to protect assets you care about.
6 Remote Access to Your Home Security Cameras
With monitored alarm systems like Honeywell Total Connect or Alarm.com you also have remote access to your home security cameras, allowing your to monitor what is going on in real time.
7 Immediate access to you Teenager, Babysitter, Pet or Elderly Parent
With a monitored security system even if you can’t reach someone at home during an emergency, the monitoring company will do their best to reach someone or send help immediately!
8 Save on Homeowners Insurance
Did you know that most insurance companies offer discounts to homeowners who have a monitored system because they know that a monitored home is a safer home?
9 Peace of Mind When Home
A monitored security system gives you peace of mind when you are home – alone or with your family. You can go about your day and know that if someone enters your home unexpectedly, or is a fire starts, that help is on the way! this is especially true for night time!
10 Peace of Mind When Traveling
At the same time, peace of mind comes when traveling if you have a monitored security system. The monitoring company will replay any issues to you in real time, no matter where you are, as long as you can be reached by phone! How awesome is that?
10 Reasons to Love!
This “10 reasons to love” article is part of a 12 month long celebration of Strand Security’s 10th anniversary!
Read the other article here:
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
We have one more article left in this series. Look for it on our blog in December!
The Holiday Season – Put a Ring Camera On It!
Ring Cameras Are All The Rage!
No matter where you live, in Myrtle Beach, on the Grand Strand, in South Carolina or in a different state, we know you want to keep yourself, your family as well as you personal property and assets safe!
While there is going to be a lot less in-person shopping and travel during the 2020 holiday season due to this pandemic, people like you an me will still need to leave their home to work, get groceries and run errands.
If you are on-the-go and need to keep an eye on things at home, Ring Cameras are a great option for you.
Ring Cameras At Your Front Door Protect What is Yours
You might have seen the home videos of ‘porch thieves’ and other front-door shenanigans. Having a camera on the outside of your front door, so that you can see from inside your home – or from anywhere in the world really – is powerful!
Protect what is yours and prevent a home invasion or burglary.
This is how having a Ring Camera can work for you!
and this one!
Whatever you might have on the outside of your home that thieves might want including bicycles, holiday packages or other sports equipment, a ring camera and alarm + flood lights can scare would-be robbers away!
Ring Cameras Connect You and Your Family aka Kids!
This little kid was told to reach parents with the Ring Camera if needed!
Check out the clever use of Ring at the doorstep.
When help is needed, no matter what type of help, Ring to the rescue.
If you have children, tell them a ring Camera can help them reach an adult when they are in trouble, like this little girl did when she saw a Bobcat while out on a bike ride!
How Can Ring Protect You During the Holidays?
When you are home, Ring can be used to help alert you to fire like in this dramatic video of neighbors using the Ring camera!
If you are away from home and expect a package to be delivered, you can monitor that is stays where it is supposed to be.
You can watch your animals from afar when you are not home!
The Perfect Holiday Gift: A Ring Camera System for your Home!
We encourage you to buy local, supporting your locally owned and locally operated small business. If the Ring Camera or the Ring Camera System is something you’ve been wanting to invest in, we invite you to come see us in Murrells Inlet, or call us to learn more. We’d love to talk to you to help you pick the best Ring cameras for your home.
If you are ready to give the gift of safety and security, we will be happy to help you surprise a loved one with a Ring Camera! Come visit us! As a reminder we services all areas in Horry County and Georgetown County.
10 Reasons To Love Southern Hospitality
Strand Security Is Celebrating 10 Years in Business!
While 2020 has been a weird year for all of us, we are still grateful for a tenth anniversary year.
To celebrate this momentous occasion, we’ve been blogging all year in a series we call ‘10 reasons to love‘. As this is month ten, this is the tenth installment of a 12-month series!
Interested in reading any of the other articles in the series?
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
Let’s get started with October’s edition!
10 Reasons To Love Southern Hospitality
1 Southern Porches
The weather is so fine we can spend hour upon hours on our porches. Our friends and family join us as we sit and watch neighbors mow the lawn, kids play outside and friends walk their dog. Everyone wave and time just seems to stand still. If you are lucky, you’ll be invited on the porch to have a glass of iced tea!
