Stolen data is rapidly becoming the new currency for organised crime and a major headache for business owners, with cybercrime set to eclipse drug trafficking in value.
Security consultant Andrew Dixon-Hughes, founder and CEO of Axial Networks, will discuss the impact of cybercrime on the data-driven printing industry and how companies can minimise risk during Printing Industries next webinar on Wednesday 23 September.
“Depending on what statistics you read, cybercrime may have already eclipsed drug trafficking," he said. "In Australia $234 million worth of financial loss was self-reported by SME and individual victims of cybercrime to the Australian Cybercrime Online Reporting Network (ACORN) in the first quarter of 2015.
“If this trend continues that’s $936 million for 12 months – without taking into account the unreported cases. This is a major commercial problem with stolen business data now becoming more valuable than stolen credit card information.
“This is something business owners need to understand and be able to counter by having not just security software but by supporting business practices governing computer usage and the flow of data in and out of the business.
“Recent reported incidents involving printing companies have focussed on ransomware where entire computer networks are locked down through a Cryptolocker attack and may only be freed by payment of a ‘ransom’ to some offshore based company.
“These attacks are the outcome of management not providing sufficient training and awareness to staff on clicking things they should not.”
Mr Dixon-Hughes founded his IT consulting business 18 years ago and specialises in providing Information System Security advice to businesses. He has led major technology deployments for government and corporate clients, has a Masters Degree in Business Management and is in his final semester of a Masters of Information Systems Security at CSU.
Printing Industries National Director Communications, Technology and Creative Services, Joe Kowalewski, said webinar participants would be asked to prioritise their main areas of concern.
“Feedback from members even at this early stage suggests more detailed information on specific threats may be needed and we will be looking at putting together a Member Only program as part of our ongoing membership benefits,” he said.
“The format for these will develop depending on the nature of feedback received, but certainly could include tuition on dealing with specific threats, development of IT policies and education of staff.
“It is no longer sufficient just to have an out of the box software solution in place to stop the outside threat, hackers are able to infiltrate these almost as soon as they hit the market. It’s also about preventing the inside threat, the innocent web surfing, accepting of customer files and electronic customer access to data.
“More importantly it’s about the realisation that while we work in an interactive world filled with new opportunities, it’s also filled with new forms of criminal behaviour that you can’t always see until the damage has been done.”
The webinar begins at 1pm (AEST) and will include a Q&A session. Click here to register.