Security is a watchword that every business has been focused on over the last couple of years, regardless of what sector they work in. For some businesses, security means adding more of a cushion to their budget to prevent any sudden issues with cash flow. For others, it means taking more care to avoid the status of their projects leaking to competitors. And one area that every business has been forced to think more carefully about is cybercrime. Everyone has seen the stories since 2020 about the drastic increase in ransomware and other cybercriminal activities. No one can afford to be careless.
However, it is a fact of life that it can be easy to lose focus on the essentials when you have your nose to the grindstone and are trying to get to the end of a tight deadline. Every business has been put through the wringer in recent months, but it is so important that you don’t lose sight of those crucial steps that you can take to keep your security optimized. Here are some of the most important that you must not forget about.
Educate Your Staff On Security Basics
Even if you work in the tech industry, it is a good idea to assume that any employees (particularly new employees) may not be up to speed with the best ways to protect themselves against cybercrime. And when they are at work, that means that they may not be protecting your information, projects, and finances, not to mention those of your customers and clients.
If you want to give yourself as much security as possible, you need to ensure that they know about the basic security steps and that they are using them. Talk to them about random password generators and two-factor authentication. Show them examples of phishing emails and other forms of dangerous spam. This is particularly important if the team is working remotely, as it may be easier for bad habits to form and stick.
Find Software That Does The Hard Work For You
If you work in the tech industry, the idea of finding software that can make your life easier is hardly something that we need to remind you of. But it is important that you keep looking for new ways you can eliminate time-consuming tasks. Say your company is creating new software. There are always going to be checks that need to be done, and these are the kinds of tasks that can take a long time to get through.
And if your software finds a user before it has been checked properly, or if a security issue has been missed, it can do serious damage to your business and your reputation. If you are looking to learn more about security testing, and whether there is a better alternative to static application security testing, get in touch with the team at ForAllSecure. They can demonstrate how their testing runs through actual tests instead of a simulation.
Don’t Get Too Lost In Your Work
Things can change so quickly out there, and new challenges are emerging all the time. It’s not just about cybersecurity. It’s about how your competitors are taking big steps forward and utilizing new technology. It’s about checking whether the window of opportunity that you identified a few months ago is still open. It’s about the investment that you made and were relying on being in a precarious position.
If you work in tech, you know that long days and total focus are all part of the game. But if you want to keep your business secure, you cannot afford to get lost and lose sight of what is happening outside of your company’s walls.
Give Yourself A Budget Cushion
The turbulence in the market over the last couple of years will not have escaped your attention. Everyone has seen just how quickly things can change, and the number of companies that have been forced to close recently is the kind of lesson that no one can afford to forget. If your business is just getting going, you are always going to need a little (or a lot) more capital than you have at your disposal. But if you are counting on money coming in to rescue you every month, then you are putting yourself at tremendous risk.
It is so important that you think about how you can give yourself a cushion. It may be worth talking to a financial advisor about the best ways to put a little money aside every month, and whether there are any grants or local incentives that you could apply for. Spending money on an external advisor may seem like money that you can’t afford to spend, but it is always a good investment to pay for expert advice.
