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Cyber security firm Nexon warns of a growing threat to Australian businesses and critical industries from malicious cyber actors.
Cyber security and IT firm Nexon issued a warning to Australian businesses and organisations about the growing risk of malicious actors stealing information and disrupting business procedures, evidenced particularly by the recent attacks on UnitingCare in Queensland.
The Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) had to respond to 2,266 events between 1 July 2019 and 30 June 2020, Nexon outlined with the most threatening of all incidents being ransomware attacks.
Network and security practice lead at Nexon Asia Pacific, Garth Sperring, outlined that despite the growing cyber threat to Australian businesses, many companies do not have robust procedures in place to mitigate this threat.
“Cyber attacks and security breaches are no longer only targeting big businesses and government departments or utilities – every business is fair game,” Sperring said.
“Australian businesses are more aware now of their vulnerabilities and they’re looking to protect themselves, but the truth is most are not doing enough when it comes to protecting themselves from the growing number of threats and intrusions.
“A strong cyber security strategy is essential, and the building blocks for this are planning ahead and having a response plan in place should the worst happen. It’s encouraging to see that large healthcare providers have the necessary plans in place to engage external technical and forensic advisers as soon as they became aware of the incident.”
Nexon recommends that organisations undertake robust cyber security training for their employees to mitigate the threat of a cyber breach and further recommends that organisations utilise cyber insurance policies to minimise the impact of cyber breaches.
[Related: UnitingCare Queensland hacked]
Liam Garman is the managing editor of professional services, real estate and security at Momentum Media. He began his career as a speech writer at New South Wales Parliament before working for world leading campaigns and research agencies in Sydney and Auckland. Throughout his career, Liam has managed and executed international media campaigns spanning politics, business, industrial relations and infrastructure. He’s since shifted his attention to writing on politics and business, and holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Sydney and a Masters from UNSW Canberra with a thesis on postmodernism and media ecology.