StartupsTechnology

Cybersecurity Tips to Prep Your Startup for Growth

So, you have taken the big step of starting up a business? The initiative is good, but it takes more than keeping a business afloat to succeed. And while your resources may be limited amidst a competitive market, scaling up is part of this deal. Knowing well that cybersecurity is an integral part of online businesses, here are the top tips for integrating into your workflow to help your business scale up smoothly.

cybersecurity

Secure Your Space

Startup businesses are known to ignore the importance of putting up online security measures because they think that no one could be interested in small businesses. Know that data breaches cost business owners worldwide up to $4 million every year and statistics from the privacy rights clearinghouse show that 54.8% of the violations are perpetrated via hacking. The hacker sends malware, and anyone who clicks on the link allows the intruder to access company data effortlessly. To avoid such instances, employ the use of online data security, which helps you detect suspicious behavior in any of your website’s visitors.

Now that various types of threats require different security measures handle one at a time, depending on your financial stability, and work your way up until you complete the task. Securing your website safeguards both you and your clients from hacking attempts. This means you have time to invest and improve your business rather than deal with the ripple effects of online cyber intrusion.

Automation – The New-Age Helper

Sending emails, acknowledging receipt of an email, or answering simple questions regarding service delivery among other easy tasks like these do not require much thinking. The same applies to market strategies over the internet. Use software that identifies your weak links. Once you create your ads, set a timer, and let the chatbot do the posting, leaving your employees to source for more business opportunities.

Use Simple Processes

You may know of people who have had to find someone to streamline some of their processes once an employee leaves the company. Rather than spend time trying to figure out complex ideas, how about you choose easy ones, which can be run by anyone. This eases your job in that you do not have to run the business alone. In case you want to take some time out, anyone in the company can fill in your seat comfortably without enduring months of training.

Choose the ideal tools

A business’ ability to thrive depends on how much money it brings in vs. the expenses it incurs. If you opt for a place that imposes high taxes, yet you are only starting up, the chances are that you’ll struggle to scale up the business. Do you know why? Because the cash that is meant for expanding will be used up in settling bills and trying to stay afloat. You can start up in a city that is not costly when it comes to tax payments, then move your business to your preferred location once it is firmly established. Reduce your costs to make room for expanding.

More so, the right software can make or break your business. Even if your resources are minimal, do not compromise on this. Choose options that are less likely to be hit by malware or bugs. For instance, most iOS products have built-in anti-malware and bug software. As such, the machine will not read a device that is suspected of having a virus that can pose a threat to your information. It may cost you thousands of dollars to get one MAC device, but the benefits can overshadow the cost.

Manage the internal network

Your employees and clients are naturally the people that you interact with regularly. This network will grow steadily depending on how frequent new visitors will make it to your website. Unfortunately, these are also the people who are easy targets for hacking attempts. To safeguard your client’s data, employ an IT guru who will oversee everything regarding cybersecurity. Track every gadget with an IP address. Do not let any visitor go undetected since these are the ones that will use such loopholes to rattle your nest. Install malware detectors and do not allow automatic connections to your network. Put short expiry dates to passwords and track any activities on the website.

When it comes to mobile devices, equip your employees with online cybersecurity services, which will stop any attack from the cloud. Note that even though you aim to be full proof, it is essential to put up risk management strategies for that rainy day.

Summary

Put-up all-round measures to safeguard your business, including risk planning. You end up spending less in asset recovery, which leaves you with ample resources for scaling up. Remember that while most of these cybersecurity breaches occur on the internet, some are also done physically. So, keep your doors locked and offer identification cards to every employee. This limits intrusions now that new people will have to gain access to the offices with the help of an authorized person.

Additionally, install CCTV cameras to monitor every corner of the premises in case of any break-in.

Veselina Dzhingarova

Veselina Dzhingarova , co-founder ESBO, currently works as a branding and marketing consultant, bringing together the knowledge and intuition that she has developed over many years spent working in relevant fields.