Must-Have Cybersecurity Protections for New Businesses

If you’re opening a new business, then prioritizing your cybersecurity strategy needs to be a main focus.

Small businesses are frequent targets of cyberattacks, with up to 46% of them facing attacks annually. These attacks, ranging from malware to phishing, have major consequences. Some 60% of small businesses that are victims of a major breach fail within six months. Associated costs can range from $826 to over $653,587 for a single incident.

Knowing where to start can be challenging. Many solutions exist; each business must assess its needs, analyze vulnerabilities, and act to address threats at all relevant points.

Zero Trust Architecture

Aim to implement zero trust architecture as part of your cybersecurity strategy. This framework operates under the saying, “Never trust, always verify.” That means no device, user, or app is trusted by default, whether inside or outside the company. All access requests must prove their legitimacy every single time. This technology also works on “least-privilege access.” That is, people are given just enough access to carry out their tasks.

When they have completed these tasks, these permissions are removed. Zero trust architecture also embraces microsegmentation, breaking networks into smaller zones. That way, if hackers breach one area, they can’t access another area. With this tool, every access request is checked, and there is dynamic policy enforcement. That means that if something odd is detected, the authentication requirements are automatically amped.

Endpoint Detection and Response

Although free antivirus software abounds online, modern businesses should consider upgrading from antivirus to endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions. Rather than simply identifying known threats like antivirus software does, EDR solutions use behavioral analytics and machine learning to monitor for suspicious activity continually, quarantine infected devices, and stop zero-day exploits (those that give you little to no time to respond effectively to an attack). They deliver custom detections based on millions of observed attacks. Having said that, it’s essential to take the time to compare EDR solutions, as not all of them offer the same features. Make sure that you are dealing with experts who can create bespoke solutions for your business and promptly respond to any questions and issues you may have.

End-To-End Encryption 

End-to-end encryption (E2EE) is a security strategy where data is encrypted on a sender’s device and only decrypted on the intended recipient’s device. That way, nobody, not even service providers, attackers, or third parties, can read the information as it travels along networks or cloud platforms. Businesses that adopt E2EE essentially convert plain data (including financial records, customer information, and internal chats) into ciphertexts, using strong cryptographic algorithms. Only the holders of the right decryption keys can decrypt and access the content. 

Backup and Disaster Recovery Planning

Even after taking all possible measures, it is vital to establish automated, isolated backup systems to protect against phishing scams. Rehearsing disaster recovery processes is essential to maintain resilience during attacks. Part of your planning should include security awareness training for staff. Short sessions and realistic phishing simulations help staff confidently respond to attempted attacks. In addition to backing up your data, you can also employ automated patch management to keep software, applications, and devices up to date by applying patches—vendor-provided updates that fix security vulnerabilities, bugs, and performance issues.

Small businesses can be highly vulnerable to a myriad of cyber attacks, which is why investing in a broad range of solutions is key. It’s no longer sufficient to rely on antivirus software. Newer solutions like EDR allow you to deal effectively with emerging cyber threats, thanks to technologies such as AI and machine learning.