This in collaboration with Microsoft
In a bid to combat the rising threat of cyber attacks on small businesses, NAB has joined forces with Microsoft to introduce a free cyber assessment tool.
The initiative aims to assist Australian small businesses in fortifying their cybersecurity defenses and recovering swiftly from potential cyber threats.
The self-assessment tool, customised for the unique needs of Aussie businesses, is now available to all organisations across the country. It is designed to be completed in under two hours, guiding participants through a series of questions pertaining to their organisation’s security, data, and IT environment. The collected data is then used to offer participants personalised, evidence-based recommendations to enhance their cybersecurity measures.
Why cyber assessment is a must for Aussie businesses
Sandro Bucchianeri, NAB’s chief security officer, highlighted the critical role of the tool in helping small businesses assess their cyber maturity and make informed decisions to safeguard their operations, employees, and customers.
“The number of cyber attacks impacting small businesses continues to grow each year,” Bucchianeri said in a media release. “Last financial year, a cyber crime was reported every six minutes and cost small to medium businesses an average of $71,600, according to the latest research by the Australian Signals Directorate, with incidents surging 23%.
“As we’ve seen over recent weeks, cyber criminals are stepping up their tactics, targeting high profile Australian businesses on a near-daily basis, impacting everyone from our hospital system, legal system, and business community. Tools like this will help the small business sector respond if they are caught up in a hack.”
He also noted the evolving strategies of cyber criminals, with an uptick in phishing scams and ransomware. NAB’s Consumer and Business Insights research indicated that small and medium businesses (SMEs) were among the least cyber-prepared sectors, with only 15% conducting extensive training around scams and cybersecurity risks.
NAB’s call to prioritise cyber resilience
Acknowledging the Australian government’s recent emphasis on cybersecurity for small businesses, Bucchianeri urged collective efforts to shift small businesses from being among the least prepared sectors to becoming the most capable and resilient.
“Roughly 97% of all Australian businesses are small businesses so they need to be our number-one priority to achieving national cyber resilience,” he said.
To access the free cyber assessment tool, businesses can visit NAB's official website, click on the Security tab, and select the Microsoft offer. NAB also provides comprehensive security guides on how to report and avoid fraud and scams.
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