Australian businesses face a growing number of cyberthreats as the digital landscape evolves. Malicious threat actors have become increasingly sophisticated, particularly with the help of artificial intelligence (AI). Their attacks are also more targeted and include info stealer malware, AI powered impersonations, and ransomware. The Logicalis CIO Report 2024 reveal ed that 91 per cent of Australian CIOs reported experiencing a cyberattack in the past year, emphasising the urgent need for organisations to enhance cybersecurity measures, practices, and protocols across their operations. 

Attackers now use advanced technologies like AI to inflict damage on businesses across varied industries. These technologies let them scale their threats easily to launch more precise, automated attacks across regions. The promise of AI in enhancing defensive operations is already being realised, with analysts benefiting from AI’s capabilities in mass data parsing and logical reasoning. However, there needs to be more emphasis on the importance for defenders to simultaneously prioritise the development of intrinsic skills in their teams and to ensure the robustness and suitability of their current security operations processes. 

Organisations often fall into the trap of thinking that purchasing the latest cybersecurity tools will solve all their problems. While this is important, it’s not the only piece of the puzzle. Sophisticated tools can be ineffective without the proper understanding and application; the saying, a fool with a tool is still a fool rings true in this context. It is essential to train employees adequately and establish clear processes for managing and responding to security threats in tandem with technology investments to fortify defences. 

There are two critical aspects of a cybersecurity program where people and processes must converge with technology to deliver success. 

• A robust vulnerability management program. This involves regular penetration testing and third-party verification to identify and address potential weaknesses. Regular testing keeps organisations ahead of potential threats and ensures that their security measures are up to date.
• A thorough understanding of security controls. Organisations must check controls regularly to ensure they remain effective and update them as needed. 

The third piece of this puzzle is homework. It’s true that compliance with frameworks such as ISO27001 will create a higher baseline for security controls within an organisation. However, compliance alone does not guarantee security. Businesses need to go beyond mere compliance and focus on the effectiveness of their security measures. It is essential to understand that, while compliance is a good starting point, it is not a solution for all cybersecurity challenges. This is where the convergence of people and process, together with technology and due diligence, will prevail. Businesses should consider investing in ongoing security control testing and validation, including the automated testing of key controls, rather than reacting after the breach has occurred. 

Working with a trusted partner can help businesses address the vulnerabilities within their IT infrastructure proactively. IT vulnerability management services provide the expertise and resources needed to identify and mitigate risks. Organisations can address the most critical areas of their cybersecurity strategy by partnering with a knowledgeable service provider that will empower their people and processes. 

Having a cybersecurity incident response agreement with a service provider can be invaluable in the event of a cyberattack. It gives businesses access to the necessary resources and expertise to respond to a breach effectively.  

Preparation is key to handling a security breach; organisations must have their cybersecurity incident plans and communication strategies ready. Training employees on these plans and conducting regular drills can help ensure that everyone knows their role in the event of an attack. This preparation can reduce the impact of a breach significantly and help businesses recover more quickly. 

It is also important that the technology in the organisation is reviewed to ensure that the appropriate data can support any breaches that may occur. For example, the forensic fitness of current logging configurations is essential to investigating a breach.