Digital hygiene for startups: what it is and why it’s worth practicing

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The Covid-19 pandemic has brought radical changes to our world. Technologies that were mostly used for entertainment in the past have now become an essential part of our daily work or study routine. The more we use different devices, digital tools, and online platforms, the more critical digital hygiene becomes, especially for startups and small businesses. Learn more about what digital hygiene is and how to start practicing it in your business in the following article!

The Basis – Safe and Responsible Conduct in the Digital Environment

While much is said in the public space about cybersecurity to protect personal and corporate data, systems, and IT infrastructure, it’s not always easy to follow cybersecurity principles in real-life situations. Large companies often have robust security systems in place, but startups and small businesses may lack resources to protect themselves effectively against cyber-attacks. Unfortunately, cyber-attackers are constantly thinking of new attack plans and ways to access valuable data.

Useful Information and Practical Tools for Promoting Digital Hygiene

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In a time when cyber-attacks are so widespread, security should be the highest priority. Good digital hygiene practices form the first line of defense against various types of cyber threats. These practices help protect sensitive data, ensuring the safety of intellectual property and the continuity of business operations.

To help startups and small businesses effectively implement digital hygiene practices to protect their data, the Erasmus+ project “Good Digital Hygiene for Startups” is developing various useful, and most importantly, practical tools, guides, and an open educational resource platform.

The project’s main principles are:

• Maintenance: Change is the only constant in the digital world. Startups must ensure that all existing systems and software are updated, functioning effectively, and resilient against cyber-attacks. Regular maintenance of software and equipment is fundamental to digital well-being.
• Security: Did you know that a new cyber-attack occurs globally every 39 seconds? That amounts to around 2,200 attacks per day. Small businesses often become targets for hackers because they lack the advanced computer systems to repel or identify these attacks in time.

Digital Hygiene Behavior Index

Using this index, startups and small business employees can assess their level of digital hygiene through a standardized and unified approach. Initially, it is crucial to identify weaknesses and then measure companies’ attitudes towards digital hygiene and its daily practice.

A Guide to Digital Hygiene

The developed training material will serve as a guide, containing information on digital hygiene models, its main practices, and the key factors that cause digital hygiene gaps. This guide will be helpful not only for entrepreneurs but also for representatives of vocational education institutions, who play an important role in promoting and developing digital hygiene awareness across society.

Open Educational Resource Platform

Another critical goal of the project is to provide high-quality educational and training solutions that adapt to the rapidly changing business environment. An open educational resource platform and digital hygiene assessment tool are being developed to help businesses implement digital hygiene practices even more effectively and comprehensively. The standardized and quantitative assessment tool can be used in any company, regardless of its main area of operation. This tool will enable individual result calculations and institution ratings, thus fostering a comprehensive understanding of digital hygiene and correct conduct in the virtual environment.

The Erasmus+ project “Good Digital Hygiene for Startups” began in October 2022 in collaboration with partners from five countries—the Netherlands, Poland, Greece, Turkey, and Romania. We, BDA, are the lead partner in this project.

Project Number: 2022-1-LV01-KA220-VET-000086725.