The importance of cybersecurity in the wake of recent Australian cyber attacks

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.

Meet our Team

Black and white photo of Ian Ward

Ian Ward

CyberPro Founder & CEO

With 40+ years of experience in IT, there isn’t much Ian can’t advise you on. Since the advent of the internet, he’s been keeping businesses like yours ahead of the technology curve and cybercriminals. His #1 passion is and has always been providing outstanding customer service.

Trevor O’Shea

Senior Network Engineer | 8 Years

Adding another 40+ years’ IT experience to our team, Trevor has designed and worked in large Enterprise networks. He’s our Server and Infrastructure guy, helping us build robust cyber secure servers and networks. He’s responsible for designing and maintaining servers, networks, firewalls, and security devices.  Trevor has been with CyberPro 8 Years

Karena Powis

Accounts & Administration | 11 Years

Karena has an accounting degree and 10 years experience working with CyberPro. The team relies on her for the smooth running of all aspects of administration and accounts. Karena is a whizz in internal accounting systems and the person you’ll chat to about your account.  Karena has been with CyberPro 11 Years.

Matt Jones

Senior Engineer | 6 Years

Matt brings 15+ years of IT experience in Internet service providers, web hosting, and data warehousing. He’s our go-to for web security and Microsoft Office 365 advanced management. Beyond his expertise in web and email cyber security, he also assists clients with cyber security accreditation.  Matt has been with CyberPro 6 Years

Jenny Sinkinson

Co-ordinator & Administration | 6 Years

After 3 years with CyberPro, there’s not much Jenny doesn’t do. Her responsibilities cover coordinating the help desk, client liaison, logistics, ordering, license renewals, quotations, contract administration. Jenny is our ISO9001 quality champion, and been with CyberPro for 6 Years

Michael Visser

Senior Engineer | 6 Years

With over 30 years of experience in IT, including huge rollouts of technology in the armed forces and large Enterprises, Michael’s our automation and templated system builds whizz. He supports the remote management systems that let us upgrade hundreds of systems at the press of a button.  Michael has been with CyberPro for 6 Years.

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