2 South Carolina Sweet Tea
Nothing says South Carolina like sweet tea. It’s a staple in all southern homes and visitors are offered a tall glass of cold, refreshing sweet tea. Don’t confuse sweet tea with hot tea or *gasp* ask for unsweetened tea! Drink is sweet, like the people of this state!
3 Southern Families, Southern Hospitality
When you are home, you are family. When you are brought into a home as a stranger or a friend, you leave as family! Southern families embrace their visitors and will make you feel oh so special!
4 Sweet Conversation
While the sounds of southern voices might seem sweet, don’t be fooled by ‘Bless her Heart’. Expect rich conversations, gentle scolding and strong opinions about God, country and freedom.
5 Southern Manners and Politeness
While Southerns might have a different opinion than you do, they will wrap it all up in a nice and polite package! They will stay calm cool and collected. Etiquette dictates they keep their cool and stay polite no matter what, offering southern hospitality even if you agree to disagree. They’ll Bless you Heart, and will remain polite.
6 Southern Foods
Southern foods are rich in tradition, and butter! Southern foods are plentiful and delicious. They include okra, greens, Fried Chicken, black-eye peas, hush puppies and BBQ.
7 Home Cooking
While we love our K & W and Cracker Barrel there is no substitute for home cooked meals! Getting invited to Thanksgiving Dinner or Christmas means getting double, triple of all your favorite sides and desserts as southern cooks go all out to please their families.
8 Southern Charm
Living in the south means you understand southern charm. Sweet Meemaws who love and spoil their grandkids, ladies who sat through hours of cotillion to learn not only the right etiquette, but also how to charm just about anyone, anywhere at any time!
9 Charity
People in the south take care of their own, and then some! They share what they have, no matter how little with those less fortunate. Charity is learned in Sunday school classes, in the home and is continued at work! Many adults are involved in charitable organizations making the lives of other southerns just a bit better.
10 Southern Tradition
The south, and of course South Carolina is steeped in tradition. If you live here, you know! High school football games are huge. Homecoming is better in South Carolina than anywhere else. Tradition seeps into every aspect of life in the south.
LOVE. LIVE. SOUTH CAROLINA
Strand Security has been serving the people of the Myrtle Beach area, including all of Horry County and Georgetown County for over 10 years! We live where we work. We love Southern Hospitality and have been the recipient of many wonderful home cooked meals, lovely traditions and great conversations.
We serve the Grand Strand with pride!
Let us know how we can help you with your security and safety needs, now and into 2021!
Personal Safety Tips for a Stress-Free and Safe Halloween
The 2020 Holiday Season Will be a Bit Different!
As the year 2020 draws to a close, we are still struggling to make sense of this pandemic.
Wether you live in Horry County, Georgetown County, South Carolina or somewhere else in the USA, we just know your life has been affected!
Kids are learning virtually, seniors are homebound due to the danger of being exposed to COVID-19, millions are still out of work and others are working from home, and we are seeing yet another spike of new cases.
How will we navigate the upcoming holidays?
Personal safety is important to us. We want our customers and friends to be safe as well.
How Will We Navigate the Holidays During a Pandemic?
It’s safe to say things will be different.
- More shopping will be done online than ever before
- Less travel is expected to take place
- Families will be separated due to safety concerns
Each family will need to decide for themselves how to navigate the unknown of a pandemic holiday season.
We are glad however to have discovered some great resources for those who need ideas and suggestions.
CDC Guidelines for Personal Safety During a Pandemic Holiday Season
As many people in the United States begin to plan for fall and winter holiday celebrations, CDC offers the following considerations to help protect individuals and their families, friends, and communities from COVID-19. These considerations are meant to supplement—not replace—any state, local, territorial, or tribal health and safety laws, rules, and regulations with which holiday gatherings must comply. When planning to host a holiday celebration, you should assess current COVID-19 levels in your community to determine whether to postpone, cancel, or limit the number of attendees.
Low Risk Halloween Activities!
For parents who are concerned about potential COVID-19 exposure a ‘traditional Trick or Treat‘ activity might pose, here are some lower risk Halloween activity ideas.
Safe alternatives:
- Carving or decorating pumpkins with members of your household and displaying them
- Carving or decorating pumpkins outside, at a safe distance, with neighbors or friends
- Decorating your house, apartment, or living space
- Doing a Halloween scavenger hunt where children are given lists of Halloween-themed things to look for while they walk outdoors from house to house admiring Halloween decorations at a distance
- Having a virtual Halloween costume contest
- Having a Halloween movie night with people you live with
- Having a scavenger hunt-style trick-or-treat search with your household members in or around your home rather than going house to house
Halloween Activities to Avoid in 2020!
