Across the country, small businesses are booming. That’s great news for the economy, to say nothing of all the enterprising folks working to make their entrepreneurial dreams come true. But in the startup world, there is one piece of unwelcome news: Startups remain increasingly major targets for hackers and other computer-based criminals, who often employ phishing, ransomware, and social engineering to exploit fledgling businesses.

Why do so many hackers go after startups, exactly? One reason is that new businesses have limited resources and expertise and tend to invest everything they’ve got into brand-building, business development, innovation, and rapid growth. That leaves little left over to invest in robust cybersecurity protocols. Additionally, smaller companies are often grappling with an increasingly-complicated technological ecosystem, which can make the cybersecurity environment fairly precarious.

Cybersecurity Tips for New Business Startups

The good news is that, for startups that recognize this threat, there are a number of practical strategies to ensure greater security.

  • Use multi-factor authentication (MFA). First and foremost, it’s important to insist on MFA protections across all access points, ensuring that any team members who log into your cloud network or SaaS platforms are authorized. MFA protocols can help safeguard against many of the most common cyberattacks.
  • Keep up to date with system updates. A simple way to keep your startup more secure? Update all your software tools and apps on a regular basis. Remember, most updates are security patches, designed to prevent hackers from exploiting any potential vulnerabilities.
  • Develop a full cybersecurity plan. Ultimately, the best way to keep your startup safe and secure is to develop a big-picture strategy. Your strategy should include an incident response plan, should you ever fall prey to a data breach, as well as routine data backups, which can mediate the effects of a breach.
  • Ensure strong password habits. A good password can be an incredible form of protection against hackers and cyberattacks. Provide employees with training on how to develop robust passwords, and offer periodic reminders about the importance of good password hygiene.
  • Invest in employee training more broadly. Beyond passwords, employees should know how to identify and avoid common types of online attack, including vishing, phishing, and smishing attacks. Invest in IT security training, and also in written security policies that your employees must abide by.
  • Monitor your vendors. Finally, remember that startups often partner with a lot of third-party vendors, and those vendors will sometimes need access to secure networks or cloud-based folders. Vet your vendors for cybersecurity know-how, and also make sure you limit access to what your vendors truly need to complete their work.

Emphasize IT Security at Your Startup

Business startups are inherently full of potential, but they can also present a lot of risk. Cybersecurity breaches are among the most significant risks of all. Make sure you’re doing everything you can to make security a top priority. And with any questions, reach out to the BlueArmor team directly.