How to reduce cyber-security risks in Australia

In Australia, cyber-crime has cost the country's economy an estimated AUD$42 Billion, with last year alone reporting 65,500 cyber-security breaches.

The bottom line is that cyber-security is no longer an issue that businesses in Australia can treat as an afterthought.

Rather than waiting for a cyber-attack, it pays to assume your company will be targeted, and plan accordingly.

The catch is that cyber-security risks for business are constantly evolving.

So, companies in Australia need to evolve also, and embrace new strategies to improve their cyber-defences.

Not sure how to reduce cyber-security risks in your organisation? Here are five steps your company can take to avoid becoming the next victim of cyber-crime in Australia.

1. Hire the right cyber-security talent

Hiring professionals who specialise in cyber-security gives your company the frontline talent needed to have the right defences in place – and mechanisms tailored to your organisation.

As a guide, Robert Half is experiencing strong demand across Australia for security architects, cyber security (or vulnerability) analysts and even C-Suite positions such as Chief Information Security Officers.

Having skilled security experts on your team allows the company to take a proactive approach to cyber-security risks for business and respond quickly in the event of an attack.

Related: How to write a job description

2. Train and upskill your company

Cyber-security is a company-wide issue, and the increased use of technology in the workplace, coupled with the use of digital devices in remote workplaces, means every employee can contribute to cyber-security risks for business – or play their role protecting the business.

Every staff member needs to be encouraged to support cyber-security by knowing the risks and adopting appropriate behaviours to maximise cyber-security.

This can include knowing who to contact in the event of a security breach, and only using work emails for business purposes.

Related: How to promote a job ad

3. Regularly update company security policies

As cyber-threats continue to evolve, it is critical to regularly review and update cyber-security policies across the company.

This comes back to the value of hiring professional cyber-security talent, who can manage this task on a timely basis.

4. Audit and update your systems

Cyber-security risks for business can typically be broken down across three main factors: People, processes, and technology.

With the right experts in place and updated policies, companies can address the first two factors.

But technology itself needs to be managed. This means ensuring that operating systems and applications are kept up to date, and that network and computing devices are kept secure.

Security notifications and alerts sent from your operating systems, anti-virus software, web browsers and firewalls should all be addressed and actioned immediately.

5. Enhance your cloud security

Cloud computing is becoming the system of choice for many companies in Australia and taking some simple steps can enhance your cloud security.

Consider whether all your files should be transferred to one cloud. You may decide to use a separate cloud for highly sensitive files.

Be sure to use encryption to secure your cloud systems and protect data whenever it is transferred from one network to another.

Remember to back-up data. Recovery is always far easier when back-ups are in place because of regular scheduled back-ups.

How to reduce cyber-security risks in Australia

The time to prepare your business against cyber threats is now.

By having the right tools, people and training programs in place, your company will be better placed to navigate threats when they arise.