Stating that money is tight with a new startup business is a bit of an obvious thing to say. Often, one of the overlooked aspects of a new business is that thing which is difficult to see or put a value on. Cybersecurity certainly qualifies under that, but you don’t have to spend much money to give your new startup some basic cybersecurity.
It’s no secret that businesses of all sizes are having some of the worst data breaches of all time right now. What chance does your new startup have of beating the odds? Plenty. You just need to get yourself ready ahead of time. Here are 5 ways to protect your startup without an expensive IT team.
A point I’d like to make before we get too far into this is that the worst thing any new startup does in terms of their cybersecurity is think that no one cares about stealing from them. Your ignorance is every hackers best tool against you. Read on, and educate yourself about prevention.
Every Piece of Digital Data is Encryptable
You can encrypt anything digital and make it harder for hackers to access your data. This includes:
- desktops
- external hard drives
- laptops
- tablets
- smartphones
- USBs
- SD cards
For your laptops and desktops, Mac OSX, Linux OS, and Microsoft Windows all have their own whole disk encryption options. You can also choose to encrypt only certain folders, depending in the version of each OS that you have. This is already included, you don’t have to spend more money to protect your new startup here!
Using these types of encryption on your computers and other devices you own is important. The easiest type of cybercrime is theft of devices followed by a good old snoop around your files. If the files are encrypted you will be down a device, but not your data.
Start Using Multiple Passwords with a Password Manager
We all use passwords to secure our data, but not all of us use them well. The most basic rule is that if you can remember it, then it’s not secure enough. A password management tool will help you create better passwords – random strings of letters, numbers, and punctuation – and store it for you.
CNET has an article about six password managers that work well. If you’d rather jump right to the pages they are: Roboform, 1Password, Passwordbox, Keeper, MSecure, and Dashlane.
Secure All Communications with a VPN Provider
VPNs were first created by large companies who wanted to secure their business communications. The proliferation of commercial VPNs has put this technology in the hands, and price range, of your average new startup.
How they work is by encrypting everything sent over your Internet connection, both ways, so that anyone snooping or sniffing the line can’t read what is being transmitted. You can secure your:
- Online browsing
- Skype calls
- File and data transfers
- Online banking transactions
And everything else that you do over your Internet connection.
Enable Two-Step Authentication Everywhere
Two-step verification is a newer cybersecurity measure that is quickly gaining support. It makes it so you have to enter a second code after you enter your password. This code is sent to your smartphone via SMS or email. Once you enter the code you will be granted access.
This makes it so hackers have to take another step to get past your signin page. This can range from ninja-style stealing your phone to get the code, or a cloned sim card that will give them the code. It’s an extra step in an environment where what’s easiest is more profitable.
The tools that you’re most likely to use as a new startup which feature two-step verification are:
- DropBox
- WordPress
- eBay
- Yahoo! Mail
- Amazon
- PayPal
- Evernote
- GoDaddy
- HootSuite
If you’re shopping around for these types of online services, and you’re trying to choose between one that does have two-step verification and one which doesn’t…the choice had better be obvious by now.
Do Not Double Store Information
One of the worst things that you can do for the cybersecurity of your new startup is offer a wider attack surface for a hacker. One of the easiest ways you do this is by double storing your digital data.
For example, when you’re working with a credit card company that stores your customer credit card data. Storing that data again yourself just offers a hacker another avenue to exploit, and you’re likely not as good as your credit card data storage client.
If you determine that you do need to store some sensitive customer data, be sure to encrypt it as we discussed above. Better yet, put it on a device that never connects to the Internet, and keep it away from your startup’s physical location.
About the author –
Marcus is the online security writer over on the Best VPN provider blog. You can find him there every Wednesday discussing the latest developments in the VPN and cybersecurity world.
