Imagine that your business has fallen victim to a cyber-attack. What would be the first indication that you have been compromised – when you find yourself locked out of your systems? Often by the time a hacker reveals themselves, much of the damage has already been done.

For many businesses, New Zealand’s response to COVID-19 has meant quickly adapting to new ways of doing businesses – from contactless deliveries to using new eCommerce platforms to sell to customers. With so many other challenges competing for our attention right now, data privacy probably isn't front-of-mind.

When it comes to online security, people are the new perimeter. In the past businesses would often rely on technology and processes to protect their confidential information; firewalls and security gateways were the heart of most organisations’ security infrastructure. But with human error causing around 90% of data breaches it’s easy to imagine how many incidents could be avoided by empowering end users to practice good cyber habits when at work.

The pandemic has upended the way we work, collaborate and do business - this is unprecedented disruption. It's easy for good cyber security posture to slip when you're distracted and under pressure. 

Despite most people in New Zealand having access to a smartphone or computer for work, many Kiwis underestimate how vulnerable we are to cyber criminals. We mistakenly believe that our country’s geographic distance makes us an ‘island’ on the Internet. However, the reality is that everybody is connected in this digital world.