[BreachExchange] 10 Essential Security Points Startups Should Keep in Mind

[Audrey McNeil]

http://www.tmcnet.com/sectors/security/articles/424442-10-
essential-security-points-startups-should-keep-mind.htm

If your business suffers a breach in computer or information security, you
could deal with fallout from which you might never be able to recover. It
will be difficult to earn back your customers’ trust and to convince them
that such a problem will never happen again. The best offense is a strong
defense, and fortunately, there are several tips that can help you keep
your network protected, ensuring that your startup stays as secure as
possible.

Perform Network Scans

Hackers can wreak havoc on your business, as they can steal customer and
company data once they have access to your network. To protect your
business from these criminals, it is important to scan your network
regularly. These scans – including port, vulnerability and network scans –
will identify areas of vulnerability that a hacker might be able to
exploit. Once the areas of weakness are identified, you can implement more
protective efforts in order to keep your business safe.

Use Updated Firewalls

Firewalls have long been used as a basic line of defense to ensure that a
computer system is safe. Technology – including firewall programs – has
improved over the years, so businesses need to ensure that they have the
latest generation of firewall software available to protect their networks.
A good firewall will focus on the destination and source of IP addresses
and ports.

Choose Updated Antivirus Software

A good antivirus software program is also a basic of network and computer
security. These programs are designed to scan your computers for any
suspicious or potentially harmful software that could try to find its way
on to your network. It is important to keep this software updated to
protect against new threats. A good antivirus software program will both
identify new malware and viruses and remove them safely.

Research Intrusion (News - Alert) Prevention Options

Intrusion prevention systems are relatively new concepts for protecting
networks. These systems maintain a database of known ways networks are
currently being attacked in order to recognize attacks and stop employees
from making mistakes that could allow an attack to result. A good intrusion
prevention system such as Snort is useful in preventing intrusions from
happening accidentally.

Install Alarms

Alarms are incredibly useful at protecting a startup, as they’ll warn you
when anything abnormal occurs. Network alarms can alert you to a potential
hacking or a suspicious download. Physical problem alarms also exist to
keep your equipment and employees safe, helping you to avoid costly
repairs, equipment replacements and potential lawsuits in the event of a
fire, flood or carbon monoxide poisoning.

Hire Reliable and Trustworthy Employees

Unfortunately, many security breaches that companies face are a result of
employee misconduct or errors. During hiring activities, make sure that you
run the proper background checks on any potential employees. While this
might sound like common sense, it is a crucial activity in avoiding
internal theft.

One way to ensure that you are getting honest and trustworthy employees is
to only hire from credible sources. You should post open positions on your
business website or use a reputable job agent that can help you to filter
out applicants. Taking the extra time to make informed hiring and personnel
decisions can save you money and a lot of stress in the long run.

Encrypt Your Data

Unfortunately, it is impossible to protect your system against all forms of
hacking, but encrypting your data is one way to avoid data loss as a result
of hacking. Encryption works by converting data into a code. The end-user
will only access the data through a protected portal that is set up to read
the code. Encryption will render the data unreadable if a thief is somehow
able to access it.

Businesses often use encryption to protect their financial information,
including credit card numbers. Encryption can be useful for protecting
personal or business information, and there are options for encryption
outsourcing that can offer your business optimal protection.

Back Up Your Data

One thing to consider if hackers access your network to steal data is how
you’ll get the data back. Running a routine backup of your network can give
you a copy in the event that your data is compromised and goes missing. A
backup for your business will minimize the amount of time that you’ll have
to go without accessing your data.

It is important to remember that data can also be lost as a result of a
natural disaster, so you should keep your backups off-site. This will help
to avoid a complete loss of information. Backup protection will get your
business back on its feet as quickly as possible if data loss occurs.

Add Video Cameras

One important way to keep your business safe is to add video camera
surveillance. Make sure your employees know that their actions are being
monitored, and post signs that tell visitors and staff that you are
recording on the premises. Make sure the video is powered independently so
that you’ll be able to access the video feeds remotely.  Video cameras are
also effective in crime prevention and can help the police to catch a
culprit in the event of a potential burglary.

Implement Web Filters

When running a small business, you are always at risk of someone using your
network that decides not to follow your rules. If someone decides to access
content or download something that they should not be using, they could
open up your network to a whole host of problems. Web filtering is a good
tool to control what is accessed by people on your business network, and it
can block users from accessing harmful web and email content that could
jeopardize your system.

You’ve worked hard to develop your startup and to make it flourish. Don’t
waste all of your time, money and hard work by failing to keep it properly
protected. By following these tips, you can ensure that your business stays
safe and secure, fending off many potential threats before they ever become
a problem.
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