Australian small businesses are increasingly in the crosshairs of cybercriminals. According to the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC), cybercrime costs Australian businesses over $33 billion a year — and small businesses are disproportionately targeted because they are seen as easier prey than large enterprises.
The good news? The most effective defences are neither complicated nor expensive. Here are five things every Australian small business should have in place right now.
1. Turn on multi-factor authentication everywhere
Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is the single highest-impact security measure you can put in place. Even if an attacker steals a password, they cannot log in without a second factor — usually a code from your phone.
Enable MFA on every business account: email, cloud storage, banking, accounting software and any remote access tools. Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace both support MFA for free. There is no excuse not to use it.
Quick win
Enabling MFA on your Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace accounts blocks over 99% of automated account takeover attacks, according to Microsoft research.
2. Keep everything updated
Unpatched software is the most common way in for an attacker. When a vulnerability is made public, attackers race to exploit it before businesses apply the patch. Keeping operating systems, applications and firmware up to date is not optional.
Turn on automatic updates wherever you can. For business-critical systems where updates need testing first, set a defined patch cycle — weekly or fortnightly at most.
3. Back up your data, and test the restores
Ransomware encrypts your data and demands payment to release it. The only reliable defence is a recent, tested backup stored offline, or in a separate cloud environment the ransomware cannot reach.
Follow the 3-2-1 rule: three copies of your data, on two different media types, with one copy off site. And test your restores regularly. A backup you have never tested is a backup you cannot trust.
4. Train your team to spot phishing
Over 90% of successful cyberattacks begin with a phishing email. No technical control catches every malicious message, which makes your staff the last line of defence — and your biggest weakness if they are untrained.
Run regular phishing simulation exercises. Teach staff to verify unexpected requests, especially anything involving money or credentials, through a second channel — a phone call, not a reply email. Build a culture where reporting a suspicious email gets praised, not punished.
5. Work with a managed security partner
Most small businesses do not have the resources to hire a dedicated security team. A managed IT provider with security expertise gives you enterprise-grade monitoring, threat detection and incident response at a fraction of the cost.
Look for a provider that offers 24/7 monitoring, endpoint protection, email security filtering and regular security reviews. A managed security service typically costs a fraction of the average cost of a breach.
Where to start
If you are not sure where your business stands, start with a security audit. OZITGRAND offers free cyber security assessments for Australian businesses — we will identify your biggest risks and give you a clear, prioritised action plan.
