At the end of last year the Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman, Kate Carnell, announced that small businesses with 19 or less employees would have access to a grants for certified cyber security health checks.

The tests, designed to help business identify risks and areas that need attention, are carried out by providers approved by the council of Registered Ethical Security Testers Australian New Zealand (Crest ANZ)

According to the Ombudsman, "Depending on the number of devices tested, the maximum grant amount is $2,100 or up to 50% of eligible project costs.

"It has been estimated that cybercrime costs Australians more than $1 billion a year. Small businesses need to understand their anti-virus software only provides a certain level of protection, opening themselves up to loss of data, compromised financial security and identity theft."

Research shows around one in five small businesses report they have been the target of a cyber attack and over half (56%) don't have cyber-crime protection.

The $10 million program is to run until 30 June 2020.  If you would like further information about the program, and your company's edibility, please contact Aspen Corporate for further information.

Domenic Tartaglia