A Guide to Cybersecurity for Startups

February 5, 2020 1:30 pm

Starting a business takes a high level of knowledge, courage, and collaboration. And while the process of starting an organization is surely a process full of optimism, protecting the newfound company from cyber threats is something that absolutely should not be forgotten.

Cyberattacks can bring even the largest companies to their knees, and put smaller companies out of business. Here’s a guide on how to keep your company secure from the very beginning.

Two computers in a room

Step One: Identify Your Greatest Threats

As your company is in its infancy, your resources will naturally be limited. As a result, it’s going to be difficult to keep your business protected from every possible threat. This is where research comes in.

Identify the threats that are most relevant in your industry, and the threats that have the potential to do the most damage. Once you understand which threats pose the greatest risk to you and your company, you can then allocate the necessary time and resources to combating those threats.

Ominous data on a screen

Step Two: Choose Secure Platforms

The platforms on which you’ll run your business are crucial. If you choose platforms that may be lacking in security, you’re opening the door for potential issues down the road. By choosing platforms which are proven to be secure, you’re setting your business up for security and success.

Once platform security is cracked, according to Webopedia, the entire platform is exposed. This means that even a single kink in the armor of the platform you choose can become the downfall of your organization. In other words, don’t cut corners. Invest in quality platforms.

Step Three: Setup Two-Factor Authentication

Two factor authentication was one of the major developments in cybersecurity over the last few years. To not take advantage of the added security it offers would be, at this point, foolish.

Utilizing two-factor authentication where you can, such as on email accounts and device logins, can at the very least make life much more difficult for hackers who may be interested in stealing information.

Phone on an unlock screen
Final Step

Exercise caution and be prepared for the unexpected. It’s impossible to predict every threat and every attack that might come your way, so the only true defense is to stay vigilant and keep an eye out for ways you can improve your company’s cybersecurity.

 

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