[New] AUSTRALIAN CYBER SECURITY CENTRE

Be safe, not sorry in cyber space. ➸

Did you know that Australia has a cyber security centre? The Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) works closely with the Australian Tax Office (ATO) and the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers (ICB) to provide information to the public about boosting cyber security measures.

They have comprehensive resources to help small businesses build up their cyber security resilience. Check out the Australian Cyber Security Centre’s Small Business Cyber Security Guide for more cyber security tips.

The ATO also has a number you can call if you suspect your cyber security has been compromised - contact 1800 467 033 between 8.00am and 6.00pm Monday to Friday. The ATO will investigate and can place extra protection on your ATO account. Learn more from ATO here about protecting yourself.

Cyberspace criminals are smart and they may impersonate organisations or entities so you need to always have a cool head. Use this checklist from the ATO to verify if it's really them:

• Look for the official ATO logo and organisational name next to the message. Beware of slight variations on the name, like ‘Australia’ rather than ‘Australian’ Taxation Office.

• Check the date the messenger joined or opened their account –if it was 2 weeks ago, it’s not the ATO.

• Check that any email addresses they provide you end with ‘.gov.au’

• Check for typos in the message.

• Check the number of followers they have.

So you see, there is really quite a lot we can do, and there is support out there as well to help small businesses manage their cyber security. You are not alone!

Why not make that a New Year's Resolution for 2023, to beef up your cyber security and have peace of mind so you can fully focus on more exciting projects in your business?

6 New Year’s Resolutions to increase your business success ➹