Investing in online security remains a key challenge for startup owners. After all, 71 percent of cyber attacks target small businesses, and those affected go out of business within six months of the attack. Unfortunately, the majority of available solutions cost a lot.
On the other side of the coin, there are examples of freeware you can try. How do they fare in terms of performance and value? Is there a catch? For starters, just because they’re absolutely free or affordable doesn’t mean they’re junk. Like their premium counterparts, these tools have their pros and cons. Here are four great ones to check out if you’re keen to know more about alternatives that don’t necessarily break the bank:
IT Security – Soteria
The company was founded by former hackers for the National Security Agency. Now, these individuals have teamed up to fight data theft that threatens firms of all sizes. For startups, Soteria is offering select services for free. These include phishing detection and takedown, reputation monitoring, and endpoint compliance monitoring and protection. Take note that these are three of the six services included in the Soteria SecureStart program.
Before you avail of the whole program, you may take a free multiple-choice assessment on the Soteria website. If you are wondering about the cost, know that Soteria understands the budget, time, and staffing constraints that startups and small businesses usually face.
VPN – CyberGhost
A virtual private network (VPN) uses encryption to secure your data and privacy on public networks such as the internet. Only authorized users have access to your private network, and no outside party can intercept your data.
Among those offering this service for free, CyberGhost ranks first in terms of performance and value. It uses a 256-bit AES encryption algorithm, which means military grade. Fast to download and easy to setup, CyberGhost does not cap your traffic and has top connection speeds. It has connection destinations in 14 countries. If you don’t mind sitting through a 30-second ad every 3 hours, then you can stick with the free version. Once you have the budget, you can upgrade to one of the two paid versions.
Software Update Automation – Heimdal
Outdated applications have security holes that make them vulnerable to cyber criminals. Heimdal FREE promises to automate your software updates and eliminate vulnerabilities used in cyber attacks. At the same time, it also allows you to install new apps safely. Talk about having peace of mind while you’re dealing with the digital world.
This free service is applicable for updating commonly used apps, including Adobe Acrobat Reader DC, Adobe Air, Adobe Flash Player, Chrome, Firefox, Foxit Reader, Gimp, Google Drive, iTunes, Java, Microsoft Silverlight, Skype, and VLC. Heimdal FREE requires simple installation and works on PC. It’s essentially light and fuss-free. Just download, install, and leave it to work in the background.
Customized, Professional Training – Cybrary
Knowledge remains one of the best tools in cyber security. The startup Cybrary is committed to teaching cyber security skills to anyone, anywhere. Aside from that, it wants to alleviate the financial burden that often comes with specialized training in the field. It offers free training to IT and cyber security professionals around the world. The courses include Understand Cloud Computing, Manage A Network Infrastructure, Protection of Information Assets, and Develop a Security Strategy. The lessons are self-paced and come in online video form. The skills taught are classified according to career level: beginner, intermediate, and expert. For an affordable price, you or your IT guy can get certification as well. Cybrary prides itself of the more than one million registered professionals on its platform.
Read more about cybersecurity trends on Tech.Co
