When a startup business is piling up capital and resources to grow and thrive, it is easy to overlook one of the most important aspects, which is cybersecurity. A cyber breach can be disastrous for any company at any growth stage, but it will be a devastating blow for an early-stage startup that cannot afford the expenses of fighting a cyberattack. Here are seven important steps to take to ensure your business is cyber-secure.

1- Be Proactive

The best way to stay cyber secure is to work on solutions for potential problems before they happen. Ideally, you want to identify every possible threat before it becomes a problem to take the proper steps to keep your business safe. Create an in-depth risk assessment that includes potential vulnerabilities and how they can be addressed before cybercriminals ever exploit them.

2- Choose Secure Platforms

A hack-proof authentication platform will ensure that every user or transaction on your platform is authorized and has been approved by another party. If you are keeping sensitive information on your system, you need to make sure that it is stored in an encrypted format. By using file encryption, you can keep the information on your computer safe with the added layer of security that it can only be accessed by someone who knows how it is programmed.

3- Have the Latest Cybersecurity Software

Make sure that you keep the latest antivirus and software tools on your system to immediately identify and remove any malware. Having an inventory of all the devices on your network is crucial, but you must ensure they are all controlled. Control access to each system regularly to ensure that there are no unauthorized users gaining access to systems or sensitive information.

4- Conduct Regular Cybersecurity Audits

Cybersecurity audits will help you identify weaknesses in your network and specific points that a cyberattack could target. You should ensure that there are cybersecurity audits from a third party, preferably one with experience in the area. The two most common cybersecurity audits to run are penetration testing and vulnerability testing.

5- Setup Cloud Storage

The cloud is the perfect place to save your data, but you should understand that you are giving away your company’s sensitive information when you use it. It is important to know what information will be stored with the cloud provider and ensure that the company is taking care of its customers to ensure their security.

6- Choose Strong Passwords

Passwords are an important part of any cybersecurity strategy, but they can be very difficult to use. A strong password should be at least 12 characters and include both letters and numbers. You can use a combination of upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols to make it even harder to crack.

7- Design a Strong Security System

It is impossible to secure your data once it reaches another system, so creating a firewall program that constantly monitors all incoming and outgoing traffic on your network is best. The firewall should deal with all incoming traffic, while different tools can work on specific groups of users or specific types of data only.

Staying safe in the digital age requires knowing how to build a company that is immune to cyberattacks. Follow these seven critical steps as you build your business, and you will find ways to escape cybercriminals.