Do you consider yourself to be an ethical hacker? If so, then deterring cybercrime is probably one of your greatest pleasures in life. Being able to keep businesses and individuals safe from hackers who are out for their own gain can be a rewarding experience.
Did you know that there are plenty of opportunities for you to actually make a living out of this passion of yours? You can embark on a career as a cybersecurity professional, you can help to create anti-hacker software solutions, or you can set up a business that is dedicated solely to the task of fending off cyberattacks.
If you have an entrepreneurial streak coursing through your veins, then the latter option probably appeals to you the most. Should you decide to start your own cybersecurity business, be sure to put the following advice into practice.
Why is cybersecurity important?
With a lot of sensitive data being stored on the cloud, and with businesses having the responsibility of keeping their customers safe, you need to have good cybersecurity in place if you are to have a clean reputation. Not being able to care for your customers’ sensitive details will not only stop consumers from trusting your brand, but it will also set you up for a lawsuit and a fine that could bankrupt your business.
It is not only your customers’ data, however, that you need to keep safe. You need to protect intellectual property and any government or industry information that could cause greater issues. For instance, if you do government work, then this information needs to be kept away from the eyes of others. If a hacker were to get their hands on it, then they are able to leak the information or hold it for ransom.
With our society becoming more technology-reliant, you need to keep all information safe and sound so that there is a reduction in potential identity theft and information being held at ransom.
Have a plan in place
You can’t just dive into this venture headfirst. Before you get your cybersecurity business up and running, you must have a plan in place. This will help you to map out the specifics of what direction you wish to take your company in. What’s more, it will help you to appeal to potential investors and clients during the initial stages of your startup’s inception.
To ensure that your cybersecurity business plan achieves everything that it sets out to do, you must be sure to consider the following factors:
• What startup costs are you likely to encounter?
• Who are you going to consider your target market?
• How long will it take you to break even?
• What existing security systems are you going to make use of?
• How are you going to hire, onboard, train, and involve your employees?
• What firewalls are you going to set up?
• Will you opt for always-on SSL?
• What disaster recovery processes are you going to make use of?
Enhance your brand identity
Cybercrime is as fervent now as it ever has been, which means that the cybersecurity industry is packed full of different organizations just like yours. This is ultimately a good thing, as the more cybersecurity businesses there are out there, the harder cybercriminals will find it to hack, scam, and extort their way to financial gain. This is not, however, necessarily a good thing for you. The more competition there is in your field, the harder you are going to find it draw customers.
It is for this reason why you must enhance your brand identity at all costs, according to Oberlo. The stronger your identity is, the more likely you will be to forge deeper connections with your customers. Once a strong relationship is fostered in this instance, you will no doubt find it much easier to stand out from the crowd in your market.
Build relationships
Network and build business relationships. This is a sensitive industry you are breaking into, and ultimately, you need people to trust you and your skills. As an ethical hacker, you will be finding their weak spots but also accessing their sensitive information. A business needs to trust that you will not sell this information on or leak it yourself.
Businesses are investing in your skills so that they can have peace of mind. You need to prove to them that you can help them do just this. Spend time on Twitter and LinkedIn, proving that you are worth investing in and hiring. Using these social media platforms means you can promote your skills by creating informative content that explains what it is you offer, shows your knowledge on the matter, and why you can be trusted. You are to become an authority figure, and to do this, content creation is key.
What’s the best content to use?
There is a whole host of content types to make use of, with many businesspeople creating blog posts and video content. It is best to create content in different forms and ensuring they are promoted properly and to the highest quality. Your video needs to align with the specs of the website you are uploading to, for example, otherwise, it will suffer from poor quality. You can browse the websites such as trendytarzen.com where you can find more information.
Content types to consider include:
• Blog posts
• Video
• Podcasts
• Whitepapers
• eBooks
• Infographics
Once the content is created, be sure to publish them on your company website (which is a must), and then share it on social media. You will want to encourage people to share your content, so make sure it is relevant and shareable. By doing this, you increase your business’s reach.
Are you sickened by hackers that attempt to make a living out of ransomware and extortion? If so, then you should it make your life’s mission to halt them in their tracks. By starting your very own business in the field of cybersecurity, you will be able to do that each and every day. When you do decide to take the entrepreneurial leap of faith, just put the above advice into practice.
