How Silicon Valley Startups Can Reduce Cybersecurity Risks

Since the pandemic, numerous businesses have realized the importance of having a digital presence. With restrictions in movement and in-person interactions being discouraged, it has become necessary for companies to continue their transactions online.

However, with this new territory comes various threats that could easily cripple a startup company, so cybersecurity is crucial. Fortunately, some measures you can take to reduce the chances of falling prey to cyber threats. Let’s discuss them below.

1.    Run a Business Risk Analysis

When your business is still in its infancy, you won’t have enough resources to cover every possible cyber threat angle. That’s why the smarter move is determining the areas that face the highest risk of infiltration within your industry. This will help you allocate resources more appropriately in a way that will benefit your business as much as possible.

Most startup companies’ common threats include data breaches, DDoS attacks, malware, ransomware, and insider threats. Once you understand which dangers your business is most susceptible to, you can do what is necessary to prevent attacks from taking place.

So, as you look for ways to improve your cybersecurity, keep risk analysis at the forefront of your mind, as your business grows and your finances increase, you can adopt comprehensive strategies to protect your company from multiple angles.

2.    Install Reliable Security Software

In the battle against cyberthreats, cybersecurity software is the first line of defense protecting your business from numerous risks. As businesses continue investing in building an authentic online presence, the need for cyber protection becomes more apparent.

You’ll need to have reliable software to keep your business information, processes, and systems away from prying hands. It can prevent attacks against your company by detecting and stopping them before any real damage is done.

It could be challenging to hire an IT staff to keep tabs on the state of your security when your business is starting. That is why investing in top-tier cybersecurity software is essential. It is a cost-effective way of ensuring your company is safe even without the expertise of an IT guru.

3.    Educating Employees

One of the most credible threats to your online business security is those that come from within your company. Your employees can access various forms of information that can place your business in jeopardy if it gets into the wrong hands. That is why you should invest in training your employees to understand the potential threats your business is exposed to.

Educating your employees on the best security practices will help prevent scenarios where your staff compromises your company’s safety. Additionally, it will put your employees in a position to identify and report any suspicious activity that could imply vulnerability in your security system. If hiring experts to train your staff seems expensive, you can still look for free cybersecurity training resources online.

4.    Encrypting Sensitive Data

If you have sensitive information stored on your business servers and computers, you will need to take some steps to prevent unauthorized access. One of the threats that your company faces if you have delicate information is ransomware. This form of cyber attack involves taking control of the crucial data of a company and asking for payment in exchange for returning the information.

This could cost your business a lot of resources and could easily cripple a startup company. That is why it’s necessary to encrypt the data. This will make the information impossible to read for unauthorized personnel. It will scramble the data and render it in an unreadable format using algorithms and mathematical calculations.

As a result, the information will be worthless to the thief, and your company’s secrets will remain safe and secure even if someone bypasses your security.

5.    Multi-Factor Authentication

If you want to take your security measures to the next level without draining resources, you should consider Multi-Factor Authentication software. Installing such a system will require every user to confirm their identity before accessing your company information or accounts.

A multi-factor authentication software needs more than a mere user name and password to provide access. It will involve sending a code in the form of a message or email to prove that the person requesting the information is authorized to do so.

Advanced MFA systems can combine unique features like a fingerprint or face scan for extra security. It might sound complicated, but it can be integrated into your security system for a smooth performance.

6.    Regularly Updating your Security

The digital world is a constantly evolving platform that features new upgrades and threats every so often. Even with reliable cybersecurity software, you can still fall prey to emerging risks since hackers are always looking for vulnerabilities to exploit.

This is why it’s crucial to regularly update your security system to meet the new threats as soon as they come into place. These updates can detect the weaknesses in your software and patch up any loose ends that can leave you open to cybercrimes.

You can also prevent the spread of malware to other computers or business associates by having the latest software updates.

7.    Hiring Cyber Security Experts

The last strategy you can implement to keep your business safe from cyber threats is with some help from cybersecurity professionals like BC Networks. The primary advantage of hiring experts to meet your online protection requirements is that you’ll get all the solutions you need at an affordable cost.

You won’t have to worry about malware risks and other threats since they can be detected and removed instantly. This will ensure that the information, accounts, and systems related to your business, employees, and clients are safe from unauthorized access.

Additionally, your system will run more smoothly since your computers will be free from viruses and other disturbances that make your servers slower.

Conclusion

The numerous benefits that the online world is offering to startup businesses also come as many threats. You will need to put safety measures in place to keep your business information, accounts, and other data away from hackers. The strategies in this post can help you maintain a smooth-running operation that’s free from cyber threats. Feel free to contact us today!