What does this mean for employers?
As online thieves become more and more advanced, it seems the cost of cyber-attacks is rising dramatically.
According to research from CERT NZ, email-related attacks are costing New Zealanders $944,000 direct financial loss - with business email compromise up by a staggering 101% - from July to September of this year.
“Email is widely used and trusted both in business and our personal lives. This unfortunately makes it an easy target for cyber attackers who are looking to make a quick buck,” added CERT NZ’s Director Rob Pope.
But what does this mean for employers?
Well, it’s time to invest more money and effort into upscaling your cyber security. Whilst all HR leaders know that employees are a company’s greatest asset, they’re also their biggest risk when it comes to cyber threats – as such training is essential.
However, this doesn’t mean that HR leaders have to break the bank to protect their files.
As Pope pointed out, sometimes the easiest steps are the most preventative.
“The good news is that the risk of these attacks impacting you or your business can be mitigated with a few simple steps,” he explained.
“Updating your operating systems and software, having long strong unique passwords, and installing antivirus software can go a long way to help keep you secure online.
“Like the old adage says, to be forewarned is to be forearmed. Having more information about cyber threats means we have a better understanding of what’s on the horizon, and are therefore in a better position to help New Zealanders up their cyber defences.”
How do you protect your organizations from cyber attacks? Tell us in the comments.
