Cybersecurity Principles for Tech Startups & Innovators from the Five Eyes Alliance

One year on from a summit at Stanford University in October 2023, the Five Eyes alliance—comprising the intelligence communities of the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand—have unveiled strategic recommendations to bolster cybersecurity in tech startups, but the advice can also be applied to any business aiming to safeguard its innovation and infrastructure.

Recognising the heightened threats from international actors, in particular a fear that nation-state sponsored bad actors were targeting foreign innovation and emerging technologies like AI, quantum computing, biotechnology, robotics, and automation, the Five Eyes nations have delivered guidance for tech innovators on five essential principles for safeguarding intellectual property (IP) and maintaining security integrity.

It’s essential reading for technology professionals, entrepreneurs, and those that are in their networks to enhance security awareness.

Here’s a quick summary of what they’ve shared:

Tech startups should assess vulnerabilities within their innovations. Understanding potential security risks—especially from foreign actors with motives for IP theft—will allow companies to prioritise essential defenses.

Appointing a security lead within the organization ensures that security risks are not just a tech issue but a business priority. By integrating cybersecurity considerations into strategic decisions, businesses can align product innovations with robust security measures.

Embedding security into the design phase of product development can protect both IP and customer trust. A secure-by-design approach helps position products as safe and reliable, reducing the risk of them becoming weak links in the supply chain.

Vetting partners and collaborators is essential. Startups should confirm the legitimacy and security practices of third-party partners to safeguard shared IP and avoid exposure to external threats.

As businesses scale, so do their security risks. Expanding into new markets, hiring new staff, and increasing operational complexities can introduce vulnerabilities. Monitoring security during each growth phase is critical to maintaining resilience.

The five principles alone should come as no surprise to most business and tech professionals, so in line with the guidance, each Five Eyes nation has developed country-specific tools that drop into more detail.

You can find them here:

• The United Kingdom shared a 3-page Infographic and video
• The United States created five different documents to keep people and businesses safe
• Canada has offered tech investor guidelines
• New Zealand published a 33-page advisory, and
• Australia, created a cybersecurity-focused “placemat”
  
  

Source: Example resource - 'Secure Innovation' placemat - front page - ASIO

Sharing these principles and the associated resources from each of the Alliance member nations with customers and those within your networks will empower more businesses to stay safe by adopting cybersecurity as a foundational element of innovation.

Keeping Businesses Safe and Secure

Prevention is always better than a cure, and one of the best defences is to encourage businesses to proactively boost their company’s cyber resilience levels to avoid threats landing in inboxes in the first place. The fact that a staggering 94% of malware attacks are delivered by email, makes email an extremely important vector for businesses to fortify.

No one vendor can stop all email threats, so it’s crucial to remind customers that if they are using Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace, they should also have a third-party email security specialist in place to mitigate their risk. For example, using a specialist third-party cloud email solution like MailGuard.   

MailGuard provides a range of solutions to keep businesses safe, from email filtering to email continuity and archiving solutions. Speak to your customers today to ensure they’re prepared and get in touch with our team to discuss fortifying your customer’s cyber resilience.

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