Every month, new technology startups emerge from innovation hubs in Buea, Douala and Yaoundé, driven by ambitious founders determined to solve local problems. Yet behind the excitement of product launches and investor pitches lies a quieter challenge: protecting digital businesses from cyberattacks without the kind of budgets enjoyed by large corporations.
According to cybersecurity expert Felix Fomengia Atabonglefac, many startups underestimate how much protection they can achieve using free tools and simple security practices already at their disposal.
“Many startups assume cybersecurity requires expensive software and dedicated security teams, but a lot can be achieved using tools they already have,” he says.
Financial realities partly explain why cybersecurity often receives little attention among startups. According to startup funding tracker Africa: The Big Deal, tech startups across Cameroon and neighbouring Central African markets raised a combined total of approximately US$82 million between 2019 and 2022, representing less than 0.8 per cent of startup funding raised across Africa during that period.
A report by GSMA on Cameroon’s technology ecosystem also identifies a significant funding gap for ventures seeking between US$1,000 and US$20,000, precisely the amount many early-stage startups need simply to remain operational.
Against this backdrop, the more pressing question for many founders is not what security products to buy, but rather what practical steps can be taken with limited resources.
Limited budgets should not mean weak security
According to Fomengia, who holds a Master’s degree in Cybersecurity and Forensics from the University of Westminster in London, resource constraints should not be viewed as an excuse for poor security practices.
Drawing from his experience designing security architecture for early-stage startups, including fintech and decentralised artificial intelligence platforms, he explains that security must become part of a company’s everyday operations rather than an expensive add-on.
“Constraint often forces startups to make clearer decisions,” he notes. “Security works best when it is built into how a team operates from the beginning.”
He adds that a small team that consistently applies basic security measures can often be better protected than a larger organisation that invests in expensive tools but fails to use them properly.
Five low-cost Cybersecurity measures every Startup can adopt
Enable Multi-Factor Authentication
Experts consider multi-factor authentication (MFA) one of the simplest and most effective defences against cyberattacks.
Most commonly used platforms—including email services, code repositories such as GitHub and GitLab, cloud hosting platforms, and even mobile money accounts—offer MFA free of charge.
According to Fomengia, enabling MFA across all business accounts significantly reduces the risk of account takeover resulting from stolen or weak passwords.
Avoid shared passwords
Password sharing remains common among young startups, particularly when teams are small.
However, cybersecurity specialists warn that relying on a single administrative account or storing passwords in shared spreadsheets can expose businesses to significant risks, especially when staff members, contractors or co-founders leave the organisation.
Free password management tools that provide individual user accounts can help startups maintain accountability while creating a record of who accessed what and when.
Review access permissions regularly
Many digital tools already include built-in access controls at no additional cost.
Platforms such as Google Workspace, GitHub and cloud hosting services allow administrators to assign different levels of access to team members.
Fomengia stresses that one of the most important habits for startups is ensuring that access privileges are revoked immediately when an employee, intern or contractor leaves.
“Former team members retaining access to company systems remains one of the most common and preventable security risks for small organisations,” he says.
Update software promptly
Contrary to popular belief, many cyber incidents do not result from sophisticated attacks.
Instead, they often exploit known vulnerabilities that software vendors have already fixed.
Regularly updating operating systems, applications and plugins may appear routine, but cybersecurity experts say it remains one of the most effective protective measures available to startups.
Scheduling updates rather than postponing them indefinitely can significantly reduce exposure to cyber threats.
Back up data and test recovery plans
Data backups are essential, regardless of company size.
Fomengia advises startups to automate backups and store copies separately from primary systems, even if using free cloud storage services.
Equally important, he says, is testing backups periodically to ensure that data can actually be restored when needed.
“A backup that has never been tested offers a false sense of security,” he explains.
Lessons from securing startups on a shoestring budget
Having worked on security architecture for early-stage technology ventures without the support of enterprise-level budgets, Fomengia says resource limitations often encourage stronger security discipline.
In his experience, measures such as encrypting data by default, defining user access rules early and documenting internal procedures can prevent costly incidents later.
He argues that startups should not view cybersecurity as a future investment to consider once funding improves.
“Constrained resources do not necessarily mean weaker security,” he says. “They simply mean security must become a deliberate habit rather than a line item in a budget.”
Fomengia also recommends that every startup, regardless of size, develop a basic incident response plan.
Such a plan should clearly identify whom to contact in the event of a breach, where backups are stored, and how compromised devices or accounts should be isolated.
In Cameroon, the National Computer Incident Response Team under the National Agency for Information and Communication Technologies (ANTIC) provides support in handling cybersecurity incidents.
Why incubators should prioritise Cybersecurity training
Observers say the country’s startup support ecosystem also has a role to play.
Incubators and accelerators across Cameroon, including those within the Silicon Mountain network, have made significant contributions by helping founders refine business ideas, attract investment and scale their products.
However, cybersecurity training often receives less attention.
Fomengia believes integrating basic cybersecurity awareness into startup incubation programmes could significantly improve resilience across the ecosystem.
“The startups most exposed to cyber risks are often the least likely to receive formal cybersecurity training,” he says.
As Cameroon’s digital economy continues to grow, cybersecurity may no longer be an issue reserved for large corporations.
For many startups operating on limited resources, adopting simple and affordable security practices could determine whether a promising innovation thrives or becomes the next victim of a preventable cyberattack.