Paul Walker, affiliate associate, exterior audit, Findex.
OPINION
New Zealand has a well-practised and celebrated “she’ll be proper” angle which might result in a perception that unhealthy issues received’t occur us.
This strategy works in sure circumstances however in the end leaves us uncovered, particularly on-line. Increasingly enterprise house owners imagine that their enterprise is simply too small to be the goal of cyber-crime, which couldn’t be farther from the reality.
Cyber-attacks occur all over the place.
Any enterprise that holds buyer knowledge is a cyber-attack goal no matter whether or not the info is taken into account extremely delicate, resembling well being and monetary knowledge.
Take the latest MediaWorks breach from March 2024 – the stolen knowledge was collected from operating on-line competitions.
Though the info could not have included well being or monetary info, it may well nonetheless be bought for ransom or used for different id theft.
This will likely appear comparatively harmless as a standalone assault, however these thefts usually are not completed in isolation.
With competitors entries, sure responses might be used to choose solutions to frequent safety questions, matched as much as passwords and usernames stolen from different knowledge breaches, and used to defraud.
Not like well being suppliers or monetary establishments, MediaWorks could not have been thought of a high-risk goal for cyber-attacks. Nonetheless, the info it held might be invaluable when utilized in sure methods.
What does this imply for you?
Take cyber safety critically, it doesn’t matter what line of enterprise you might be in.
Give some consideration to the info that you just accumulate, how it’s saved, and for the way lengthy. Within the MediaWorks case, folks’s knowledge was held for a number of years after the competitions had ended, maybe so much longer than needed.
Cyber safety is just not a one-and-done job. The digital panorama is (quickly) evolving, and your safety must sustain with the modifications and constantly evaluation and refine your methods and priorities.
Working with an skilled adviser is vital as they will present the proper recommendation and tailor the strategy to match your small business’ measurement, complexity, and threat.
Communicate to a Findex adviser to arrange your small business and defend your buyer’s knowledge.
The views and opinions expressed on this article are these of the creator/s and don’t essentially replicate Findex’s ideas or place.
