For first-time entrepreneurs, setting up a new business is the start of an exciting (and scary) adventure. With so many responsibilities competing for your time, cyber security is a priority that startups often overlook. Use our top 7 cyber security tips to ensure your new venture succeeds in the digital world.
You’ve done it – you have taken the leap and your new business venture is a reality!
While stepping into entrepreneurship can be nerve-wracking, running your own business offers you greater control of not only your wealth but your professional future too.
However, the work doesn’t end there, and cyber security should be at the top of your startup’s priority list.
Why is cyber security important for a startup?
Cybercrime is on the rise in the UK, and unfortunately, startup businesses are seen as an easy target for cyber criminals.
A 2019 Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) survey found that small businesses in the UK collectively experience 10,000 cyber-attacks each day.
Hackers will often target startups as their cyber security procedures are usually in their infancy stage. Ensuring your cyber security defences are robust from the beginning can best protect you from potential cyber-attacks.
7 cyber security tips for startup businesses:
1. Invest in antivirus software
When it comes to antivirus software, not all are created equally. Make sure you invest in antivirus software that offers strong all-around protection from not only viruses but also spyware, ransomware and phishing scams across all your devices.
The methods cyber criminals use are always developing. To fight this, ensure your antivirus software is up to date to stay protected from the latest cyber-attack trends.
2. Conduct regular cyber security audits
It’s very easy for businesses to become lazy when it comes to cyber security. This is music to the ears of hackers.
Constant surveillance is needed to secure your company online. Conducting regular cyber security audits means you’ll be able to spot potential threats before it’s too late.
Not sure where to start? Enlist the help of a cyber security expert for the most thorough and effective results.
3. Educate yourself (and your team) on cyber security
Human error is the leading cause of cyber breaches. Often, you’re putting the cyber security of our business at risk without even realising it.
When it comes to cyber security, knowledge is power. Understanding even just the basics of cyber security will help you to implement an informed cyber protection strategy.
Have a team of employees? It’s important that they also know how to keep your business safe online. Paying for cyber security training for your staff will allow your company to take a united stance against cybercrime.
4. Use strong passwords only
You’ve been told about the importance of having strong passwords, but how often do you honestly listen? Although this tip may seem obvious, many people still use weak passwords that offer little protection. The stronger the password, the harder it is to hack.
We recommend using a password with 10 characters or more that includes at least one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, one number and one special character.
5. Protect your passwords with a password manager
Be honest – how many of your passwords are the same for every device or account you have? For cyber security purposes, this is a big no-no for your business.
Remembering multiple passwords across numerous accounts can be a challenge, but this is where a password manager can help.
A password manager is designed to store your passwords for you and automatically generate the correct login details for the relevant websites and apps.
Using a password manager means you only need to remember one master password to access the digital vault storing your login information.
6. Set up multi-factor authentication
Your business can never be overprotected when it comes to cyber security. Enabling multi-factor authentication for your company accounts will provide you and your team with an extra layer of cyber protection.
According to Microsoft research, accounts with multi-factor authentication in place are 99.9% less likely to experience a security breach. It’s hard to argue with that.
7. Backup your files and systems regularly
Imagine, after years of operation, all your company files are deleted or lost. Would your business be able to recover?
All it takes is one cyber breach for your company’s data to be compromised. Making a habit of backing up your files and systems regularly from launch means that, if disaster strikes, your files are recoverable.
A cloud backup solution can quickly retrieve your lost files and restore your damaged systems with minimal effort and disruption to your service.
Cloud backup services also provide remote storage and extra security for your data, protecting your business from cyber-attacks, hardware failure and other security threats.
How Infuse can help
As you can see, for a business to succeed, cyber security must be taken seriously. However, this is easier said than done, especially for busy first-time entrepreneurs.
Infuse is here to help. Our aim is to provide hassle-free cyber security services that protect your business, leaving you with one less thing to worry about. We offer a range of tailored IT services based on the needs of your business.
For expert advice and guidance on how your business can stay secure online, get in touch with us today. Our team of IT specialists have extensive experience in protecting businesses like yours from cyber threats.