Enhancing Cybersecurity: A Call to Action
Troy Gerrie • February 20, 2024
In 2023, the National Cyber Security Centre issued a report that sheds light on critical trends in the cybersecurity landscape. As we navigate an increasingly digital world, understanding these insights becomes paramount.
Incident Motivation and Financial Impact
- 28% of all cybersecurity incidents were driven by criminal or financial motives. This statistic underscores the urgent need for robust security measures to safeguard against malicious intent.
- Small businesses in New Zealand bore the brunt of these attacks, suffering
direct losses exceeding $15 million last year. Remarkably, this figure is likely an underestimation, as mandatory breach reporting has yet to be enforced.
The Surge of Phishing Attacks
- In the third quarter of 2023, phishing attacks skyrocketed by 173%. These deceptive tactics serve as the gateway for broader cyber assaults.
- An astounding
91% of all cyberattacks originate from phishing attempts. This highlights the critical importance of
staff training and awareness to recognise and thwart such threats.
Yorb’s Commitment to Cybersecurity
Yorb is thrilled to have our Defender security product in full swing, but this is just the beginning of our cybersecurity journey. Throughout 2024, we will intensify our investment in cybersecurity to address emerging industry challenges, insurance requirements, and regulations. Our goal is to provide comprehensive, full-spectrum cybersecurity protection for all our valued clients.
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MCI & Associates is an accountancy firm with over 45 employees across offices in Dannevirke and Pahiatua. The practice services a diverse range of clients, including those in the farming and commercial sectors, and its core services include tax preparation, business advisory and planning, and general accounting. The relationship between Yorb and MCI goes back over three decades to when both companies were in their formative stages. The trust-based relationship has endured and evolved as each business has grown and matured - going through name and ownership changes.
If you think cybercriminals only go after big corporations in major cities, think again. The majority of incidents recorded by the NCSC impact individuals and small to medium businesses, proving that cyber threats don’t discriminate based on location - they target opportunity. With over 23,000 reports to the Netsafe helpline, and $17.8M in losses reported last year, small-town businesses are very much in the spotlight. In the past few months alone, three local accounting firms in regional New Zealand have suffered a data breach,and local ISP - Inspire was recently the target of a malicious cyber attack.
We've had a flying start to the year, and given we're really just past the point where you start to realise what day it actually is, we thought we'd share everything we've been working on lately. 2024 In Review As we reflect on 2024, it's clear that this year has been one of remarkable achievements and significant advancements for Yorb. We were very proud that we won the Reseller News Innovation Awards in the Regional Partner Category, a testament to our commitment to excellence and innovation. AI has continued to dominate the headlines, with some businesses making great strides in how they work and interact. However, the majority are still grappling with understanding the full impact of this technology on their business, industry, and society. As we navigate this evolving landscape, companies must adapt to the security implications, ensure the integrity of data, and adjust to changing work and consumer patterns. In line with our commitment to security, we launched our new Security Platform, Yorb Defender 2.0. Designed from the ground up to be Essential 8 compliant, we believe this solution is now a best-in-class product that meets the requirements of modern business. 2025 Looking Forward Looking ahead to 2025, we have set ambitious goals following the EOS business framework. Our recent Annual Planning has helped us develop our 10-year, 3-year, and 1-year goals, with a strong focus on several key areas: Client Experience: We are dedicated to ensuring that every interaction with Yorb meets and exceeds your expectations. Automation Platforms: We will continue to develop our automation platforms to provide more consistent and efficient service. Investing in New Technologies: Our focus will be on AI, Hyper-Automation, and Data Governance to stay ahead of the curve. Team Development: We are committed to investing in our team, ensuring they receive the best skills training in technical, people, professional, and business areas. We will are also excited to be launching business peer groups focussed around AI, bringing together business owners and leaders from across the regions to explore what the future holds for all of us. This year we are injecting new energy into our Total Support agreement, we believe there is more to our partnership than phones calls, Teams Conferences and remote support. We are therefore introducing ongoing scheduled visits as part of the contract, alongside a productivity focus with scheduled access to our development team. Kicking off this year will be monthly seminars on topics such as Security, AI, Productivity, we want to hear what topics matter most to you. Look out for your invite in the coming weeks. I’m incredibly excited by 2025 and the opportunities it brings, we call breath a collective sigh that 2024 is behind us lets get cracking on what promises to be a great year. Daniel Goymer CEO