While it’s tempting, the CDC urges all of us to do our part and avoid large gatherings and close contact with people outside our safe zone.
Here are their recommendations of activities to avoid:
- Participating in traditional trick-or-treating where treats are handed to children who go door to door
- Having trunk-or-treat where treats are handed out from trunks of cars lined up in large parking lots
- Attending crowded costume parties held indoors
- Going to an indoor haunted house where people may be crowded together and screaming
- Going on hayrides or tractor rides with people who are not in your household
Safety First To Protect Those You Love!
While we all want to be able to be with family during the holidays, it might be wise to adjust your plans now to only get together with family members who are local to you. Avoid unnecessary travel, including airplanes.
Instead, use technology to connect virtually and make alternative plans.
Be safe. Stay healthy.
3 Smart Home Security Tips For a Worry-Free Holiday Season
Are You Looking for a Worry-Free Holiday Season?
Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year…holiday seasons 2020 is upon us!
What holiday are you most excited about?
No matter what holidays you may celebrate, we understand you might worry about safety, security and, in this pandemic, your health. Technology can help.
Today we will give you three smarthome security tips for a worry-free, and tech-savvy holiday season.
Ring Cameras
Ring cameras are a great way to keep an eye on your home, from wherever you are; at home in your home office, homeschooling kids, or running errands.
Ring cameras also
- deter packages thieves
- can deter break-ins
- enhance Halloween safety
If you need a worry-free holiday season, start by calling Strand Security to talk to us about Ring Cameras and installation! Win – win!
Alarm Systems
We know that the holidays can create extra stress, additional work and more worries; about money, safety and security.
While you are out shopping, or at home wrapping gifts, Alarm.com will keep an eye on your home, your family and your assets. All you need to do is arm the system. When an emergency arises, help will be on their way.
Alarm.com offers the latest technology and a great smarthome system.
Germ-Free, Voice Activated Smarthome!
Last but not least – how about a germ-free, voice activated system to keep your loved ones safe and secure?
At Strand Security, we trust URC to do the job for us. URC is fully-integrated and gives your whole house automation and control!
URC can
- alarm your home
- monitor your cameras
- light your rooms
- stream shows and films
- draw your shades
- pump music through your home
- lock your doors
and so much more, all without touching a button!
The Holidays Are Here: Be Ready!
The holidays’ aren’t complete without shopping and gift-giving.
We’d be remiss if we didn’t mention a few cool gift ideas for the 2020 Holiday season.
- Cool Tech Gifts for Dad
- URC home automation for the whole family
- Family Home Theater Fun Ideas
- Sonos Speakers!
- Central Vacuum System
10 Reasons to Love Self-Defense Training
You might or might not know that we at Strand Security in Murrells Inlet are celebrating our 10th anniversary this year!
We’ve been publishing ’10 reasons to love’ posts every month since January 2020 to celebrate our 10th work anniversary and this month we are excited to bring you 10 reason to love self-defense training.
Our self-defense training all started with Heather of Strand Security just 4 years ago and has blossomed into a great community outreach program to serve all people in Horry County and Georgetown County who are interested in learning more about self-defense!
Heather has trained business owners, girl scouts, college students, grandmas, moms, high school students and more in the ‘art of self-defense’.
Here are 10 reasons to love self-defense training!
1 Self-Defense Training Gives You Confidence
Have you ever been afraid to go somewhere alone? A dark alley? Walking to your car from the mall? Taking your groceries in the house?
If you are fearful, you lack confidence in your ability to asses a dangerous situation and defuse a potential threat. Learning self-defense will help you gain the confidence needed to make smart decisions and take a stance and defend when needed!
2 Self-Defense Training Helps Protect You
Knowing what to do in a dangerous situation, having muscle recall when needed is priceless! Even if your brain shuts down when an attack occurs, self-defense training will kick in and your muscles will remember how to defend and even attack when attacked! Knowing defense will help protect you!
3 Self-Defense Training Builds Strength
learning self-defense builds muscles and strength! Self-defense builds your leg muscles, as well as core and your arm muscles. Repetitive motions, jabs and hooks, kicks and jumps will help you build strength!
