The Alarming Rate at Which New Zealand Small Businesses are Falling Victim to Cyber Attacks

As a small business owner in New Zealand, you may think that your company is too small to be a target for cybercriminals. Unfortunately, this is a dangerous misconception. In fact, small businesses in New Zealand are increasingly becoming the target of cyberattacks, and the consequences can be devastating.

According to a report by the New Zealand Cyber Security Centre, small and medium-sized businesses in New Zealand are particularly vulnerable to cyberattacks. In 2018, 49% of cyber attacks in the country targeted small businesses. This is a shocking statistic, especially when you consider the limited resources that many small businesses have to devote to cybersecurity. Moving forward to Q3 of 2022, according to CERT NZ direct financial loss of $8.9 million dollars was reported by New Zealanders.

But the financial cost is only part of the story. A data breach can also seriously damage a small business’s reputation, leading to a loss of customer trust and potentially damaging the company’s bottom line. In a worst-case scenario, a data breach can even put a small business out of operation altogether.

So what can small businesses in New Zealand do to protect themselves? The first step is to take cybersecurity seriously. This means implementing strong passwords, training employees on cyber awareness, and investing in cybersecurity software. It’s also a good idea to conduct regular audits of your systems to ensure that they are up to date and secure.

Don’t let your small business in New Zealand become a victim of a cyberattack. The alarming rate at which small businesses in the country are falling victim to these attacks is a wake-up call to take action and protect your company. Talk to us on how you can invest in cybersecurity now to protect your business, your customers, and your bottom line.