4 Ways to Protect Your Startup Against Cyber Attacks

Nowadays, it is much easier to start and conduct a small business because information technology facilitates that process a lot. It helps us in accounting, tracking inventory, backup procedures, banking, and much more. We enjoy the fact that so many things can be done online, without the need to visit the actual premises, and that we can access all the necessary data quickly and conveniently from the cloud. However, we need to take into consideration that it also causes more opportunities for hackers to use malware and break your security to steal sensitive data.

While it is not such a big problem for huge companies to apply advanced security systems and use a wide range of services offered by cybersecurity professionals, like those from BulletProof, it is more challenging to protect a startup from cyber attacks. With much fewer funds to spend, you should know what the most significant security aspects to take care of to prevent data breaches are. The list we have prepared for you should be helpful for your business, so keep on reading!

Risk and Vulnerability Assessment

As a first step in making your startup safer from cyber attacks, take a look at its vulnerabilities and the most common risks. When you find out what security threats are the most dangerous for you, you will have the basis for applying the best practices to avoid those kinds of cyber attacks. Look for an external expert who will run tests on your folders, drives, websites, and other data sources in your business that are prone to a cyber attack. Keep in mind that it is not a one-time thing - hackers get more and more effective and develop new ways to infect your systems with malware. To protect your startup efficiently, make sure to have such audits on a regular basis.

Multi-Factor Authentication

Do not allow for phishing the employees from your startup! This technique is a socially engineered cyberattack that makes people reveal their passwords to hackers unconsciously. It is often done by sending an email claiming that it’s from your bank, social media platform, or some other site that deals with your sensitive data and is likely to contact users. Typically, such messages contain a link to click urgently, or another instruction to follow to prevent something really dire from happening. After clicking the link, a user is redirected to a fake version of the login page that allows hackers to get such crucial information as your employee's login and password.

The solution to this problem can be applying an MFA, which stands for multi-factor authentication. It means that whenever a server detects a login from a new device, it requires additional authentication, such as entering a secret code that is sent on a user's cell phone. This technology used to be quite exotic, but now it is commonly used in many kinds of modern software, including Microsoft Office 365 or Google Docs. To protect your business more effectively, you should definitely think about securing your every vital password this way.

Protective Software Installation

Fortunately for your business, along with new malware, new protective software is constantly being developed. There are more and more anti-virus programs that can detect viruses, trojan horses, worms, adware, and not only. Apart from that, you should have an efficient firewall, which is a cybersecurity tool that controls the incoming and outgoing network traffic and allows or blocks data packets.

Apart from that, businesses need to have an efficient camera and microphone protection system in place. Otherwise, someone may install malware that will allow them to access your devices remotely and listen or watch what is happening at your business meetings. It is also an excellent idea to install a VPN that will hide your IP and make it appear as if it was from another location.

Small businesses can start with free programs for cybersecurity but bear in mind that you should invest in more advanced solutions as soon as possible to make the sensitive information kept by your company safer.

Educating Your Employees

Even if you invest in the best tools to secure your business, they may not be enough if your employees are not familiar with the basics of possible attacks. They need to know that they can encounter some pop-ups, links, or unwanted email messages that can turn out to be an attack trying to reach your company's cloud content, passwords, and other sensitive data. Make sure that they know how to apply the best practices to increase the security in your business so that cybercriminals cannot use your employee's lack of knowledge to their advantage. Also, explain to them how to create powerful passwords that boost their online security even more.

Summary

Overall, small businesses should invest as much as they can to secure their data from any malicious attack. To increase cybersecurity in your startup, you should start by letting a specialist perform a professional audit and provide you with personalized recommendations for your company. Moreover, you need to use one of the ways to secure your crucial business logins and passwords from hacker attacks.

It is also vital to install the best protective software - small businesses often start with free programs, but they should be updated to more advanced versions whenever possible. They will protect you from malware, like viruses and trojan horses, but also from taking over control over your microphone and camera. Also, it is crucial for your business to keep your staff up-to-date with all the possible attack attempts so that they can know how to avoid them. And when your company grows, it would be excellent to hire your own cybersecurity specialist!

Paulina Dolatowska

This article does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors or management of EconoTime