Cyber threats are nothing new to companies and startups. Risks like ransomware, phishing attacks, and insider threats are common in businesses. Entrepreneurs who don’t prioritize protecting their devices and organizational data might stay vulnerable to cybercriminals. As a result, they might lose the trust of their investors and customers as they damage their reputation.
Since cyber threats will continue, business owners like you must focus on securing your company’s information. With cybersecurity, you’ll be able to prevent hackers from stealing or taking advantage of your data. In turn, you can safeguard your company’s credibility, enabling you to gain the trust of more clients.
This article provides you with five practical tips for cyber-proofing your startup organization. Read on for the insight.
1. Using Antivirus Software
Antivirus software helps protect against viruses, malware, and other malicious software that might try to infiltrate your system. Some antivirus programs also include firewall features, which help prevent unauthorized access to your computer through the internet or local network connections.As you look for antivirus software, you must communicate with a cyber security company in San Antonio to ensure that your software is compatible with all your devices. These electronic devices may include laptops, desktop computers, and smartphones that your employees use to streamline business operations. Doing so prevents you from using multiple antivirus programs on different devices, which might be more costly.
2. Encrypting Sensitive Documents
Data breaches can cost thousands in lost revenue and customer trust. To prevent this incident, ensure you encrypt all sensitive documents like financial records and contracts before sending them over email or storing them in the cloud. Encryption software will automatically encrypt files on your computer before you upload them to the cloud. Besides that, this strategy allows users to share files with other team members without giving them access to the original file.When encrypting confidential files, you may seek cyber security services in Salt Lake City to know which documents you must encrypt and which ones you shouldn’t. For instance, it makes sense to encrypt customer credit card numbers but not employee salaries because the latter doesn’t need protection against cyber-attacks while the former does. As a result, you won’t give your team a more challenging time for your payroll staff to organize salaries so you can pay your workers on time.
3. Regularly Updating Software
One of the most common attacks that computer users face is malware, which is software designed to damage or disable computers. Fortunately, the best way to protect yourself from malware is to keep your computer’s operating system and applications up-to-date with the latest security patches. If you have an antivirus program installed on your computer, it should automatically update itself when new patches become available.As you update software, you must ensure that the patch is compatible with older operating systems. If there’s no current version available for this kind of device, then ensure you allocate enough resources to support old equipment until you replace them with newer ones that work well with the latest ones. You should also check if any new features require additional software purchases before installing them in case these upgrades are necessary for future functionality with your company’s software systems.
4. Installing Password Managers
Password manager software is one of the best ways to protect yourself from cyber-attacks. Password managers help users generate strong passwords unique for every site that requires them. These programs also store each user’s username and password, so users don’t have to remember them themselves. This strategy helps reduce the risk of forgetting one of these vital pieces of information in an email or on a sticky note somewhere in their office.As you consider password managers for your startup, you must ensure that the software application has security features that meet your company’s needs. For example, if you have employees working remotely or traveling frequently, you may want to look for a cloud-based solution that offers advanced protection. Once you do so, you’ll be able to protect your business data and company devices from attackers that might expose or steal your information. Also, ensure that all your employees use the same software application to share passwords and collaborate on projects quickly.
5. Enabling Multi-Factor Authentication
Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is a technology that requires users to provide two types of identification when they log in. The second type can be a code sent by text message or generated by an app on the user’s smartphone. This advanced verification makes it harder for hackers to access accounts since they need physical access to devices, email accounts, and one-time codes.As you implement MFA, you must consider the costs associated with this security option. While some companies offer free multi-factor authentication solutions, some charge for their products or services. Since you run a startup business, you may consider free alternatives so you can still protect your data from threats like ransomware without allocating too much budget to cybersecurity.