4 Self-Defense Training Provides Knowledge
Knowledge is power in dangerous situations! When you learn self-defense, you learn now just the moves, but where to strike on the body of your assailant! Knowing what body part you have that are strong (elbows!) and where to place and strike with these body parts can make a huge difference in case of an attack.
5 Self-Defense Training Gives You Power
Believing in yourself is powerful. Women and girls are often labeled ‘weak’ or as ‘the weaker sex’. Learning self-defense and going through training will make you powerful and strong and will provide your with the power you need to resist when put into a dangerous situation!
6 Self-Defense Training Gives You Self Assurance
You. Can. Do. It.
Training and learning self-defense with people who weigh more, are larger, faster and bigger… makes you realize that technique is most important.
You can fight back against someone who is not your size! It’s all in what you use and how you use it!
7 Self-Defense Training Get You in Shape
You will be in great shape if you enroll in self-defense training. You will move, kick, jump, jab, box your way into shape. Most self-defense training includes time on the mat (floor) as well, so you’ll work on flexibility as well as strength training.
8 Self-Defense Training Teaches You Personal Safety
Once you attend self-defense training you will quickly change your personal habits! No more sitting in your car in the parking lot of the mall to make a phone call, no more talking on the phone while you walk int0 a building or get into an elevator, looking people in the eye as you pass by them. There are certain habits you develop during self-defense training that will stick with you and will make you safer! The chances of getting attacked or being a victim do go down if you raise your personal awareness while out and about!
9 Self-Defense Training Allows You To Promote Community Safety
Once you know self-defense, you will also be a great asset to your community, to those around you at work, while out shopping, when going for a run. You will be able to asses situations and possible help defuse those that are escalating!
10 Self-Defense Training Helps You With Workplace Safety
Last but not least, when trained in self-defense, you can make yourself safer at work, as well as those around you. Especially if you work with customers in retail, knowing self-defense training can come in handy with angry customers, because self-defense training teaches you to de-escalate first, then defend, then attack as a last resort!
Learn Self-Defense in Myrtle Beach and on the Grand Strand!
Connect with Heather of Strand Security to learn more about Myrtle Beach Self Defense and upcoming self-defense training!
To read our other articles in this series, click on each link!
10 Reasons To Love Summer in South Carolina
10 Reasons To Love Quality Speakers
10 Reasons to Love Security Cameras
10 Reasons to Love Living in South Carolina
10 Reasons to Love a Home Theater
10 Reasons To Love Our Community
10 Reasons To Love Smarthomes
10 Reasons To Love the Grand Strand
The Best Controlled Smarthomes Use URC Technology
What is a Smarthome?
Smarthomes are homes with brains.
They ‘think’ and take action on your behalf. Of course, unlike human brains, the brains of a smarthome consist of a powerful computer system of sorts.
Smarthomes make your life easier.
Almost any recurring task in your home can be automated without you touching anything!
Think about all the daily, weekly recurring tasks you perform.
- Locking and unlocking doors and windows
- Garage door – open and closing
- Thermostat and temperature regulation
- Window shades
- Turning lights on and off
- Alarm system activation and deactivation
- Music, video streaming and home theater
- Your morning brew…!
The possibilities are endless, really endless.
However, here is the truth: all smarthomes and all smarthome technology is not create equal!
Any smarthome is only as ‘smart’ as its brains, of course.
We at Strand Security in Murrells Inlet serve both Horry County and Georgetown County and have been installing smarthome technology in Grand Strand homes for years. We customize each home to the owners liking and needs.
We’d like to introduce you to URC Technology!
Strand Security and URC Smarthome Technology
URC technology for your Myrtle Beach area home or business is going to be the best solution for almost anyone who really wants to automate their home!
Strand Security has been installing URC technology all around the Grand Strand. Our staff is well-trained and equipped to make this installation a breeze for your the home owner or business owner.
Here are some pictures of our staff at work!
URC Is The Perfect Brain for Your Smarthome!
The benefits of URC technology to make your home into a smarthome are many!
URC’s Total Control App delivers smart, intuitive solutions for simple to unique living spaces.
Indoor and outdoor control of audio, video, comfort, security and lighting.
The benefits of URC technology to make your business into a smartbusiness are many!
Energize the productivity and efficiency of your commercial space with URC’s broad portfolio of solutions, powered by Total Control.
