No doubt you’ve noted some of the bigger cyber security incidents recently (it was certainly difficult to avoid the Optus breach or the LastPass hack.) The fallout generated by a cyber incident such as these is something your business needs to avoid. It’s costly in both financial and reputation terms, and many businesses don’t recover. Unfortunately, the threat of cybercrime is ever-present, so you have to implement robust and unrelenting defences. Consulting with a cyber security expert is a good place to start.
Some Aussie Cybercrime Stats…
According to the latest report from the Australian Cyber Security Centre, cybercrime was up 13% in 2023 to over 94,000 reports. That’s a year-on-year increase of over 30%. More troubling stats from the report include:
– The average cost of cybercrime per report rose by 14 per cent from 2021-22, to $71,600 for large businesses, $97,200 for mid-size businesses and $46,000 for small businesses.
– The ASD responded to over 1,100 cyber security incidents, with over 10 per cent of those related to ransomware attacks.
– The ASD received over 33,000 calls to its Australian Cyber Security Hotline, an annual increase of 32%.
The Benefits of Using Cybersecurity Professionals
The outcomes of cyber attacks are severe, and the threat is ever-present. This justifies the need for a cyber security consultant to help strengthen your defences with their knowledge and expertise. Aside from your peace of mind in knowing you’ve got professional help on your side, some of the benefits a consultant will bring to your business include:
Cyber Security Assessment
First step is usually to do a cyber security assessment of your systems, processes and staff to see where you’re most vulnerable. They have done this multiple times, so have a finely tuned eye in picking up areas where your network and systems are vulnerable. The gaps get shut down, the potential hackers get thwarted.
Business Continuity
We all know how important it is as a business to avoid downtime. Downtime costs money, it frustrates clients, and it affects your reputation. A cyber security consultant will be able to have a continuity plan in place that will minimise downtime. They will have your vital client data backed up in multiple locations and ready to be restored as required. Same with your systems and processes. With the right strategy in place, the disruption cybercrime can cause to the running of your business is minimised.
Education
At 41% of all incidents, human error is a major factor in data breaches. Having a team that’s educated and aware of the cyber security threat is essential. Robust training in cyber security will help your team change their perceptions and adjust their online habits to become more secure. Your consultant will be able to advise and implement training to get your team up to speed.
Staying Compliant
A portion of the expenses a cyber incident incurs come from fines from regulatory bodies because client data hasn’t been sufficiently protected. All businesses have obligations they have to meet when it comes to staying secure online. These are ongoing and evolving obligations, and it’s difficult to stay on top of them while running and growing your business. Having a cyber security expert do the heavy lifting with keeping your business compliant frees up your time and provides peace of mind.
Consistent Monitoring for Cyber Breaches
Many managed IT service companies provide cybersecurity consulting. If they do, you can expect 24-hour monitoring and protection of your business from cybercrime. They often pick up on issues before they become a problem, nipping potential disasters in the bud. Additionally, they stay updated on the latest threats, ensuring the right defences are in place to maintain a high level of security.
Get in Touch with the Brisbane Cyber Security Consultants
If you’re concerned about the cyber defences of your business, the time to act is now. You don’t want to be a statistic, and you don’t want to bear the massive cost of a data breach. Staying on top of your cyber security doesn’t have to be hard. It’s as easy as picking up the phone, ringing Smile IT on 1300 766 720 and speaking to one of our cybersecurity consultants.
We’re here to ensure the security of your business for the long term. From our initial assessment through to the ongoing monitoring of your IT infrastructure, our expert and knowledgeable team will keep your business safe and keep your costs down.
Get in touch today.
When he’s not writing tech articles or turning IT startups into established and consistent managed service providers, Peter Drummond can be found kitesurfing on the Gold Coast or hanging out with his family!