Cybersecurity for Underrepresented Entrepreneurs: Protect Your Business. Secure Your Future
Cyber threats are real—and growing. For underrepresented entrepreneurs, the risks are especially high. With fewer resources than large corporations, underrepresented entrepreneurs often become prime targets for hackers, scammers, and cybercriminals. But with the right knowledge and tools, you can defend your business and secure your future.
In partnership with the 360 Degrees Group Inc., & SafeAeon Inc, we've outlined essential cybersecurity topics every underrepresented entrepreneurs should know.
🔐 Cybersecurity Basics
Start with the fundamentals. Strong passwords, regular software updates, and firewalls go a long way. Training your staff and using antivirus tools can also reduce your exposure to everyday threats.
📧 Business Email Imposters
Scammers often pose as company leaders or vendors to trick employees into wiring money or revealing sensitive data. Learn how to verify requests, recognize red flags, and train your staff to stay alert.
📄 Cyber Insurance
Even with strong protection, breaches can still happen. Cyber liability insurance helps cover the financial fallout—like legal fees, data recovery, and downtime. Learn what to look for in a policy and how it can protect your business.
✅ Email Authentication
Protect your domain from being spoofed. Implement SPF, DKIM, and DMARC protocols to prevent phishers from sending fake emails that appear to come from your business.
🌐 Hiring a Web Host
Your website needs a strong foundation. Choose a web host with SSL certificates, malware scanning, backups, and high uptime. A secure host is your first line of defense against website attacks.
🛠️ Understanding the NIST Cybersecurity Framework
NIST offers a practical framework built around five key pillars:
Identify: Know your assets, risks, and people.
Protect: Secure your systems and data.
Detect: Monitor and identify threats
Respond: Develop a plan to respond to incidents
Recover: Restore operations quickly and securely.
Use this framework to assess and improve your cybersecurity maturity.
🎣 Phishing
Phishing is one of the most common attack methods. Scammers mimic trusted sources to steal login credentials or financial information. Spotting bad grammar, suspicious links, and urgent language can help protect your team.
🏢 Physical Security
Don’t overlook your physical environment. Lock up your routers, restrict access to servers, and secure workstations—especially in shared or open office environments.
💻 Ransomware
Ransomware locks your data and demands payment to restore access. Prevent it by backing up data, patching systems, and training staff not to click on suspicious files or links.
🌍 Secure Remote Access
With remote work on the rise, secure access is more critical than ever. Use VPNs, multi-factor authentication (MFA), and centralized device management to keep remote workers protected.
🧑💻 Tech Support Scams
Scammers often call or email pretending to be tech support from major companies. They may ask to "fix" an issue and request access to your systems. Always verify any support request independently.
🛒 Vendor Security
Third-party vendors can introduce risk to your systems. Make sure your partners meet your cybersecurity standards by performing due diligence and including security clauses in contracts.