The 5 basic principles of running a secure digital business
For Dutch companies, digital security is a condition for seizing the opportunities of the digital economy. The reality is that entrepreneurs face cyber threats daily. Companies must defend themselves against these threats and invest sufficiently in security measures. The cyber risks for entrepreneurs are diverse. They range from having to pay a ransom to regain access to their own company network to the failure of production facilities, which immediately jeopardises the continuity of the company.
Why are there 5 basic principles for secure digital business?
The Digital Trust Center has drawn up the 5 basic principles of secure digital entrepreneurship to help entrepreneurs put basic security measures in place. Entrepreneurs who follow the 5 basic principles increase their resilience against cyber risks that can disrupt their business.
For whom?
The 5 basic principles have been organised in such a way that any entrepreneur, whether self-employed or SME, can work with them. The measures are accessible and practical. Do not wait any longer and get started right away, making your company more resilient to cyber risks. Large companies with their own IT department are not a direct target group for these basic principles.
1. Identify vulnerabilities
Make an inventory of your business’ ICT components and vulnerabilities, and make a risk analysis. With each risk you look at availability, integrity, and confidentiality. Read more.
2. Choose secure settings
Check the settings of equipment, software, and network and internet connections. Adjust default settings and take a critical look at functions and services that are automatically 'on'. Read more.
3. Run updates
Check if devices and software are up to date. Install security updates immediately. Enable automatic updates so that your devices and software will always run on the latest version. Read more.
4. Limit access
Define per employee which systems and data access they require to work. Make sure that access rights are adjusted when someone takes on a new position or leaves the company. Read more.
5. Prevent viruses and other malware
There are 4 ways to prevent malware: Promote secure employee behaviour, use an antivirus program, download apps securely, and limit software installation options. Read more.