New Cyber Wardens program will help defend businesses from cyber threats
Staying safe online just got a bit easier thanks to Cyber Wardens – a new collaboration between the Council of Small Business Organisations of Australia (COSBOA), Commonwealth Bank (CBA) and Telstra.
With cyber scams costing the economy an estimated $29 billion a year, the new initiative will arm small business owners with the skills they need to protect their businesses from cyber threats. Currently, close to half of all cyber scams are targeted at the small business sector, with an average cost to the business of $9,000.
COSBOA CEO Alexi Boyd says the aim of the Cyber Wardens program is to develop crucial skills training for small business owners who have felt powerless in the digital safety space.
“We believe that having a Cyber Warden on the team will help give small business owners the confidence that their business and customers are protected,” Boyd says.
“Australia’s innovative small business owners are used to wearing many hats but we can’t just add another task to the to-do or ‘too hard’ lists. By targeting employees, as well as owners, the Cyber Wardens program will equip Australia’s small business workforce with the mindset, skillset and toolset to more easily and safely engage with an increasingly digital world.”
Cyber Wardens first line of defence
The Cyber Wardens program will be created by small business, for small businesses, to give owners and employees the tools they need to stay safe online.
Designed specifically for non-tech employees, the Cyber Wardens pilot will be rolled out in the coming months. Cyber Wardens will be trained based on the ACSC’s Essential Eight and will learn about common cyber threats that could impact their business and keep their cyber safety knowledge up to date.
CBA’s Group Executive for Business Banking, Mike Vacy-Lyle, says it is crucial the small business sector is equipped with the skills it needs to stay safe online.
“Understanding a complex topic like cyber safety can be challenging and we are always looking for ways to better support small businesses in this space. We’re excited to launch the Cyber Wardens pilot program to help demystify cyber safety, instil a cyber mindset and empower small businesses to identify and manage cyber threats,” Vacy-Lyle says.
For Telstra’s Small and Medium Business Executive, Anne Da Cunha, making cyber safety a priority doesn’t just mean defending against threats.
“The solution lies not just in protecting devices and your internet connection, but also the cyber safety culture you create,” Da Cunha says.
“Managing small business risks online shouldn’t be like the dark arts — and the Cyber Wardens program will help show that there are easy proactive steps businesses can take that will help protect bottom lines, reputations and customers’ privacy.”
Recent research by COSBOA found that six out of ten small businesses feel unprepared and rate their cyber security as ‘poor, could improve or only okay’. The research also shows cost is the primary barrier to upgrading cyber security systems, which is why the Cyber Wardens program will be rolled out at no cost to small businesses.
For more information about participating in the Cyber Wardens pilot program, visit
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