So, you’ve started up a new business? Congratulations!
We know there’ll be an awful lot on your plate, but it really is so important to ensure your business is protected from the get-go.
Cybercriminals love to target brand new companies because they’re gambling on the fact that those businesses won’t have had time to organise the right defence measures. Plus, having the right foundation means the only way is up for your cybersecurity.
But where should you start? We’re here to help, with a handy checklist for the things you need to have in place right from the beginning.
If you want to hear it direct from the specialists, tune into the free cybersecurity tutorial How to cyber protect your new business for free talk on the 28th of September, hosted by our sister brand Click and Protect as part of the Leeds Digital Festival.
Password policy
Your password policy should be the first thing you put into place. This is easily the quickest and most budget friendly way to ensure you’ve got the most basic cyberspace protection ready to go.
Take an hour or two to write a comprehensive password policy that ensures all of your new employees have consistently strong passwords across the board. You’ll also want to include things like rules for regular password changes and two factor authentication.
Cybersecurity training
The weakest link in any kind of cybersecurity operation is often the people rather than the software. That’s why it’s really important to have cybersecurity training in place from the first hire you make.
Cybersecurity training should take place regularly, ideally every three months, and should include refresher materials on things like equipment usage, remote working and GDPR to keep them front of mind. It’s all about cybersecurity courses that teach your teams everything they need to know about cybersecurity.
Data protection
Speaking of GDPR, having data protection policies for your business is an absolute must, to ensure you don’t fall foul of data legislation that could result in fines and legal trouble.
GDPR compliance can be a daunting prospect, especially to new business owners, so generally, it’s always best to go with the professionals. There are consultants and experts out there who can ensure you have everything you need to keep you and your customer’s data safe from criminals. Find out how we can help, with our data protection-as-a-service.
Data backups
This is a big one. The modern business runs on data, and yours is absolutely no different. That’s why it’s essential that you keep regular and consistent backups of all the data on your servers and equipment.
There are many ways you can do this and many of the best are detailed in this handy guide provided by the UK government with tips, tricks and tutorials. One of the most innovative ways is to backup directly to the cloud – our cloud enablement service is just the thing to help you get this set up.
Antivirus software
Malware is one of the most destructive and menacing tools in the cybercriminal’s arsenal, and for the unprotected, can mean financial damage, not to mention resources and time wastage.
Setting up antivirus software on all of your equipment can help provide a first line of defence against malware and current internet threats so it should be definitely on the checklist straightaway. There are a number of options available, and it’s always worth it to invest some money rather than rely on free options – check out some of our favourite solutions in our antivirus blog post.
The importance of cybersecurity can never be understated. If you’re serious about protecting your new business online with different types of computer security, we’ve got the expertise and experience to help you get your defences up and running. To find out more about how we can help, drop us an email at info@csp.partners.