You’ve seen it on the news time and time again.
In today's digital age, cyber threats are more sophisticated than ever and they are hitting Australian companies of all sizes. Today, cybercrime costs the country's economy around $30 billion a year with The Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) receiving approximately 94,000 cybercrime reports in the financial year 2023.
The bottom line is that cyber-security is no longer an issue that businesses in Australia can treat as an afterthought. Rather than waiting for a cyber-attack, it pays to assume your company will be targeted, and to plan accordingly.
The catch is that cyber-security risks for business are constantly evolving. So, companies in Australia also need to evolve and embrace new strategies to improve their cyber-defences.
But you have come to the right place to find the solutions to mitigate cyber threats.
The simple answer to your data breach concerns is having tech professionals with a strong understanding of cyber-security to safeguard your valuable assets.
If you are yearning to feel like your business can strongly defend against a possible cyber threat, read on to familarise yourself with strategies to mitigate cyber-security incidents for peace of mind.
Related: Why is cyber-security in demand in Australia?
Whether you have an existing one or you are starting from scratch, building a robust cyber-security team is not about throwing around fancy titles and buzzwords.
When it comes to strategies to mitigate cyber-security incidents, the first steps is to define what it is that your business needs from a role and talent perspective. This involves clearly defining roles and responsibilities, and finding the right individuals who possess both the technical skills and the mindset to combat the cyber threats of today and tomorrow.
Common business issues that often need cyber talent to help with include:
IT security program and overall security program strategy
Security assurance responses and documentation
Security audits for application requests and third-party vendor assessment
Governance, risk, and compliance assessment
Once you know what you are looking for, then you will have the confidence to take the next step in sourcing the right people for the job.
Building a talent pipeline of cyber-security professionals to avoid cyber threats is the next step in the strategies to mitigate cyber-security incidents.
But if you are thinking that cyber-security talent is hard to find, you are not the only one. The Robert Half Salary Guide has cyber-security skills listed as one of the most in-demand skill sets this year.
As Adam Queay, associate director at Robert Half and specialised tech recruiter reminds us, “Creating a talent pipeline often requires you to focus on attracting and nurturing potential candidates. One of the most time-efficient and stress-free ways to do this is by working with a specialised recruiter. By pulling on our vast network of skilled candidates, we can present an array of options to your business, letting you take the reins on who would suit your company culture best while knowing the shortlist of talented professionals have the required skills and experience to excel in your company.”
If you have cyber-security professionals already working in your business, other methods to enhance the talent pipeline include:
Invest in employee development, offering training and certifications to upskill existing staff and create a clear path for career advancement within your cyber-security team.
Leverage social media and online platforms to engage with potential candidates, share thought leadership content, and position your company as a desirable employer in the cyber-security space.
Conducting an IT skills assessment on the cyber talent you already have is one of the strongest strategies to mitigate cyber security incidents.
Depending on the context of the roles and how formal you want to make it, the main idea is to select a test which is robust and has enough people taking it across the business to create a proper sample size. The results of this test will highlight what cyber-security skills are missing. It’s also important to select a test an employer can interpret and understand in order to interpret the outcomes.
Assessing current cyber-security skills will emphasise any gaps in the current workforce and businesses will know where they need to fill the space to have all the puzzle pieces of cyber-security fit together.
On top of updating skills, updating company security policies and systems are equally as important.
Cyber-security risks for business can typically be broken down across three main factors: People, processes, and technology.
As cyber-threats continue to evolve, it is critical to regularly review and update cyber-security policies across the company. This comes back to the value of hiring professional cyber-security talent, who can manage this task on a timely basis.
With the right experts in place and updated policies, companies can address the first two factors.
But technology itself needs to be managed. This means ensuring that operating systems and applications are kept up to date, and that network and computing devices are kept secure. Security notifications and alerts sent from your operating systems, anti-virus software, web browsers and firewalls should all be addressed and actioned immediately.
You need to think and believe that your entire workforce, especially those who don’t work in the tech team, are aware and fully committed to mitigating cyber threats to ensure the security of valuable information. Cultivating a strong cybersecurity culture is an excellent way to achieve this.
Cyber-security is a company-wide issue, and the increased use of technology in the workplace, coupled with the use of digital devices in remote workplaces means every employee can contribute to cyber-security risks for business – or play their role in protecting the business.
Every staff member needs to be encouraged to support cyber-security by knowing the risks and adopting appropriate behaviours to maximise cyber-security.
This can include knowing who to contact in the event of a security breach, and only using work emails for business purposes.
Related: How to best upskill your team
The final, and arguably the most important strategy to mitigating cyber security incidents is reducing turnover among cyber-security staff.
Besides factors like the cost of turnover, cyber-security professionals accumulate valuable knowledge and experience over time, understanding an organisation's specific vulnerabilities, systems, and threat landscape. Losing such expertise can create a significant gap in security defenses, leaving a company vulnerable to attacks and tasking them to find new talent quickly.
To retain cyber-security talent and mitigate cyber threats, they want to feel supported in their career with learning opportunities and fair remuneration while also being encouraged with a healthy work-life balance.
Related: Discover more employee retention strategies
The time to prepare your business against cyber threats is now.
By having the right tools, people and training programs in place, your company will be better placed to navigate threats when they arise so your team can sleep soundly.
How to identify cyber-security talent with the right skills and experience?
Cyber-security talent with the appropriate certifications and degrees have the foundation to bring the right skills and experience to your business. In addition to this, assess practical experience, problem-solving skills, and a passion for continuous learning to ensure you identify the right professional. Hands-on assessments and technical interviews can be valuable tools to gauge a candidate’s true capabilities.
What are the most in-demand cyber-security roles for mitigating cyber incidents?
Cyber-security specialists
Cyber-security managers
Network security engineers
Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs)
How can we build a diverse and inclusive cyber-security team?
Focus on expanding your recruitment efforts
Create an inclusive workplace culture
Provide ongoing support and development opportunities for all team members
What is the optimal size of a cyber-security team for an organisation of our size?
The optimal size of a cyber-security team isn't solely determined by the size of your organisation. Factors like your industry, the sensitivity of the data you handle, your risk tolerance, regulatory requirements, and the complexity of your IT infrastructure also play a crucial role.
We recommend conducting a thorough risk assessment to identify your specific vulnerabilities and threats. Based on this assessment, Robert Half can help you design a cyber-security strategy and determine the appropriate staffing levels to effectively protect your organisation.
