Cyber Security Small Business Grants Now Available
As cyber threats continue to grow and have even more devastating results, the Australian Government has started to take its cyber security policy more seriously. In its most recent initiative, $10 million has been set aside for small business grants.
Over the next two years, eligible small businesses will be able to access grants of up to $2,100 to go towards cyber security health checks. The grants will help small businesses to bolster their security by partially funding tests from providers that have been approved by the Council of Registered Ethical Security Testers (CREST).
According to the Australian Department of Industry, Innovation and Science, the grant is available to businesses with up to and including 19 employees, and covers “up to 50 per cent of the cost of a micro, small or standard certified small business check.”
Micro health checks cover between one and five devices. The price was originally $650, but with the grant, they are now half price at $325. Small checks are for six to 12 devices, and the price is now $600 instead of $1,200. Standard checks allow for between 13 and 40 devices. The grant brings the price down from $4,200 to $2,100.
What do the health checks cover?
Each of these tests are based on the Australian Government’s list of mitigation strategies, known as the Essential Eight. The health checks are performed in your place of business and assess how your business fares in several different dimensions of cyber security.
A health check can identify security issues that your business may have and provides recommendations for mitigating them. The tests cover the following areas:
- Application updates and patching
- Microsoft Office macro settings
- User application hardening
- Restricted administration privileges
- Operating system patching
- Multi-factor authentication
- Daily backups
- Trusted applications
- Malware/virus scans
- Mobile/BYOD
These audits can give businesses the foundation they need to plan their cyber security defences. An adequate cyber security policy is a key part of preventing future attacks that can potentially cripple small businesses.
CREST Australian New Zealand is a body that certifies both companies and staff members that have proven themselves to be high-quality information security testing providers. The small business health check must be undertaken by a CREST-approved provider to qualify for the grant.
Gridware is a CREST-approved testing provider that can help your business get its cyber defences on track. To begin the journey towards a safer workplace and reduce the chances of devastating attacks, register for your test now.
Once you have registered, contact Gridware to set up your small business health check. For more information on eligibility and how to apply, see CREST’s small business health checks page.
