Boosting Business Protection: Key Learnings from Cyber Security Awareness Month
October is Cyber Security Awareness Month, and while it might not come with fireworks or a public holiday, it’s one of the most important times of the year for Aussie businesses to stop and take stock of their digital defences. At Gray Area Consulting, we’ve worked with businesses across Australia – from legal firms to healthcare providers – helping them tighten up their cyber safety. And we can tell you, this stuff matters.
Why Cyber Security Awareness Month Matters
Imagine leaving your office doors wide open overnight. That’s essentially what many businesses do when they neglect cyber security. Cyber Security Awareness Month is all about reminding organisations to close those digital doors, lock them properly, and check who’s got keys.
Each year brings new themes, tips and tools, but the real value is in the reflection: Are we protecting our business the way we should be? Are our staff clued in? Are our systems up to scratch?
Top Takeaways from This Year’s Awareness Campaign
1. People Are Your First Line of Defence
One of the most eye-opening stats from this year’s campaign was that human error still plays a role in over 80% of cyber incidents. That’s huge.
We recently worked with a small accounting firm in Brisbane. They thought their antivirus and firewall had them covered until one staff member clicked on a dodgy email attachment. Long story short, client info was compromised and it cost them thousands in cleanup and lost trust.
It’s why building a human firewall with regular, practical training is non-negotiable. Not sure how to get started? Check out our guide on turning cybersecurity awareness into action.
2. Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) Is Still King
Passwords alone are like using a bike lock on the front door of Parliament House. MFA is a must-have. It’s simple, effective and can stop most attacks in their tracks.
If you’ve been putting off enabling MFA for your team, now’s the time. Need help? Our blog explains what MFA is and how to roll it out painlessly.
3. Backups Are Your Business Lifeline
Ransomware attacks have been on the rise, and the best way to bounce back is with strong, secure backups. But, and it’s a big but, simply having a backup isn’t enough. It needs to be reliable, offsite, and tested regularly.
We’ve written about why daily backups matter and how they tie into the Essential Eight framework.
4. Phishing Is Getting Smarter – and Sneakier
Phishing emails are no longer riddled with spelling mistakes and dodgy links. They’re sophisticated, personalised, and often mimic real people in your company. One trend we’ve seen is reply-chain phishing – where hackers hijack a genuine email thread to trick users into acting.
Our tip? Train your staff to pause and question unexpected requests, even if they look legit.
5. Regular Cyber Risk Assessments Are Crucial
Think of a cybersecurity risk assessment like a health check for your business. It helps you spot weak spots and get ahead of issues before they become disasters. We recommend doing one at least annually, or after any major system changes.
Learn more about why you can’t afford to skip risk assessments.
How to Keep the Momentum Going
October might be the official month, but cyber awareness should be baked into your business all year round. Here’s how to keep the ball rolling:
- Run quarterly refresher training for your staff
- Review your incident response and disaster recovery plans
- Talk to your MSP (like us!) about improving security posture
- Stay on top of patches and software updates
Wrapping Up
Cyber Security Awareness Month is a timely reminder that protecting your business isn’t just about tech – it’s about people, processes and planning. Whether you’re a law firm, medical clinic or tradie with a laptop, cyber threats don’t discriminate.
If you’re not sure where to start, or if your current setup is doing the job, we’re here to help. Get in touch with our team at Gray Area Consulting and let’s have a yarn about keeping your business safe.
