Australian small business overlooked in government’s cyber security push

THE government has designated $230 million to shore up the country’s cyber security capabilities. But industry insiders say small businesses are at risk.

Cyber crime costs Australians more than $1 billion a year.

THE government has shown a great commitment to investing in the nation’s cyber security infrastructure but has not done enough to protect Australia’s small businesses, an industry expert warns.

The government has allocated $230 million for its cyber security strategy included in Tuesday night’s Budget. Details of the initiative, which is a part of a broader national defence agenda, were released late last month by Malcolm Turnbull.

Of the allocated funds $30 million will be used to build a Cyber Security Growth Centre with the private sector to establish a cyber security innovation network. A further $47 million will be spent to establish joint intelligence sharing centres in capital cities.

The package will produce greater collaboration between government and the private sector to thwart potential cyber threats. But much of the focus is on big business.

“This is a step in the right direction and we would like to see more support for small business — the business engine of the country,” said David De Laine of Check Point Software Technologies.

“You are as strong as your weakest link, and attackers see small business as the weakest link.”

Cyber espionage in the private sector has emerged as an increasingly pertinent challenge in recent years, and small businesses are not excluded from the risk.

Last month a pro-Islamic State hacker group defaced the websites of more than 20 Australian small businesses, leaving behind a pro ISIS message and picture.

The group, calling themselves the United Cyber Caliphate, mainly attacked tyre retailers in the hack as well as a Mexican catering company and a herbalist website, the ABC reported.

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announces the Federal Government's Cyber Security Strategy at the Australian Technology Park in Sydney. Picture: Dean Lewins/AAP

As a part of the government’s cyber security push, the country’s biggest companies will be given the opportunity to get cyber security “health checks” from the government to assess risk and vulnerabilities.

The government said such a measure would “enable boards and senior management to better understand their cyber security status.”

Mr De Laine said these health checks are definitely “a step in the right direction” and shows the Turnbull government understands the importance of this issue for Australian businesses.

“However, it does not address the business engine of the country which are small businesses,” he said.

“Large companies have budgets and skills to protect themselves, whereas small businesses do not. More needs to be done for small business in the area of cybersecurity.”

He believes the government should extend the cyber security agenda to allow for an increased focus on small business.

Mr De Laine said he would like to see something as simple as setting up a cybersecurity task force to educate small business with an incentive for small companies to sign up.

According to the government estimations included in the outline of the cyber security strategy report, cyber crime cost Australians more than $1 billion each year.