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New research from the Council of Small Business Organisations Australia and the Cyber Wardens program reveals only one-half of Australian businesses see cyber security as a high risk.
The Council of Small Business Organisations Australia (COSBOA) and the Cyber Wardens program has released new research into the state of cyber readiness in small businesses, and the results show the country has a long way to go.
Of the almost 2,100 small businesses surveyed by COSBOA, just half consider cyber security to be a high-risk problem, while 45 per cent feel cyber security is either a low or non-existent risk.
Further, 61 per cent of small businesses polled do not talk with their staff about cyber security matters, while only four out of 10 small businesses have little or zero confidence when it comes to actually responding to a cyber security incident.
Thankfully, 86 per cent of small businesses are interested in doing more and keeping cyber security as simple as possible. According to COSBOA chief executive officer Luke Achterstraat, that’s exactly where the Cyber Wardens program comes in.
“This new data shows us that small businesses simply cannot fall into the trap of thinking they’re too small to be a target for cyber criminals,” Achterstraat said in a statement.
“It is important for small businesses to remain aware of the increasingly acute risk of cyber attacks. COSBOA’s Cyber Wardens program can help give small business owners the skills to help mitigate the risks.
“Investing in cyber security training and tools is essential to help protect your small business, staff and clients. With Cyber Wardens, we’ve made that training free and easy for small businesses.”
Rebecca Warren, CommBank executive general Manager for small business banking, said that time management is a key factor that needs to be addressed.
“We know that small businesses are very time-poor and this can make them an easier target for cyber criminals.” Warren said.
“Cyber security can seem very complex, so it’s easy to see why some find it overwhelming, which is why education is crucial in helping people realise the dangers that are out there, and how to protect themselves against it.
“At Commonwealth Bank, we’re working hard to raise awareness among our customers about cyber threats, scams and fraud.
“One of the ways we do that is through our partnership with COSBOA and the Cyber Wardens program, which is all about upskilling small businesses in cyber safety.”
To learn more about the Cyber Wardens program, visit https://cyberwardens.com.au/.
David Hollingworth has been writing about technology for over 20 years, and has worked for a range of print and online titles in his career. He is enjoying getting to grips with cyber security, especially when it lets him talk about Lego.
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