Cyber Month has been running for 21 years. Many businesses and individuals are still leaving the basics of cyber protection to later. National body IDCARE is on a mission to help Australian businesses to become more aware and equipped in cyber security.
This October, the national Cyber Month theme is Building Our Cyber Safe Culture.
IDCARE, Australia and New Zealand’s national scam, identity and cyber support service, is reinforcing this message with the campaign Cyber Resilience Isn’t a Tomorrow Job – Start Today.
The key messages they want local Australian business to know are:
Small Businesses Must Act Now
Small businesses remain a prime target for cybercriminals, with devastating consequences:
- Small businesses that reported to IDCARE in the past year experienced an average financial loss of $47,400 – enough to cripple many operations.
- On average, they take 20% longer than individuals to respond to a cyber incident, giving criminals more time to cause damage.
- Those who completed IDCARE’s free Cyber Health Check recorded an average score of just 34/100, revealing significant vulnerabilities.
- 78% of small businesses that contacted IDCARE for help reported unauthorised access to their Facebook accounts, disrupting operations, reputation, and customer trust.
Data Breaches Hurt More Than Just Business
A data breach doesn’t just harm the business involved – it affects their customers, suppliers, and the wider community who rely on them. IDCARE’s data shows:
- 74% of small businesses do not have a data breach response plan.
- 47% of small business data breaches were the result of compromised email systems – many of which could have been prevented with multi-factor authentication.
Free Help is Available
Through its Small Business Cyber Resilience Service, funded by the Australian Government, IDCARE provides:
- A free Cyber Health Check to measure cyber resilience and identify risks.
- One-on-one consultations with cyber advisors offering tailored, practical guidance.
- Access to cyber psychology support for those experiencing stress and emotional impacts from cybercrime.
- Ongoing resources, tips, and action plans to lift cyber maturity.
Dr David Lacey, IDCARE’s Group CEO, said too many Australians leave cyber safety in the “tomorrow basket.”
“Cybercrime isn’t slowing down, and the cost of inaction is enormous – financially and emotionally. Cyber Month is about building a culture of cyber safety and giving people and businesses the tools to act today. Small steps now could prevent devastating impacts later.”