Startups And Cyberattacks
Many people assume that cyberattacks primarily target large, well-known corporations, but in reality, startups are often more vulnerable to these threats. This vulnerability stems from the limited resources that startups typically have, which means a significant portion of their budget is directed toward product development and marketing.
As a result, security often takes a backseat, with the focus shifting to speed to market and growth. On top of that, small teams often lack dedicated security personnel, and internal policies, along with employee training on cybersecurity, may be underdeveloped.
The risk becomes even greater as a startup's brand gains recognition and its operations begin to scale. At this stage, many startups may not have the resources needed to effectively address major threats, leaving them particularly susceptible to serious consequences from a cyberattack.
Where Cyberattacks Usually Strike
Cyberattacks typically target various vulnerabilities, including:
Public Websites And Subdomains
Internally used development or test subdomains might unintentionally remain publicly accessible. These test environments often have weak security settings, outdated systems, or easily guessable passwords. Even if the content is removed, the subdomain itself can still be vulnerable to subdomain takeover attacks.
Open Ports
Exposed open ports are common targets for brute-force attacks, where attackers attempt numerous password combinations to gain access.
Publicly Accessible APIs
APIs used in mobile or web applications might be left open to the public. Without proper authentication in place, anyone could potentially access user information or other sensitive data.
Source Code
A common mistake is uploading code to a public repository along with sensitive files, which may contain passwords or API keys. If attackers obtain these credentials, they can explore the codebase for weaknesses and plan targeted attacks.
What Can Startups Do?
You can take a few straightforward steps to improve your startup's attack surface management. These actions are simple to implement, but remember that consistency is key.
1. Identify all entry points: List all the tools, cloud services, domains, subdomains, and assets your company uses. While manually checking for vulnerabilities can be difficult and time-consuming, using an attack surface monitoring service can provide a clearer, automated view of what is exposed.
2. Limit access rights: Restrict access to sensitive resources to only those who absolutely need it. Ensure that API keys, passwords, and secret keys are securely stored and managed.
3. Reduce your attack surface: Remove any services, ports, or APIs that are no longer used. Eliminating unnecessary entry points makes your system much harder to breach.
4. Monitor regularly: Create a routine to run scans and check for vulnerabilities. An attack surface monitoring tool can help automate this process, ensuring early detection and preventing small issues from becoming serious problems.
5. Train employees: Provide regular cybersecurity training to all employees. A simple human mistake can lead to a major breach, so education and awareness are key.
Why Prevention Matters
It is completely understandable that startups may be hesitant to invest time and money in security, especially when resources are limited. However, even if you don't see immediate threats, a cyberattack could already be in progress.
Consider your startup's cybersecurity in the same way you think about your health. Just as we go for checkups and practice healthy habits to prevent serious illnesses, your startup should prioritize cybersecurity. Prevention is not only more effective but also significantly less costly than dealing with the aftermath of a cyberattack.