Cyber Security insights

The cyber security landscape is constantly changing. As a global organisation, BDO monitors the major incidents and emerging trends in Australia and around the world. BDO Cyber Security Updates will keep you informed – subscribe today to have it delivered directly to your inbox.

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Read previous editions below.

June 2019

The 2018/2019 BDO and AusCERT Cyber Security Survey

Results from the 2018/2019 BDO and AusCERT Cyber Security Survey are in. Benchmark your cyber efforts against your peers by using the trend data available to assess how prepared you are.

You need response, not just prevention

Due to broader regulatory requirements, cyber security awareness is increasing. Take a look at why, despite this increase, organisations need to place a greater emphasis on cyber resilience.

Publication: BDO Cyber Threat Insights Report Q1 2019

The Internet has significantly impacted the retail industry during the last decade, and opened the door to ample vulnerabilities for cyber criminals. Discover what these new trends mean for the retail industry as a whole.

Compliance with cyber security regulations is just the first step

Australian organisations have shown increased confidence in meeting their Notifiable Data Breaches obligations, but many are not conducting adequate and regular testing of their response plans. Explore our top three tips for testing notifiable data breaches.

The cyber security threat landscape is changing. Is your organisation ready?

The cyber security threat landscape is constantly changing. Read more to learn how your organisation can prepare to combat these threats.

Cyber attacks and their impacts are on the rise

Cyber criminals have changed the strategies they employ to target organisations. Learn more about the frequency and severity of cyber attacks experienced in Australia and New Zealand, and how the trends have changed in recent years.

More work required to boost cyber resilience

Positive steps towards building security risk and attack prevention processes have been observed in Australian organisations. However, more resources need to be allocated to incident response plans. Discover how these plans can minimise the impact of cyber incidents.

Cyber resilience and the role of boards

Rapid digital transformation has affected Australian businesses, government agencies and individuals. Our team has outlined the role that boards play in cyber resilience – including 10 good practices for boards to drive governance of cyber risk.

Is your organisation cyber security mature? Reducing the chance of successful attacks

Money is not the only cost of a cyber attack, its biggest impact is on an organisation’s reputation. Explore how your organisation can increase its cyber maturity and reduce the likelihood of a successful cyber attack.

February 2019

Top ten trends and recommendations for 2019

If you want to plan ahead and learn from last year's cyber security experiences across the globe, this report is a must read. You’ll get insight into key trends witnessed in 2018 and recommendations for 2019. Read the report.

BDO Cyber Threat Insights Report Q4 2018

In a review of Q4, BDO warns about the escalation in both the number and severity of attacks, threats and malicious actors targeting the public sector. Our report examines some of these challenges and issues, and analyses the cyber security practices of the public sector in four different countries – Australia, Germany, Israel and the United States. Read the BDO report.

How to protect against cyber attacks in the energy industry

As the energy industry adopts new technologies, the number of potential cyber vulnerabilities increases drastically. Read the article

Safer Internet Day – 5 February

BDO is a proud supporter of Safer Internet Day (SID). Learn how you can get involved.

November 2018

BDO Cyber Threat Insights Report Q3 2018

In a review of Q3, BDO warns that watchful cyber security attitudes have turned into complacency. The Q3 2018 Cyber Threat Insights report discusses recent cyber security activities including global case studies of notable cyber security breaches during Q3, the malicious activities of nation state actors, a view of attacks against the finance and banking sectors in 2018 and ways to adopt a threat-based cyber approach. Read the BDO report.

2018 BDO and AusCERT Cyber Security Survey

Time is running out to complete this year's survey, with responses closing at midnight on Friday, 23 November 2018. By taking part you will gain direct access to our survey report, which contains valuable data for you to compare your business' current cyber security efforts with trends in your industry sector. Complete the survey.

BDO Global Risk Landscape Report

The BDO Global Risk Landscape 2018 report presents insights from more than 500 business executives across 55 countries and a range of sectors, on their perceptions of risk in 2018 and beyond. Read the BDO report.

Top ten things CFOs should do immediately about cyber security

With the potential for serious financial damage from a cyber security breach, it is vital that CFOs today are aware of their organisation’s cyber security risk profile and take action to put safeguards in place. Read our recommendations of ten things CFOs should do immediately to manage their organisation’s financial risk.

Lessons from the PageUp data breach

When an organisation experiences a data breach, the response must be swift, coordinated and professional. If not, the consequence can be far reaching. Read the article.

Six key steps in cyber security for small business

How a Small and Medium-Sized Business protects against and recovers from a cyber incident determines its future. Read the article.  

August 2018

A spotlight on cyber security for Australian healthcare providers

The recent cyber attack on Singapore Health Services is an example of the complexities of securing healthcare records. Add to that the recent debate on the security and privacy of the government’s My Health Record, and the warning signals are clear – healthcare providers need to be prepared for data breaches and possible public scrutiny. Read our in-depth article on the SingHealth breach and what that means for Australian healthcare providers. Read the article.

Notifiable Data Breaches second quarterly report

The second quarterly OAIC Notifiable Data Breaches report has been released and healthcare providers were the largest source of reported data breaches (20% of all notifications). For the healthcare industry, 75% of cyber incidents resulting in a breach were due to stolen credentials, phishing or other hacking. Read the OAIC report.

BDO Cyber Threat Insights Q2 2018

In a review of the first half of 2018, nation-backed cyber-criminal activity stole the spotlight, with Russia and China the most prominent cyber actors. The Q2 2018 Cyber Threat Insights report addresses some of these significant global incidents, including attacks against military/defence targets. The report also features a special report on recent cyber events affecting the healthcare industry, and includes mention of Australia’s PageUp data breach. Read the BDO report.

BDO and AusCERT Cyber Security Survey coming in September

The third annual BDO and AusCERT Cyber Security Survey 2018/2019 opens on September 11 and a link to complete the survey will be sent directly to BDO’s cyber security subscribers. Aimed at key IT security influencers and decision makers in SMEs, not-for-profits and government organisations, the survey is an opportunity for businesses to ask critical questions about their cyber security environment. Read the 2017/2018 survey report.

May 2018

BDO Cyber Threat Insights Q1 2018

In the first quarter of 2018, cyber security continued to be a growing concern around the globe. We saw a number of cyber incidents, including ransomware attacks and the first jackpotting incidents in the U.S. Notable cyber events such as the Olympic Destroyer, the Walmart vendor database leak, and a cyber-attack on the German government, all took place in the first three months of the year. Read the BDO report

Notifiable Data Breaches quarterly report

In Australia, the Notifiable Data Breaches scheme commenced, with 63 incidents reported to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner during the first six weeks of operation. Indications were that just over half of the eligible data breach notifications were caused by human error. Read the OAIC report

Cyber security risks on the rise for private equity dealmakers

Cyber security is a special feature in the latest edition of BDO Horizons, highlighting the importance for buyers in mergers and acquisitions to ensure they fully understand both the value of the information assets and the level of cyber threat facing the company they are considering to acquire. Read the BDO Horizons report

BDO and AusCERT Cyber Security Survey

The BDO and AusCERT Cyber Security Survey Report 2017/2018 is now available. If you have contacts within your organisation who should receive the report, please share the link. Read the Cyber Security Survey report