Will 2016 be the year IT Departments stand firm against cybersecurity threats?

By Richard Dornhart, National Security Practice Mananger, Data^#3

[Reading time: 1 min]

The title of this article I found recently is very encouraging – “2016 – the year we strike back” – when IT departments throughout the world hold their ground and make significant improvements in defending against cybersecurity threats. This emerging trend demonstrates that companies are investing in new Cloud-based services that can tap into analytics to bolster security responsiveness.

What’s uniquely interesting about this story, is that it explains how Australia is on the front foot when it comes to fostering more intimate collaboration between public and private sectors. They’re sharing breach information, new threats, and are even participating in collaborative takedown efforts. In fact, according to Gartner, by 2018, Cloud-based security services will be largely adopted by government agencies, due to lower cost and greater agility.

It’s encouraging to note that by harnessing this mentality, Australian enterprises are becoming more efficient in their defence against security threats. But as large organisations are strengthening their defences, cybercriminals are refocusing their eyes towards small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Accordingly, it’s imperative that SMEs must start considering investment in Cloud-based security services – but that’s not where it should stop. Businesses of all sizes should also invest budget in training their staff to help them avoid the most common cybersecurity mistakes (weak passwords, malware, etc.), as well as detecting threats and responding effectively to them.

The original article was posted here.