We live in uncertain times. With still more than a quarter of the year to go, we have experienced quite a lot of shocking news already in 2021, and that’s coming on top of the endless malfunctioning news faucet that was 2020. Without any fear of exaggeration, we can say that things aren’t exactly calm right now, and they might not be for a while.
This is a relevant point for multiple reasons, but is particularly worth registering if you work in, or run a business in a niche that could be considered controversial. Human rights lawyers, vaccine providers and plenty more besides have been placed on notice – in person and on social media – that they are targets. Within a week of the start of 2021, even the Capitol had been breached by angry mobs. So it is worth being cautious. But what can you do to protect your business and employees from those who would do you harm?
Don’t publicize your address
Whether you run a business from home, or have premises somewhere in a population center, it’s preferable that your location and those of your employees are on a strictly need-to-know basis. It’s no bad idea to excise all records of your address from the internet and to encourage working from home until further notice. It’s quite simply a smart step to not make it easy for anyone who might want to do harm to you or to your business. If you feel like your business may have antagonists – or you have received direct threats – removing personal and identifying details from the internet should be a key step.
Beef up security provisions
As has already been noted, the Capitol building became the scene of disturbing actions in January of this year – and it’s the heart of US government in perhaps the most powerful city in the world. So if US Senators and Representatives, with a significant security presence, were exposed to such threat, it’s inaccurate to imagine that you can’t be. Consider all forms of security, from guards at your offices to military command center style consoles that allow you to monitor the entire exterior of your premises and take necessary actions if you come under threat. There’s no such thing as “too careful”.
Report all threats far and wide
It should go without saying that any security measures and responses should be escalated if you are the subject of specific and direct threats. This includes reporting threats to anyone and everyone who might be able to do something about it: social media platforms; ISPs; law enforcement; and also any representative groups who focus on your industry. It’s always better to prevent a reprisal attack than to have the wherewithal to survive it. Protecting yourself, your colleagues and your customers isn’t a matter of doing any one thing – it means doing everything you can to prevent harm.
There will always be individuals who want to make people scared to do the invaluable work that they do in this day and age. More recently, there has been a proliferation of groups who are looking to do the same – so if there’s some way you can discourage them, it makes sense to try.
