Several high-profile cyber-attacks and data security breaches have targeted Australian businesses in recent months. As a result, cybersecurity is (or should be) a top priority for Sydney businesses. In this article, we will discuss the dangers of cyber threats and the importance of cybersecurity for your company. We’ll also cover how you can protect your business from cyber-attacks and safeguard your data.
The importance of cybersecurity
Cybersecurity is basically protecting your IT systems – computers, servers, mobile devices, networks, and data – from unauthorised access or malicious attacks. It’s important for Australian businesses to recognise the importance of cybersecurity and understand that both small and large corporations are vulnerable to attack.
According to the most recent Annual Cyber Threat Report 2021-2022, the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) received 76,000 cybercrime reports, a 13 percent increase over the previous financial year. In addition, there has been a 60% increase in ransomware attacks and it continues to be one of the most serious cyber threats due to its financial and disruptive effects.
There are many different types of cyber-attacks including viruses, malware, ransomware, and phishing attacks. Australian cyber-attacks are most frequently carried out for financial gain. The goal of cybercriminals is to steal money or data that can be sold, or to use ransomware to encrypt or lock up data or IT systems then demand a ransom to unlock them. Attacks of this nature can result in your or your customer’s sensitive data being stolen, identity theft, financial fraud, and harm your business’ reputation.
How to protect your business from cyber-attacks
To protect your business from cyber threats, you need to be prepared for a worst case scenario and implement a comprehensive cyber security strategy, including:
(a) Staff education: run training sessions on best cyber security practices for your staff. You need to teach them how to recognise and avoid phishing emails, suspicious attachments, unknown USB drives, weak passwords, and other common cyber risks.
(b) Network security: secure your network from intruders, whether they are targeted attackers or opportunistic malware. Keep firewalls, antivirus software up-to-date and use encryption software and other tools to prevent unauthorised access or data theft.
(c) Disaster recovery and business continuity: plan how your business will respond to a cyber-attack or any other event that causes the loss of operations or data. A backup plan for restoring your systems and data as quickly as possible will minimise any impact on your business.
(d) Review security policies: regularly conduct a review of your security policies and procedures to ensure they are still current and relevant to your business’ needs.
It’s important to stay informed about the most recent cyber threats and trends to ensure your business is current with current best practise security controls. The knowledgeable team at CyberPro are more than happy to conduct a comprehensive risk assessment of your business at no cost to you and make recommendations for a cyber security strategy that is tailored to meet the requirements of your business. Please get in touch with us through our website, which can be found at www.cyberpro.com.au.
