Cybersecurity tips for Startups
Start-up businesses face all manner of challenges in their early stages. They have to secure finance, build their presence, and much more just to stay afloat. But one issue to only recently become a factor is that of cybersecurity.
The consequences of a breach can have a huge impact on the business. It can also have significant repercussions for employees, customers, and clients. But what exactly are these consequences, and how can start-ups guard against them? Read on to find out more.
Why is cybersecurity so important?
The digital age means more and more data is being handled and stored online. Gone are the days of businesses using physical filing systems to maintain their records. That is a method that wastes valuable space and has become far too time-consuming. But the flip side is that although systems have become more advanced, so too have the tools and the skills of cyber criminals.
Businesses need to maintain a wealth of sensitive information. This could include employee and customer details, financial records, transaction histories, and more. And it could prove damaging if it fell into the wrong hands. A breach could lead to major financial or identity theft. As well as being hugely harmful to the victims, the reputation of the start-up could take a major hit. This might affect its ability to develop into a successful venture.
How can start-ups make sure they get it right?
Install a virtual private network
A virtual private network (VPN) adds an extra layer of security. It can help protect your data and hide your IP address. You can then operate with privacy online. It’s particularly useful for businesses that have staff working remotely. All employee laptops should have a free VPN Chrome extension installed. They can then access company networks knowing that the security measures are robust.
Use strong passwords
Businesses use a lot of internal systems, which can contain sensitive data. That means they need password protection, so encourage staff to change theirs regularly. They should include a mixture of upper and lower case letters, special characters, and numbers. Businesses can also use password generator and storage platforms. These make security management more efficient and should reduce the risk of a breach.
Train employees
Give all staff regular training on the risk of breaches, popular scams and how to look out for them. This training should cover the UK General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) as well as any refresher courses. Start-ups will be better placed to prevent any hacks or misuse of data when they educate employees from the outset.
Conclusion
We hope this article is useful for you to protect your personal and business information in today’s world where everything has been moved to digital.
Thanks for reading.
