Cybercrime is, unfortunately, one of the most talked about concerns for businesses in the digital age, and small business and startups are among the most likely to come under attack. Such an attack can be very damaging to an SME, with up to 60% of those that do fall victim to a cyber attack reported to cease trading within six months following a breach.
This is largely because small businesses, or those just starting out, do not have the large resources available to develop a strong security development plan, or lack the IT department specialty teams that the larger businesses have. The good news is that no matter how small or large your start-up is, there are some tried and tested ways of ensuring that your risks of falling victim to a costly cyber attack are drastically minimised.
Securing your network
The increased presence of Wi-Fi has been a boon to both our personal and business lives, but there are some significant and very valid worries when it comes to using the wireless technology. If your business makes use of Wi-Fi in-house, then your primary concerns are going to be ensuring that your system is up to the latest in WPA2 standards, which makes use of improved encryption and ensures that hackers have a greater difficulty when it comes to stealing information. As well as that, you need to make sure that your passwords are as strong as possible and changed on a regular basis. Use a password generator and password management system to ensure that your Wi-Fi network is as secure as it can be at all times.
Encryption is essential
Businesses accumulate large amounts of data and personal information regarding customers, employees, and suppliers. Social security numbers, bank account details, and even simple email addresses: that data is a goldmine for criminals, who can use it in a variety of malicious ways. This information will always need to be encrypted before you add it to your storage files, even if you’ve opted for cloud-based storage rather than costly in-house servers. There are a number of ways that you can do this, and although it may sound like the sole preserve of the technophile, it is much easier to achieve and will provide an effective extra layer of security to your stored data.
Hire experts
You can employ them to run your IT department personally, or you can hire a third party to manage all of your technology needs, but the fact is that hiring the services of people that have the specialized knowledge that will help protect you against criminals, is the best way to defend your business. Using services like Torix.co.uk will ensure that your security is always optimized in order to scale against your evolving needs. It can be difficult to keep up with the changing threats of cybercrime, and having professionals who know what to look for and how to respond to threats is the most effective way of protecting your start-up.
It’s important to remember that cyber threats are not simply focused on your internet access, and the physical means that cybercriminals use to gain access to your systems can be a weak point in your defenses. Make sure that you are as protected offline via personal devices, memory sticks, and even business laptops, as you are online, and your security will be at peak levels.