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A job well done in business brings a sense of satisfaction. There’s pride in building something strong and successful. However, that confidence can easily turn into complacency when it comes to security. Complacency leads to vulnerabilities. Are you leaving the back door open to security risks? Let’s explore inherent security risk and how it affects daily business operations.

Why Does Inherent Risk Matter?

Your biggest security risk may stem from something as routine as a daily habit. 

Many vulnerabilities in business security will not come from sophisticated attacks or forced entry, but from small, seemingly harmless actions that go unnoticed.

In risk management, for these situations, we look at inherent risk—the level of raw or untreated risk present before any safeguards or controls are applied. It represents a baseline level of exposure that exists before any precautions are taken. Before safeguards are introduced, risks are in their rawest, most exposed level.

A common (and frequently overlooked) example of inherent risk? A propped-open back door during business hours. Employees may do this to let in fresh air, to make re-entry easier, or simply out of habit. It seems harmless. However, this small action creates a direct security gap, one that bypasses access controls and leaves a business open to theft, violence, or worse.

Dangers of an Unsecured Access Point

A back door left open, even for a few minutes, creates an opportunity. 

Opportunistic adversaries are always looking for vulnerabilities. Common vulnerabilities we see today include an unmonitored entrance, an unlocked storage room, or even an employee on break leaving a workstation exposed. A single oversight can be the weak link that leads to an incident, for your business may mean theft, violence, liability issues, and more.

These risks are not hypothetical. Businesses suffer losses every day due to preventable security lapses, often caused by simple oversights. Is your security compromised?

When Security Fails

Businesses of all sizes experience security breaches, break-ins, and violent incidents every year. In August of 2019, an assailant entered the front door of a Garden Grove, California insurance office. 

He attacked an employee, a victim, inside the office before fleeing, continuing a spree of violence that left four people dead and two others injured. In many cases, entry points are exploited in this way because they are left unsecured, unmonitored, or assumed to be safe.

Small Mistakes Lead to Big Security Threats

Security vulnerabilities can stem from routine behavior that goes unchecked. 

Small actions, when left unchecked, can create weaknesses that put employees, assets, and operations at risk. For those responsible for business security, take a moment to assess whether any of the following factors could be undermining your security efforts!

• Are employees propping open doors for convenience?
• Are all access points actively monitored throughout the day?
• Are clear policies in place to prevent doors from being left unsecured?
• Do employees receive training to recognize and report security threats?
• When was the last time a Security Vulnerability Assessment was conducted to identify potential weaknesses?

Many organizations assume that security incidents happen due to complex breaches or sophisticated criminal tactics. In reality, they often start with something as simple as an open door.

Reducing Inherent Risk Requires Action

Security risks do not go away on their own. Businesses must take deliberate steps to identify and mitigate vulnerabilities. An open door, an unmonitored entry point, or an unchecked access policy can all lead to serious consequences.

A Security Vulnerability Assessment provides a clear picture of where gaps exist and what steps need to be taken to strengthen security. These assessments evaluate:

• Physical access controls and entry points
• Employee awareness and adherence to security policies
• Surveillance coverage and monitoring effectiveness
• Emergency response procedures and incident readiness

At Safe Haven Risk Management, we specialize in uncovering hidden risks and providing security advice and solutions to businesses. Now is the time to assess your vulnerabilities and close the gaps before they lead to a security incident. 

Protect your business and schedule a Security Vulnerability Assessment with us today.