Cyber threats rising: businesses urged act now

To help local businesses stay ahead of scams and data breaches, Sunshine Coast Council has teamed up with leading cyber experts for Cyber Security Awareness Month to offer free training and one-on-one support.  

The Australian Cyber Security Centre’s latest Annual Cyber Threat Report reveals a sharp rise in cyber attacks targeting Australian businesses with Queensland accounting for 28 per cent of all cybercrime reports, the highest of any state.

Sunshine Coast Economic Development Councillor Terry Landsberg encouraged local businesses to act now.

“A single cyber incident can interrupt operations, damage customer trust, and take time and money to recover from,” Cr Landsberg said.

“Taking a few simple steps now can save a lot of pain later - we want to help Sunshine Coast businesses feel confident, prepared and resilient.

“Through our Resilient Business Series, we’re helping businesses take proactive steps before disruptions happen, including strengthening their cyber security measures.”

Council has teamed up with leading experts including national identity and cyber support service, IDCARE and Cyber Wardens - a free program to help protect small business owners.

Cyber Wardens program engagement lead Cameron Ball said most breaches could be prevented with better awareness and training.

“Around 95 per cent of cyber incidents happen because of human error,” Mr Ball said.

“Awareness is key, that’s why it’s so important to start with the basics.

“Use strong passwords, enable multi-factor authentication, and think twice before clicking suspicious links or emails - if something feels off, it probably is.”

Businesses can join a free 30-minute Cyber Wardens session  on October 21 at 1pm for a break down on the above questions, cyber threats and steps to protect your business.

IDCARE also recommends:

• Verifing invoices by calling suppliers directly
• Using unique passwords and multi-factor authentication (MFA)
• Keeping devices and software updated
• Using a separate email for banking
• Backing up data regularly
• Training staff to spot scams
• Securing social media accounts with strong logins and limited admin access.

Free support is available, including one-on-one cyber assessments and cyber first aid. Visit idcare.org/smallbusiness or call 1800 595 170.

Quick actions you can take this month

• Back up your data 
• Update software and passwords
• Enable multi-factor authentication
• Create a response plan
• Start the conversation with your team
• Download the Business Continuity Planning template and follow the prompts to complete pages 12 - 16.

Where to get support

There are free resources available to help you get started:

• IDCARE  – expert support if you’ve been impacted by a cybercrime.
• Cyber Wardens Program  – a practical training program designed specifically for small businesses.
• Sunshine Coast Council’s Resilient Business Series  – tools and templates to help your business prepare for a range of disruptions.
• Australian Government Cyber Security Strategy  – national advice and support aligned to protect your business.