Data breaches against Australian businesses and their customers are increasing in complexity, scale and impact.

The Australian Signals Directorate’s 2022/23 Cyber Threat Report, released last week, reveals a daunting reality: a 23% increase in cybercrime, with over 94,000 incidents in the last year alone. This surge, representing only a fraction of the broader issue, underscores a critical need for robust cyber defences, especially for small businesses.

In an era where such cyber threats are escalating at an unprecedented rate, staying ahead is not just an option; it’s a necessity.

As a business owner, you have a responsibility to keep the personal data of your customers secure from unauthorised access, disclosure, corruption and loss. Consequently, it is crucial to proactively implement measures to secure any personal information or data your business holds.

To help you do so, the Australian Signals Directorate’s Australian Cyber Security Centre (ASD’s ACSC) has launched a new publication, Securing Customer Personal Data for Small to Medium Businesses.

In this publication, small to medium business owners can access principle-based guidance to ensure their data security, collection and usage practices are appropriate – from limiting and deleting personal data, through to encryption, back up and reporting known data breaches.

There’s never been a more important time to be prepared, be proactive, and improve your cyber security posture and practices to ensure your customers’ personal data is secure.

Download the guide from ASD here to learn more about keeping the personal data of your customers protected while improving the resilience of your business against cyber incidents.