Having a safe workplace means different things in the digital age. While the idea of workplace safety made people think of conditions in factories, today, dangers aren’t only physical.
Let’s check out three important ways to ensure your workplace remains safe.
Proximity Cards
If you’ve ever used a keycard to open your hotel room, you know what a proximity card is. Today, they’re a very popular way to ensure that only authorized people can access certain spaces.
These cards use radio frequency identification, or RFID, to communicate with a reader on a door. As a result, all a user needs to do is use a card to tap any door they’re authorized to use, and it’ll open. These cards are an excellent way for owners and managers to give nuanced access to some spaces and not others.
Even better, unlike physical keys, proximity cards make them difficult to copy but easy to print new ones. There’ll be no need to fumble with Alock or worry it won’t turn properly. From a company’s side of things, proximity cards also provide crucial data and can double as a way to measure attendance, as they can determine when people enter and exit a room or building.
Proximity Cards have become increasingly prevalent, mirroring the familiarity of keycards used in hotel rooms. They serve as a highly favored method to restrict access, ensuring that only authorized individuals can enter specific spaces. Employing radio frequency identification (RFID), these cards effortlessly communicate with door readers. a user simply taps a card on any authorized door, granting swift access.
Unlike conventional physical keys, proximity cards present a notable advantage – they pose a challenge to replication but offer ease in printing new ones. This eliminates concerns about fumbling with locks or potential issues with turning mechanisms. Moreover, these cards extend beyond mere access control; they are a strategic tool for owners and managers to tailor nuanced access permissions for different areas within a facility.
From a company perspective, proximity cards offer more than just security. They serve as a valuable source of data, doubling as an attendance tracking mechanism. By recording entry and exit times, these cards provide insightful analytics for effective management of room and building occupancy. In essence, proximity cards emerge not only as guardians of access but also as data-driven contributors to operational efficiency.
Cybersecurity Awareness
Computers we use every day can be unbelievable things, but passwords can also cut both ways. A workspace needs cybersecurity measures to stay safe in 2024, and that means educating your employees.
After all, you can have all the policies that you want in place. But if people on aground aren’t sure how to avoid or sidestep threats, they may accidentally cause a security breach, even if they work remotely. Train your teams about the risks associated with spam and phishing emails. Ensure your computers have the latest anti-virus software and run a scan after every update.
You need to take appropriate measures to secure your Wi-Fi network. If you issue work phones, ensure they have two-factor authentication and enable all firewalls.
In the rapidly evolving digital landscape of 2024, our reliance on the incredible capabilities of everyday computers underscores the dual nature of this technological boon—a sword that can cut both ways. Safeguarding a workspace in this era necessitates a robust commitment to cybersecurity measures, placing paramount importance on educating employees.
While having comprehensive policies in place is essential, their effectiveness hinges on awareness and understanding of those on the front lines. In the absence of knowledge required to navigate and mitigate potential threats, employees may inadvertently become catalysts for security breaches, even when operating remotely. Therefore, a proactive approach is imperative.
Empower your teams with targeted training sessions that delve into the intricacies of recognizing and evading risks associated with spam and phishing emails. Additionally, ensure that computers within your workspace are fortified with the latest anti-virus software, and implement a routine scanning protocol after every update to maintain a robust defense against emerging threats.
Taking cybersecurity one step further, secure your Wi-Fi network through appropriate measures to mitigate potential vulnerabilities. For work phones issued within your organization, go beyond basics—mandate two-factor authentication and ensure that all firewalls are not only enabled but also configured to provide an additional layer of protection.
In essence, fostering a culture of cybersecurity awareness and implementing comprehensive measures is paramount for fortifying your workspace against ever-evolving digital threats that characterize the contemporary era.
Policies for Reporting Unsafe Conditions
How will younger or more junior employees respond if they encounter something in a workplace that makes them feel uncomfortable or unsafe? It’s important to have a firm policy they can lean on that isn’t just lip service paid to aid in keeping them safe and feeling good.
Sometimes, more senior employees, managers, or executives may cross a type of line in how they treat people. Whether it’s speech or something they did, it’s essential to have a specific policy available to every employee to keep them safe.
Work environments have a hierarchy or power structure, even if it’s unofficial or explicit. If there are people in your workplace who are, in effect, above all, then there won’t be any way to hold them accountable if they commit wrongdoing.
Workplaces today face different kinds of threats. Some of them are from vandals or burglars. Others are from hackers and online scammers. Sometimes, your employees pose risks. Keep the above in mind, and your workplace should be a safer place.
