Effective Security Controls To Protect Your Business & IT Environment

By: Eileen Smith on February 25, 2025

Effective Security Controls To Protect Your Business & IT Environment

Cybersecurity | Managed Services | Cloud | Compliance

As a business owner, it’s important that you understand how to safeguard your valuable data and IT infrastructure from threat actors.

The rising number of new and emerging threats that organizations are reporting is staggering.

In fact, more than 30,000 new vulnerabilities were discovered within the past year, representing a 17 percent year-over-year jump, according to Skybox Security’s Vulnerability and Threat Trends Report 2024.

What’s the difference between physical security controls and digital or cloud-based ones? How do you know which tools or right for your business?

In this article, we’ll discuss different physical, cloud, and on-premises cybersecurity tools. With this information, you’ll be better able to determine the right solutions to boost your organization’s security posture and mitigate risk.

What Are Examples Of Effective Physical Cybersecurity Controls?

When it comes to safeguarding your organization’s valuable hardware and sensitive data, there are a number of physical security controls you can put in place to deter and prevent uncredentialed individuals from entering your facility or restricted parts of your building.

Here are 8 physical security controls:

Security cameras and motion detectors

Video surveillance systems including high-resolution cameras and motion sensors track an individual’s movement within parts of your building to guard against gaining entry into restricted areas.
These cameras prevent unauthorized access to restricted areas within your building, such as your onsite datacenters, by acting as a deterrent
Can be programmed to send either an audible alarm or silent alert if movement is detected
May be used to augment security personnel or as a standalone measure

Gates or security barriers

Strategically install obstructions like gates, security doors, and fences to block physical access to certain parts of your building
These barriers can also incorporate biometric scanners to further increase security

Device security keys (tokens)

Grants access to only the authorized user(s) whose device login match the stored credentials on the security key

Keycards or fobs

Keycards are plastic cards programmed with electronic information to allow the cardholder to gain entry into secured areas of your building by swiping or hovering the card near a card reader
Fobs are small, quarter-sized plastic devices that can allow entry into a building or part of a building by passing it in front of a wifeless signal reader

Biometric scanners

Fingerprint and iris scanners, voice decoders, face recognition, and body scanners are all examples of biometric scanners
Fingerprint scanners are the most widely used biometric scanning tool because of their relative ease of use, accessibility, and broad acceptance among members of the general public
Voice and face biometrics are the least accurate; fingerprint and iris scans are the most effective

Security guards

Security staff add another layer of physical protection to help screen individuals granted access to parts of your office or facility

Visitor management protocols

Regular visitor logs keep track of who entered your building and when, as well as the reason for their visit and the employee(s) who were part of the meeting
Help monitor for unauthorized access to restricted areas

Environmental controls

One commonly overlooked part of maintaining the security of your IT hardware is the physical environment where the equipment is housed
Automated ventilation and temperature regulation systems are essential to maintaining the optimal performance of your networking and other devices
The area should also be free from dust and debris
Surge suppressors play an important role in data loss prevention and catastrophic equipment failure in the event of a power surge.

What Are Examples Of Effective Cloud and On-prem Cybersecurity Tools?

With the growing trend toward adopting a hybrid cloud infrastructure, businesses are increasingly using subscription-based cloud cybersecurity services through a cloud platform such as Microsoft Azure or Amazon Web Services (AWS).

One reason cloud solutions have skyrocketed in popularity is the sheer variety of services and security features available today that allow businesses to tailor them to their specific needs.

While cloud services are a growing segment of cybersecurity, many businesses continue to rely on traditional, on-prem cybersecurity software which can be obtained in different ways, such as by downloading it onto your devices directly from the vendor’s website or having it installed by a third-party managed IT service provider (MSP) as part of its cybersecurity stack.

Here are 9 virtual and on-prem cybersecurity tools:

Antivirus and anti-malware software

Detects, blocks, and eliminates malware and viruses to prevent further intrusion into your network, minimizing any damage to your systems or possible data compromise or theft

Anti-spam filtering software

Anti-spam filtering software blocks unsolicited and potentially dangerous emails that may contain malicious links or harmful attachments commonly used in phishing attacks

Network monitoring systems

Automated system that continually scans your network and analyzes data in real-time to check for unusual activity, potential threats, or other issues
System is designed to automatically stop any suspicious activity in its tracks and either destroy it, or keep it isolated until it can be further evaluated by your IT team
Uses an intrusion detection system to spot known cybersecurity threats and unusual network traffic

Firewalls

Used to monitor traffic across your network. Can be designed to block suspicious activity based on pre-set security criteria
Can be physical devices or virtual

Data encryption tools

Jumbles data into unreadable code, making it essentially useless if it were to fall into the wrong hands
Can encrypt data while it’s being transferred or shared as well as data at rest

Vulnerability scanners

Automated, comprehensive look into devices and systems connected to your network to check for hidden vulnerabilities

Endpoint detection and response solutions

Uses advanced solutions to scan and analyze traffic across your network, detect potential threats, shuts down traffic at the device (endpoint), and sends a signal to alert your IT team

Penetration testing tools

A series of external, simulated cyberattacks designed to intentionally test your company’s cybersecurity posture to identify weaknesses

Security information and event management (SIEM) systems

A system used to collect and analyze vast amounts of data that your organization generates, stores, accesses, and transmits in the regular course of doing business
A centralized system for threat detection, incident response and analysis, and compliance

Endpoint protection software

Security solutions used to safeguard your IT devices, including desktops, laptops, smartphones, printers, routers, switches, and servers, among others

How Do I Determine The Right Security Solutions For My Business?

While the above controls don’t represent an exhaustive list, they cover many of the essential security measures you can implement to protect your critical physical and digital assets.

These security controls also help satisfy regulatory cybersecurity and data privacy requirements across many industries.

When trying to determine which solutions are right for your business, there are several factors you'll need to consider.

For instance, what is your existing security posture? What security controls do you already have in place, if any, and are they up-to-date?

What about your available resources—do you have sufficient staff with the skills and know-how to identify and categorize your entire IT infrastructure? If so, do they have the time and expertise to properly monitor and maintain your physical and virtual IT environments?

Do you have secure and accessible data backups? What are the end-of-life dates for your hardware and software? Have you developed a device replacement plan for outdated equipment?

You'll also have to consider the compatibility of any new software and hardware with your existing systems. Compatibility issues can lead to user frustration, unplanned downtime, and even data loss from a file corruption, malfunction, or system crash.

Finally, have you established a budget for your infrastructure investments? It goes without saying that assessing your IT needs must involve strategic budget planning for future IT investments.

The Bottom Line With Physical And Digital Security Solutions For Your Business

After reading this article, you now understand why it’s critical that you implement a mix of physical, digital, and on-prem safety measures to protect your physical and digital infrastructure from potential external or internal threats.

If you don’t have an internal IT team capable of implementing the right security controls for your business, you may be considering partnering with a managed IT service provider (MSP).

At Kelser, we have more than 40 years of experience providing customized IT solutions to help small and medium-sized businesses like yours gain a competitive advantage with a variety of advanced, robust security solutions.

If you're unsure of what security measures are best for your business, or you'd like to get strategic IT planning and budgeting guidance, click the button to reach out to us.

One of our dedicated IT experts will be in touch shortly to learn more about the IT challenges your business is facing and see how we can help you solve them.