Hackers are lurking on the internet, searching for information and exploiting vulnerabilities all the time. While larger companies have more user data and are generally more likely to fall victim to cybersecurity breaches, startups are also under the radar of attackers.
As a startup founder, you may think you don’t have enough critical information to be objective. Still, many hackers target smaller companies, and there are a few reasons for this:
- Security measures are more likely to be lacking
- Employees are less informed of threats.
- There are few funds left over for additional protection
Any startup is eager to establish trust with customers. Therefore, a security breach could be the blow that kills you.
In short, startups have more vulnerabilities; therefore, they are easier to hack. Still, there are many solutions to ensure that no attack can break the trust of customers and partners. Below are nine tips to protect your startup from unwanted results.
Establish and apply an appropriate data security policy
Politics are like air and water for startups. You may be small right now, but being growth oriented helps a lot. If your product breaks through, you need to have clear guidelines about what information you collect and how you store it.
Since hackers use privileged information to gain access to the company network, establishing strict access limits and accountability makes breaches less likely.
Enforce strict hardware standards
In the beginning, when you are just building the business, you may not have enough funds to purchase all the hardware needed for business operations. It is common to allow employees to use personal devices for work. Although this can cause vulnerability in the network, you can still set guidelines and requirements for the devices.
Protect your domain and website
For any startup, the website is its most important online asset. Therefore, protecting it should be a top priority. A dedicated, secure hosting provider solves most problems by offering Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP) and file backups.
Installing an SSL certificate will secure data transfer between your browser and the server. At the same time, a web application firewall will help protect the flow of information between the data connection and the server.
Domain protection is another crucial step, especially for new businesses that communicate with their customers via email. The deliverability and reliability of your communication can make or break your outreach to new customers and prevent customer churn.
This is where configuring DMARC protocols and ordering SPF records becomes a priority.
Install the latest software updates
Old software is like an invitation for a hacker to explore vulnerabilities in your system. In outdated systems, it is more likely that bad actors have already discovered bugs and vulnerabilities. In addition to the fact that new software releases fix known issues, they also strengthen security with each update.
Installing the latest software on every device on your system is one of the best ways to avoid becoming easy prey for cybercrime.
Make backups and keep them up to date
Protecting yourself from malware and attacks is essential, but failures happen. You must have a proper response plan in place to recover as quickly and painlessly as possible.
Make a list of your assets and back them up regularly. Whether you are using cloud or hardware storage, it needs to be more secure. Therefore, only use trusted online service providers. As for physical backup, you should move hard drives offsite in case there is a physical break-in.
Require strong and unique passwords
With so many online service providers, your employees are likely to subscribe to some essential apps that they use while at work. Additionally, all communication and financial transactions flow through password-protected applications. This is a vulnerability most often exploited by hackers.
During many types of attacks, including “watering hole,” hackers use repetitive and weak keys to get into your system. This is why you need to enforce strong and unique passwords and require frequent changes. A great way to ensure this happens regularly is to integrate a password manager which can be found online at psono.com
Make a mobile security plan
Mobile devices are an inseparable part of the work environment these days. While keeping personal computers secure is one thing, smartphones pose an even bigger threat. If your employees access work-related information on these devices, you may have steps to help install security apps, turn on two-factor authentication, and encrypt your data.
Promote the culture of cybersecurity
Social engineering attacks are the best way to affect small and medium-sized businesses. The reason is that employees are less knowledgeable about cybersecurity. Educating them and building security protocols into the company’s DNA may not produce immediate results, but it will in the long run.
prepare for the worst
When it comes to physical assets, we are always more vigilant. Threats to our digital possessions don’t seem too alarming until they happen. Planning is key to quick and easy recovery of any data you’ve lost during an attack.
Businesses, and especially startups, need to pay more attention to their disaster management/recovery plan. You may not have a large IT department to take on this role yet, but every key player in the business needs to know how to step it up during critical and unpredictable situations.
This document should be a set of rules and steps for the team during and after an attack. Password management, data backup, and standardized procedures are also part of this plan.
Conclusion
As you can see, each of the steps above moves your startup closer to greater cybersecurity and peace of mind. By building them from the ground up, you are giving yourself a significant advantage in the marketplace. It builds responsiveness and trust among your customers and partners while building the ability to easily scale when the time comes.
Once you have established the protocols and guidelines, you will set the business up for success.
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Categories: Technology
Source: vtt.edu.vn