Startup Security


 

Why should a startup be concerned with setting up its security measures?


In the enthusiasm of starting a new business, startup security rarely comes to the mind of new managers. Most are concerned with keeping their investors happy, building human and asset resources, and leveraging growth opportunities. Startups are associated with increased risk levels in the race to get ahead the competitors. Consequently, security planning for startups should concentrate on risks and threats that ensue from the newness of the undertaking, as well as from the specific business needs.

Almost everything about startups is new and carries and elevated value for the members. You have most probably rented a new office in an unknown area or shared a workspace with several other startups. The startup workforce consists of newly employed people, some of which you see for the first time in your life. Thinking about security for startups is very much about keeping investments, assets and equipment safe for as long as you build a strong business foundation.

So many startups come from the tech sphere, that startup security is almost always about physical access control, but also about keeping digital assets safe. As a general rule, most startups are less forgetful about the digital than about the physical startup security.

Two other very important aspects of keeping your startup safe are business reputation and funding accountability. Missed threats or dangers that will cause harm to the startup activities can cost your business reputation; that is something you are trying to expand, and not devalue. Being accountable to whoever is funding you is also critical. Many investors want to know how you spend their money and how you plan to minimize risks.
 
 

Given the circumstances of startups, what is the ideal security arrangement for a startup?


As you need to be able to quickly respond to business changes, remain flexible in movement and control access remotely, you need a simple startup security solution. Downloading a mobile app and managing all your employees from a smartphone control panel means that you can dedicate more time to actually run the business.

One of the key reasons for your ideal choice during the process will be your budget. As much as you don't think that designing startup security plans can be fun, a lot of it is like actually running a startup. You can rely on your entrepreneurial skills to track the vulnerable points of your working space and decide on the adequate level of protection. Less security means more comfort. More security plugs usually mean longer and slower processes. This is something that most startups don't need.

Nonetheless, it's important to conduct the security planning for the startup without leaving significant loopholes out. Check people, premises and business tools often. Since startup owners typically don't like being sidetracked by peripheral activities, the security planning for the startup is either quickly settled or given to a third-party vendor. Both decisions can be viable options for an ideal arrangement. Yet, startup security is never so simple as it sounds. Some risk assessment before you dive into the ideal startup security system for your business will do the trick.
 
 

What are some of the unique points a startup should take note when setting up its security process?


One of the most important aspects of security planning for the startup is assigning a responsible person. Not all startups have the luxury to have a separate security manager or own large access control systems as corporations do. Most often than not, the same person will have two or more roles in your startup security, as well as an extra role in other business activities.

Distributed security for startups means that you can make your HR person responsible for people security and your legal counselor responsible for physical security aspects. Be prepared, though, that many of the startup security duties will fall on the back of the head person. Whoever this is, he or she must be able to treat startup security as an integral part of the startup development process and be ready to jump in with quick solutions when a need arises.

Due to the number of different people and various locations involved in the initial stages of the startup, many aspects of your startup security system will be role-based: think of differentiated access cards and programmable apps that can let only the right people in. Be ready to assign and re-assign funds as needed. Also, don’t leave everything to chance, regardless of how flexible you want to remain. Secure precious assets for longer and keep the flexibility for smaller threats.