Simple steps for small businesses to stay cyber secure

Media Release from the NSW Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government, and the NSW Minister for Small Business

MEDIA RELEASE | 20 October 2023

The NSW Government is marking Cyber Security Awareness Month and Small Business Month this October with a new resource for small businesses to help them prevent identity theft and data breaches.

There is a growing need for businesses to better understand their risks online and to be proactive against scams, email attacks, and malicious software.

ID Support NSW has developed a webpage containing information and tips on how to stay cyber secure, as well as free interactive learning modules and printable checklists to help businesses regardless of their size or budget.

ID Support NSW also runs a free fortnightly webinar where business owners can learn directly from experts on how to keep customers’ personal information safe.

Digital technology gives small businesses a unique opportunity to expand their reach, communicate with customers, track trends and allocate resources. However, if not managed appropriately, it can also open the door to cyber criminals and allow them to access private and personal information.

According to an Australian Cyber Security Centre survey released in 2020, 62 per cent of small businesses across Australia have experienced a cyber security incident.

Almost half of those surveyed also rated their cyber security understanding as ‘average’ or ‘below average’ and had poor cyber security practices.

Cyber security incidents are often costly to business owners and challenging to recover from. In the national Annual Cyber Threat Report, it was found that more than $98 million was lost because of business email compromise in 2021/2022 and customers took 34 hours on average to recover their identity. 

For more information on how small businesses can stay cyber secure visit small business.