Australian SMBs need cyber security education, says Deloitte official

The run-of-the-mill cyber criminal is taking advantage of Australian small and medium-sized businesses that are proven to lack education and willingness to sufficiently protect company data. These businesses will potentially become “low-hanging fruit” for hackers.

That’s the verdict of the man who heads Deloitte’s Asia Pacific Cyber unit, James Nunn-Price. He said that businesses are failing to report ransomware, opting instead to meet the financial demands made by cyber criminals. The businesses are reporting the issue to the authorities only when the ransom has reached an amount they deem unreasonable.

Nunn-Price said:

“I’m amazed at how many Australian businesses pay the money… certainly some super funds, insurers and corporates pay the money because it’s just easier to pay a few hundred dollars and then they wonder why six weeks later they get hit again.”

The Australian Signals Directorate revealed that in 2014, there was a 20% increase in cyber attacks made on organisations in Australia. This shows the need for companies to increase their awareness of an increasing threat of cyber crime and to take the necessary precautions to reduce their chances of becoming the next victim.

Those steps certainly need to include an IT security recruitment drive. Only trained cyber personnel are capable of identifying and implementing the necessary system for a company to defend itself against cyber crime. They are also able to address any issues that have managed to make their way through the protection and ensure continued access to company data.