Startups face a predicament that some more established businesses may not. They’re in a constant cycle of change, both from within due to business, and externally due to keeping up to date with new technology. Because of this fact, startups can often fall prey to malicious online attacks particularly designed to target them.
Here are the three best ways to protect your startup from the most malicious cyber attacks.
#1 Defend Against Spearphishing Attacks
When you’re in business, especially if you’re a startup, you’re going to be sending and receiving a lot of emails. You or your business may be approached and begin a dialogue with a person or company that presents an opportunity you feel is in your best interests to explore. This is typical, which, unfortunately, is why spearphishing can prove successful when startups are targeted.
During an email exchange, a spear phisher is gleaning information from you. They blanket email companies with relevant details, and not all of them present offer too good to pass up. Sometimes it’s as simple as an inquiry. Unfortunately, by the time you’ve given up information, it’s already too late.
The best way to secure yourself from spearphishing is to both prevent it as much as possible and protect yourself from its consequences. Spam filters on your email client can protect you from known shady IPs, common lingo and inappropriate senders. However, filters can’t catch everything, and sometimes they even catch legitimate emails as well. 2FA (Two-Factor Authentication) is the best way to secure yourself online from cyber attacks in general, but especially when your account details might be picked up.
2FA lets you get notified of potential intrusions into your account by your smartphone and often requires you to respond to text or random access code via an app. Essentially, whoever is trying to access your account needs to have your physical phone as well as your password, making it more difficult to hack.
#2 Protect Your Employees By Setting Proper Policies
While common sense is all well and good, not everyone has the same experience online, and everyone can make a slip up now and then. The best way to avoid complications due to human error is to set strict rules that avoid potential invasions of company privacy.
Spell out exactly what users can and can’t share online through social media about the company. Have strict encryption protocols when sharing data, and use locking methods on any portable hardware like laptops and tablets. When you eliminate as much chance for human error as possible, your company stands a much better chance of avoiding potential complications.
#3 Safeguard Your Customer Information
Businesses rise and fall by how customers view the safety of their privacy with a company. When it comes to online payments, details are best kept as secure as possible when processing orders from your website, app, or portal to the secure payment gateway.
Many times credit card information is stolen due to an insecure setup on the client side of the transaction process. You can communicate with your payment gateway to ensure you have the most encrypt SSL tokens and pathways of data from your online properties, ensuring the safety of your clients.
The internet has improved every facet of our society from social interaction, entertainment, and of course business. Whole industries and fields exist only because of just how far technology has advanced. As companies often on the cusp of new technology versus existing businesses, many startups have proven this to be true. Ensure your startup is in a position to take advantage of new opportunities by safeguarding it from potential cyber attacks.
