People are said to oftentimes imagine that the most prominent targets of cyber threats and hackers are big businesses and government organizations. However, while such are highly lucrative targets, they’re not the only ones that are vulnerable to such attacks.
It’s believed that the majority of hackers today are opportunists. They’re always interested in valuable targets, but they also regularly subject small businesses like startups to their malevolent deeds. Such firms tend to have lower defenses and have easy access to data and money which make them potentially enticing targets in the eyes of fraudsters.
So, if you want to be the business of the future that’s equipped with the right tools and know-how in combatting malicious attacks, read on the following tips below aimed at helping startup firms like yours to ward off security threats:
- Invest In Employee Training
Many system infiltrations are said to not come from hacking incidents per se. Instead, they’re due to poor employee decisions such as falling for phishing schemes, choosing easy and weak passwords, and volunteering login details because of social engineering.
The best strategy to beef up your company’s startup is to invest more resources in employee training. Teach them the common schemes hackers use to perpetrate their deeds and try to educate them regarding the best cybersecurity practices available. This is especially true if you’re aiming to increase your sales and you don’t want your employees to be a victim of any kind of online fraud.
To know how to maximize your sales with a sound cybersecurity infrastructure, you can use programs like an Inbound Closer and others found over the web which are created by experts to help you boost your sales effectively.
- Get The Latest Security Software
It’s believed that hackers keep themselves abreast and updated with the latest security technology out there. They’re out to learn the newest tools and programs to find their weak points for them to possibly exploit them in their favor. And they’re getting more proficient in their job.
To be two steps ahead in a two-man race, make sure to get the latest security software including anti-spam, antivirus, and firewall tools to promptly mitigate any security risks hackers may pose to your company’s security.
Even startups must consider licensing the newest software program to have their internal cybersecurity systems updated. It’s recommended to get the premium version of antivirus programs to avoid inadvertent virus attacks. You may also look into email protection and scanning tools to limit the threats from malicious attachments and links arriving via emails.
- Limit Employee Access
Never provide your employees administrator-level access to your customer details and business information. This may negatively impact your website security if your employees aren’t aware of the proper security procedures in place.
They can also accidentally share something that’s highly confidential or store private files in a public space. You may also ensure that your employees don’t have access to download or install unauthorized programs on their own. With limited access, you can also ensure better security for your startup.
- Secure Your Wi-Fi Networks
If you have Wi-Fi networks for your workplace, make sure that it’s hidden and secure. To hide a Wi-Fi network, have a wireless access point or a router so it won’t broadcast the network name to the public. This is also known as a Service Set Identifier or SSID in the technology circle. Moreover, turn on the network’s encryption so passwords are always required for a user to be granted access of the company’s network.
- Backup Your Data
Data backup is regarded to be very significant for any startup. This is because in case you end up losing your business data, it may result in problems like hampering your startup company’s operations. To avoid such issues, prepare backup copies of any important business information on your servers. Depending on your preferences and budget, you can consider investing in disaster recovery services to help you backup your data regularly and get access to your data in case of a security breach in the future.
- Have An Intricate Password Strategy
Most cybersecurity attacks are said to succeed because of simple and easy-to-hack passwords. Cyberfraudsters have access to many different technologies that allow them to steal protected passwords and crack them. Others refer to this as brute force which refers to overpowering the defenses of your computer by using excessive repetitions.
To avoid this, make sure to have a strong password strategy in place. For example, your employees must create passwords with different combinations of lowercase and uppercase letters, symbols, and numbers. Passwords must also be reset and changed regularly.
For your administrative accounts, make sure to use complex and lengthy passwords. Don’t let simple passwords ruin your startup. Take note that hackers are highly intelligent people. If you don’t want them to access your computers or administrative accounts, never settle with simple passwords.
However, you have to keep in mind that even if you have a sophisticated password strategy, you can’t be sure that your organization’s a hundred percent protected. Therefore, establish a system that’s able to restore the permissions and access of your users at any given time. It’ll let your company respond immediately in case one of your accounts is compromised.
- Set Up Firewall Security
A firewall is basically a security program, which prevents outsiders from accessing your important data on private networks. Install and have firewalls between your Internet connection and internal network. If your employees work from home, make sure to include in your cybersecurity policies that their devices have a firewall-protected system turned on while working.
Conclusion
Cybersecurity is essential not just for startups but also for other businesses out there. Without it, your business is vulnerable to cyber attacks or threats which can cause major financial losses. Make sure to implement the abovementioned cybersecurity strategies for startup businesses and strengthen your defense against online threats.