Myrtle Beach Smarthome Installation
Don’t hesitate or wait to get URC Total Control for your home.
Now is the time get get smart, get connected and automate your recurring tasks.
We are the BEST team in the Myrtle Beach area, on the Grand Strand, to install your URC Total Control system. Whether you are new to the area and buying a new home, or if you’ve moved to a larger residence, or if you are looking to upgrade your current security system and want to include smarthome technology, were are here to serve you.
Your security is our business!
Everything You Need To Know About Ring Cameras
Population Growth In the Myrtle Beach Area
Are you considering buying a Ring Camera?
If you live on the Grand Strand, you know the growth of our community. Thousands upon thousands move to our area each year and new homes are popping out of the ground like mushrooms.
New neighborhoods seem to arise overnight as builders churn out new homes near our beautiful South Carolina coast.
With new people and a larger population comes more crimes and more home burglaries and invasions. Criminal activity goes up as communities grow as there is more opportunity to steal and more potential victims available.
Residents might choose a DIY home security system or a professionally installed system to keep their loved ones and their property save; many residents choose to enhance their systems with Ring Cameras
Home Security Systems for Grand Strand Residents
While we knock anything DIY, there is so much to know about installing cameras that we highly recommend extensive research, or hiring professionals like Strand Security.
We have over 25 years of experience installing home security systems and we get the job done fast, and right the first time! 😉
Things to remember when installing your own cameras would include
- location
- angle of camera
- light source
- nearby landscaping
- and more
What is a Ring Camera?
Ring Cameras can be purchased as a stand-alone product from just about anywhere online.
They’ve gained popularity among DIY-ers and home improvement communities as an easy way to keep tabs on what’s going on at home when you are not there.
One of the best places to install a Ring Camera is at your front door.
This YouTube video shows front-porch thieves stealing packages and breaking in.
Ring Camera Options Include Indoor Cameras!
While the ‘most well-known’ Ring Camera is the one people have installed at the front door, there are several Ring Cameras on the market! Strand Security is happy to help you choose the right cameras for your home, your security, your needs. You can stop by in Murrells Inlet for a visit to check out the Ring Camera options and models, including:
- Indoor Ring Camera
- Stick Up Ring Camera
- Spotlight Ring Camera
- Floodlight Ring Camera
Ring Camera Installation
While we highly recommend you purchase your Ring Cameras from a reputable Ring Camera Dealer, we also recognize that not everyone will want to go that route. You might find an online sale or might have received a Ring Camera as a gift.
The good news is that Strand Security can and will install your Ring Cameras should you need assistance. We serve Horry County residents as well as Georgetown County residents and will be happy to come your way to set up your Ring Camera System for you.
Give us a call today and let’s get your home and your family secured!
10 Reasons To Love Summer in South Carolina
The last day of August is here as this is published, yet summer ins’t over yet in South Carolina! Not by a loooong shot!
As Myrtle Beach area children might be back in school or being homeschooled, yet tourists are still flocking to the beaches of the Grand Strand and will continue to do so long into the fall!
We at Strand Security are grateful for yet another year in Murrells Inlet as we celebrate 10 years in business in 2020!
This is the 8th article in a series of 12 articles about all the things we love about our state, our town, our business and our community in South Carolina.
10 Years and 10 Reasons
In case you missed it here are the other articles in this series!
10 Reasons to Love Quality Speakers
10 Reasons to Love Security Camera
10 Reasons to Love Living in South Carolina
10 Reasons to Love a Home Theater
10 Reasons to Love our Community
10 Reasons to Love Smarthomes
10 Reasons to Love the Grand Strand
What We Love About Summer In South Carolina!
- In South Carolina, we loves our beaches in the summer! As the air heats up, the beaches and the ocean keeps us cool! Many tourists come to the South Carolina shores for its beautiful and plentiful beaches.
- Water Sports! We loves water sports in summer. Sailing, kayaking, paddle boarding, surfing, boating, waterskiing, swimming… you name it and you can do it! With beautiful weather, many sunny days and perfect conditions, South Carolina is a haven for those who love water sports.
- Did we mention the sun and our gorgeous weather yet? We love South Carolina summers because its’ always summer! No need for a jacket, no chill in the air! Sun, wind and warmth. Yes, some humidity too, but most South Carolinians will take that as that’s all we know!
