After learning the basics of online business security, you can tailor cybersecurity strategies, systems and processes to fit your specific business needs.

The Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) has developed prioritised mitigation strategies to help businesses protect themselves against various cyber threats. 

The most effective of these mitigation strategies are the Essential Eight – a set of practical strategies designed to prevent and limit the impact of cyberattacks. By implementing these measures, small businesses can significantly reduce their risk of being hacked, losing sensitive information, or facing costly downtime.

The ASD also provides a maturity model to help businesses understand how well they’re applying these strategies. For small businesses, Maturity Level One is the recommended starting point. It focuses on getting the basics right, like making sure your systems are patched regularly, using multi-factor authentication, and restricting admin privileges. These steps are simple but powerful, and they help build a strong foundation for your business’s cybersecurity.

To get started, the ASD recommend you follow the tasks in the Small business cybersecurity guide and take steps to implement Maturity Level One of the Essential Eight.

Speak with a trusted IT professional or advisor for help implementing and tailoring cybersecurity to your business needs.

You can also use the business.gov.au cybersecurity checklist to help strengthen your business against cyber threats.