INTHEBLACK July 2025 - Magazine - Page 38
F E AT U R E
greatest cybersecurity weakness and strength.
Tyler Wise FCPA, director of forensic
accounting and digital forensics firm
Cyberwise, says businesses can’t afford
to ignore cyber threats.
“The cybersecurity greatest hits are things
like multifactor authentication and strong
passwords, but we are also encouraging our
clients to think about their data storage,”
he says.
“How much data do you really need
to keep? For example, if a staff member
or a client leaves your business, have you
offboarded them entirely so that they’re
no longer part of your records? Also, restrict
the types of devices that can be used in your
business. I’m a big advocate for not using
your own devices at work, because you can’t
control what’s going on in them, so make
sure you have an awareness of everything
that is touching your network and has access
to your data.”
Attard advises that organisations view
cybersecurity as a “business-wide risk”.
“It’s not purely the IT team’s
responsibility,” she says. “Cybersecurity
threats are not going to go away. They will
continue to evolve as we continue to develop
and adopt new technology.
“It’s vital that we consider what’s coming
next and how we can adapt our security
measures and always remain vigilant.” ■
LISTEN
to a podcast
episode on
cybersecurity
insights for small
business
READ
an article about AI
and identity theft
UPSKILL
with CPA Australia’s
range of technology
courses
38 INTHEBLACK July 2025
TALK TO CLIENTS ABOUT CYBERSECURITY
Cyber risks are financial risks, so Tyler Wise FCPA, director of forensic accounting
and digital forensics firm Cyberwise, suggests making cybersecurity part of everyday
client conversations. Check that clients are aware of the latest scams, that they're
protecting their devices and know how to respond to a security incident.
“Let your clients know how you will
and won’t communicate with them,
how the ATO will or won’t communicate
with them, and stress the importance
of not sharing their myGov credentials,”
says Wise.
“Accountants don’t need to be
cybersecurity experts, but you can still
talk about the basics with your clients,
like not clicking on links that look
unusual and letting them know about
the scams that are doing the rounds,”
he says. “Having open conversations
with your clients about the risks
is a really good defence mechanism.”
Shameela Gonzalez, financial services
industry lead at cybersecurity company
CyberCX, suggests speaking to your
clients about unusual bank transactions.
“Banks have invested a lot in terms
of proactive fraud capability, but seeing
as criminals are constantly advancing
their techniques, those who remain
closer to their financials can pick up
on something suspicious and act as
quickly as possible.”
