3 Low-Tech (But Crucial) Ways to Keep Your Tech Startup Secure

In today’s day and age when facial recognition and Artificial Intelligence are a thing, it can seem redundant to implement low-tech security measures. However, the best security systems feature a layered approach and combine all sorts of measures, starting with low-tech ones and going up to state-of-the-art ones.Plus, every business, small or large, needs to keep in mind that the biggest threat to their security is human error (intended or accidental).From employees who write their passwords on a post-it, stick it to their monitor, and then take a picture with it in the background to scattered-brain IT admins who forget to remove former employees’ access to the system, the range of mistakes and mishaps is incredibly diverse.That’s why the best defense against cyber-invaders is a diverse approach with several layers that can filter out any intruders before they reach the core of the company. And everything starts with the low-tech but basic systems that produce awareness and keep things in check.Moving forward, we’ll talk about the three most important steps any startup can take to ensure the security of their company.

Cybersecurity Education for All Employees

Due to tight budgets and worries about productivity and/or production, this aspect is almost never in the foreground of startup owners. However, if your systems get hit by a phishing or ransomware attack, there won’t be anywhere to run to.That’s why it’s important to put all your employees through, at least, basic cybersecurity training. They need to be able to recognize a phishing attack and know what to do in case something doesn’t feel right.Also, people need to be aware of the risks associated with using personal devices to access the company’s network, using out-of-date software, and accidentally sharing documents and files with unauthorized personnel.

Entrance Control: Pedestrian Turnstiles and More

If you run a brick-and-mortar business, it’s best to have security equipment that handles access control inside the building or office (like the products offered by AllSecurityEquipment). That’s because, in many situations, a breach doesn’t need to come via ill-intended software.A security breach can happen in a very old-fashioned manner when someone steals files or storage devices from your headquarters. In fact, this approach is quite common, if you don’t have a way to limit unauthorized access in the building, because it’s the less costly method.

Know Your Key-Players

How well do you know your IT administrator or accountant? Do you think they are trustworthy? Do you feel safe knowing they are the ones who watch over your business when you’re not around?Of course, there are other key players involved in daily business operations, but the idea is easy to grasp: you need people you can trust to help run your business.Sure, you can’t know all of them personally (some of them like their privacy), but it’s important to hire or partner with people who have proven experience in the field.Before you let anyone touch the core of your business, check their credentials and make sure they are not using a stolen identity. For this, try to reach out to former business partners and employers, check their online activity, and be on the lookout for anything out of the ordinary.Plus, it’s important to implement legal security measures, such as Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs), to cover all your bases.

Wrap Up

While low-tech measures do help filter out some of the most obvious threats, you should still use more advanced services like VPNs, encrypted communications, and backup systems to guard your startup’s data and Intellectual Property. As we already mentioned, a good security system has layers upon layers.