Table of Contents
Introduction
In this fast-paced world, a startup business is responsible for numerous things ranging from endless paperwork to rigorous employee training. And while performing these tasks, most business owners tend to overlook the formulation of efficient data security measures.
However, it’s important to remember that prioritizing data security right from the start will allow your startup business to stay ahead of any hacking attempts. So if you’re starting a new business venture but are unsure about the basic security strategies to employ, don’t worry because here are foolproof ways to securing your data.
A Startup’s Guide To Data Security
Have Clear And Constant Communication With IT
Nowadays, the distinct line separating personal and business devices have become blurred, especially with the rise of remote setup. Employees typically use cloud file sync and share tools, which are great for file sharing, but they also increase the risk of data theft and fraud if not used properly. This often results in employees involuntarily introducing risk to company data.
To prevent this from occurring, constantly communicating with IT regarding the company’s data is essential. And for maximum communication, it would be highly beneficial to implement a “synch and share” standard throughout the entire company.
Data Security Policy And Proper Data Collection
Did you know that cybercriminals are more interested in targeting small businesses because they often have weak data security policies? With this in mind, creating a standard data security policy for your business is essential, especially if you don’t want sensitive company information to leak outside the organization’s realm casually.
As a business owner, it’s an excellent idea to take ample time to understand the business value so that you can give it the appropriate protection it needs. You should identify your critical assets and state where they are stored if they are encrypted, and who has access to them.
Moreover, your startup shouldn’t collect unnecessary information from clients and customers. Proper customer data management will help conserve the company’s resources so that you can use them on something more substantial. Similarly, you should destroy and eradicate information that is no longer needed.
Teach Employees About Data Security
Now that you have a standardized data security policy, you must brief your employees about its importance. Proper data security knowledge is one of the most critical factors in preventing cyber-attacks. Training your employees on the do’s and dont’s will go a long way.
Some factors to include during training are:
- Data loss prevention
- Least privileged access
- Social engineering identification
- Physical security of devices
- Identifying suspicious attachments and links (phishing scams)
- The importance of reliable and secure passcodes
Moreover, offering refresher training at least twice a year is vital for maximum protection.
Seek Professional Help From Experts
Due to a limited budget, it’s impractical for a startup to have in-house internal threat intelligence, industrial-grade tools, and 24/7 monitoring for advanced persistent threats. And as a startup business, you should know by now that you won’t have the time and resources to do everything independently.
So, to ensure proper data security protection across the entire company, you should consider outsourcing help from professional experts.
For a quick and hassle-free fix, you may store data on a cloud solution that can integrate a multifaceted approach, including:
- Data-centric security
- Application-level security
From this, the security measures will be embedded in the data itself instead of the infrastructure. So, for example, you may use Dropbox, Amazon Web Services, and Salesforce tools. They offer reasonable prices and high-quality protection and can neatly scale together with your startup’s growth.
Don’t Forget To Encrypt All Data
Data encryption is a foolproof data security measure that your company shouldn’t overlook. And don’t just encrypt sensitive data – encrypt all data. And if possible, encrypt your encryption so that you have a backup for your backup.
In fact, encryption technology is a relatively low price to pay for being such a valuable investment because if a piece of encrypted information gets breached, the hacker won’t have the ability to use it.
Test Your Protection Regularly
Penetration testing is one of the most cost-effective ways for your startup company to protect yourself against data breaches. And for your convenience, numerous penetration testing tools are available in the market with varying price ranges. Doing this will help you identify your company’s vulnerabilities and how well your policies are holding up against a cybercrime attempt.
Although you’ll have to shell out some money, don’t worry because this type of test is worth it in the end. By identifying your weak spots, you’ll have the opportunity to formulate a more robust set of data security measures.
Conclusion
As technology advances, hackers also find more sophisticated ways to hack into organizations’ systems. And with this in mind, it’s essential to realize that a random data security breach can put your startup’s operation to a halt.
So despite having a limited budget for data security, your startup business should never let it be a reason for your downfall. By following the cost-efficient startup security tips mentioned in this article, you’ll realize that data security isn’t just for megacorporations – it’s also crucial for small and new businesses like yours.