- Outdoor Sports! While we can play outdoor sports just about year-round in Myrtle Beach and beyond, we love being able to be outdoors and walk, hike, run, bike and play all sorts of outdoor sports in summer months.
- Porches are the best. South Carolinians sleep on porches, visit on porches and in general, live and eat on porches, too! If you are thinking about moving to South Carolina, make sure to add ‘porch’ to your wishlist when looking for a new home. having a porch and a ceiling fan… the best!
- No porch is complete without a gallon of Sweet Tea! Any thirsty local knows that sweet tea is the best for when it’s hot outside and you need a cool down drink!
- With average temperatures well into the 80s and 90s all summer long, outdoor dining on porches and decks once the sun goes down is the prefect ending to any South Carolina summer day.
- The South Carolina rivers offer many great adventures. Wild water tubing, kayaking, rafting, fishing… you name it and you can find it! River adventures are another reason we love South Carolina summers.
- Have you ever visited a Walmart or grocery store in South Carolina. Flip-flops and shorts are the uniform of choice when the weather is hot! We love our relaxed dress code.
- Last but not least, combining long, hot days, water adventures, the beach, sweet tea, outdoor dining and more and your get… slower paced and lazy days which is another thing we love about South Carolina summers!
South Carolina Summers Seem to Never End!
We at Strand Security love living, working and playing on the Grand Strand in our state of South Carolina and we hope you do too!
While you play and enjoy your summer, we have the privilege to monitor homes and businesses as your security is our business. Let us know how we can help you and your loved ones stay safe as you enjoy more of summer.
3 Security Areas to Focus on Amid The COVID-19 Pandemic
Six months after the start of the 2020 pandemic millions of people in the USA still work from home.
As South Carolinians are getting ready to send their kids back to school, many parents are opting to keep them home. If you are homeschooling one or more children in Fall 2020, this might be of interest to you.
Homeschooling in a smarthome is just plan smart!
Commercial Security System Updates For the Pandemic!
With COVID-19 forcing many employees to work from home, business executives are having to rethink their online and offline security needs.
Security procedures that were in place before the pandemic might no longer be valid as employees work from home, and new strategies are having to be implemented.
This article looks at three vulnerable areas of security as a starting point for those who manage companies in the time of this coronavirus pandemic.
1. Remote Security Monitoring Capabilities
While stores might or might not be open, offices are shut or only open for limited hours and with limited employees, for those in charge of employee safety, inventory and customer satisfaction it is imperative to be able to monitor on-going activities on location, from home.
Does you current commercial security system have these capabilities? Can you monitor your cameras from your phone? Can you watch your employees, keep an eye on your customers or your backroom inventory? Are you monitoring the commercial alarm system from any device?
You should be able to do this at anytime, but with so many people working from home, this has become an essential piece of data and communication between employers and employees .
If you are not currently monitoring cameras and activity in real-time, it’s time for an upgrade.
2. Renewed and Updated Cybersecurity Protocol
With millions of employees quickly transitioning to working from home, it’s easy for businesses to have forgotten to update their cybersecurity protocol.
If that was you, now is the time to get it done!
“Working from home brings security concerns that are unique to those seen in a traditional office setting. While working from home, employees may be accessing or transmitting trade secrets, personal information of individuals, and other confidential information. Exposure of trade secrets or confidential business information can cause expensive damages or loss to a company” Source CPO Magazine.
Things to be aware of and fix ASAP:
- Coronavirus scams
- Not-secure Wifi connections
Things to implement include:
- Cybersecurity software
- Secure access to company server
- Off-network communications
- Ensure Secure passwords are in place, including two-factor verification for Google accounts and social media channels.
- Shutdown of all devices when not in use.
Check out our Best Work From Home Cybersecurity Tips
3. Employee Information and Privacy Protection
While your employees are at home, often using work computers to get work done, it’s important to update your employee information, to protect their privacy as well as yours!
This includes things like choosing the right video platforms .
While Zoom has had security issues, Webex is secure enough for the large TV networks and financial institutions to use.
Sharing sensitive information through online portals also requires special software – just make sure sure that you, the employer are aware of and are in charge of the tools used by everyone who works for you from home!
By updating your online and offline security strategies you are providing a safe and secure working environment for everyone; those who will continue to work form home into 2021 and those who might want to migrate back into the office.
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