Ensuring your startup’s applications and data are secure can free up time, leaving more space for innovation, experimentation and creativity.
Security is essential for startups. As generative AI (GenAI) steadily gains momentum and digital tools become more entrenched in everyday workflows, businesses are at a greater risk of cyber attacks.
Developing a robust digital infrastructure that negates this risk and encourages confidence allows more space for innovation. Ultimately, we all want to spend time making great products and providing high-quality services, rather than scrambling to fix cybersecurity breaches and recovering information.
Wondering how successful security measures can boost innovation in your business? Here are some of the most important benefits you’ll gain from getting your security systems right.
Any founder knows that resources can be tight within a small business and employees are usually juggling lots of tasks and responsibilities at once. The last thing you need is valuable time and energy being spent on security breachers.
Strong cybersecurity protocols from the outset can reduce the likelihood of a potential breach, meaning your team won’t be spending weeks patching up leaks or retrieving lost information. This will help to protect critical, proprietary data and prevent any trade secrets being accessed by competitors. In turn, your team can focus on creativity and quality output.
Confidence in your company’s data handling is tied to productivity and innovation. According to Dell’s Innovation Catalysts Study, 31% of respondents cited data privacy and cybersecurity concerns as some of the biggest barriers to successfully driving innovation.
It’s clear that having the correct systems to counter evolving threats can have a positive effect on morale and creativity. More time spent on actual products and client-facing work can brighten team attitudes and allow for a stronger culture of innovation.
Testing new ideas can be risky if your infrastructure isn’t strong enough to handle unexpected pressures and new variables. We’ve seen businesses of all sizes suffer outages and disruption as a direct result of patch updates or feature rollouts. It happens often, even in companies that have budgets in the hundreds of millions.
When building out your security systems, be sure to accommodate for future innovation and new ideas. It’s not enough to only work around what you’ve built so far; you’ll also need to consider experimental products and workflow changes in the future. Remember, cybersecurity maintenance is an ongoing and evolving process that may shift as your startup grows.
This is especially true with the recent explosion of GenAI. Companies are adopting novel platforms that can help with everything from data analysis to content generation. While this provides new avenues for innovation, it also increases the risk of security vulnerabilities.
It’s best to adopt a Zero Trust approach to your existing devices and networks. As you grow, use the latest threat detection software and services to stay ahead of potential security weaknesses and continually educate your staff on the systems you put in place.
Engage in regular security hygiene practices such as updating your passwords, managing software patches and introducing both multi-factor authentication and biometrics. Review your workflows regularly and make a note of any new processes that your team uses.
Once you and your team feel confident that you’re working and communicating in a secure environment, you’re more likely to experiment and test new ideas. This is where innovation thrives.
Establishing good cybersecurity as you scale will allow time for employees to familiarize themselves with best practices and routines, such as regularly backing up data or using comprehensive password managers. Workflows with protocols like these already in place will quicken your ability to deliver on new ideas without having to overhaul everything.
Right now, only 40% of workers feel confident that security measures are adequately embedded into their technology and applications, according to Dell’s Innovation Index. Similarly, only 27% of respondents said they were using a managed threat detection and response service.
Startups should consider cybersecurity a major part of their growth, rather than something that reduces efficiency. Establishing your security systems early in your startup’s journey will minimize extra work and limit any headaches later on. The less paperwork, the better.
While excellent cybersecurity can boost the quality of your output, it can also positively impact your hiring process. In such a competitive startup market, being able to position your business as both fast-paced and resilient can attract high-end talent.
You’ll also nurture client trust and encourage greater interaction with customers. In this day and age, consumers know their data is being stored everywhere, but they expect you to handle it with care and consideration. Honoring that trust can provide huge rewards for both clients and businesses.
Avoiding a security breach can’t be guaranteed, of course, but strong preparation and company-wide training can increase your startup’s resilience, thereby minimizing the impact should an attack get through.