The Cyber Wardens program, a national initiative of the Council of Small Business Organisations of Australia (COSBOA) and supported by the Australian Government and other industry partners, has developed a new resource aimed at ensuring the protection of agribusinesses against rampant threats online.
Released in time for the event Agfest in the Paddock, where hundreds of agricultural businesses showcase their products in northern Tasmania, the Cyber Wardens team has developed a small-business Cyber Security Guide for Agriculture, a quick reference tool that tells farmers and their workers what to look out for, and how to combat the increasing threats.
The Cyber Wardens program will also have a stall at Agfest in the Paddock to help raise awareness about the program among the agriculture community.
Tunnel Hill Mushrooms director Dean Smith will be one ofthe growers attending Agfest in a bid to learn more ways to protect his business that grows gourmet mushrooms in a railway tunnel outside Hobart. Before completing the Cyber Wardens course, Smith that said he assumed it was only big businesses
that needed to be concerned about cyber security.
“I guess I was a bit naive about the whole thing because I’m not that tech savvy and I don’t have a
lot of time to keep an eye on it,” Smith said.
Having completed the course, Smith said that he will now take regular steps to improve his cyber security.
“I think a lot of people would be like me: either they’re not too confident, don’t have the time, or
find it a bit daunting,” he said. “But it’s not that hard and it doesn’t take a lot of time to put a few things in play that will protect your business.”
COSBOA CEO Luke Achterstraat encouraged all small agribusinesses across Australia to take cyber security seriously.
“Regional and rural small businesses are the backbones of many communities in Australia. Cyber risk is pervasive and doesn’t discriminate based on a business’s postcode,” he said. “Small businesses must remain aware of the increasingly acute risk of cyber attacks. COSBOA’s Cyber Wardens program can help give small business owners the skills to mitigate the risks.
“Investing in cyber security training and tools is essential to help protect your small business, staff and clients. With Cyber Wardens we’ve made that training free and easy for small businesses,” Achterstraat added.
Attendees at Agfest are also encouraged to complete the Cyber Wardens training by Sunday 19 May for a chance to win prizes such as a new drone or gift cards to support their agribusinesses.
