The Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) has warned that the digital landscape is more dangerous than it has been since the Second World War.¹ Their 2023-24 Annual Cyber Threat Report highlights alarming trends: over 36,700 calls to the Australian Cyber Security Hotline (a 12% increase), an average cybercrime cost of $63,200 for medium-large businesses, and 87,000 cybercrime reports—one every six minutes.¹
Cybercrime has been rising alongside mainstream computer usage, making cybersecurity a business-critical issue across industries. Fortunately, most medium-large Australian businesses are responding. A 2024 MYOB report found that of 500 mid-sized businesses surveyed, 84% felt prepared for a cyber incident.²
However, as businesses who have experienced a cyber incident will tell you, there is a big difference between feeling prepared and truly being prepared. It’s a mistake to believe that victims of cybercrime are so because they see cybersecurity as unimportant or they don’t have any measures in place to protect themselves. More often than not, victims of cybercrime do a lot of the right things—they understand the importance of solid security, their staff have good general cyber hygiene, they have many of the suitable processes and practices in place. It’s not carelessness that causes these organisations to find themselves confronted with a cyber crisis. Often, the true catalyst is silent but potentially deadly: blind spots.
They might seem innocuous, but blind spots in a security strategy can quickly become the weak points in your defence plan, and thus the most attractive for cybercriminals to target. Of course, the inherent problem with blind spots is that you are not aware of them. If you were, they would not be blind spots at all—they’d be factored into your strategy.
To help you identify the areas that may have slipped under the radar of your organisation’s watchful eye, we sat down with our Solutions team to shed some light on the most common blind spots they see across the different organisations.
Education
These days, schools and universities rely on a wide range of digital platforms. The challenge is that these systems often vary in age and compatibility, and can be overseen by multiple departments with limited cybersecurity expertise. On top of this, staff and student users can inadvertently create vulnerabilities—through weak passwords, shared accounts, and falling victim to phishing schemes.
Common blind spots for education:
Unpatched learning management systems (LMS) and legacy software
Ransomware targeting student records and financial data
Poor access control and account sharing
Third-party vendor risks
Phishing attacks on students and staff
Unsecured remote learning environments
The confronting truth is that many organisations don’t realise these blind spots exist until they’re in the midst of a cyber crisis. Knowing where you stand—and addressing the gaps in your security plan—is essential for keeping yourself protected.
Claim your free self-assessment tool
If you’re uncertain about where your cybersecurity measures may be falling short, our free self-assessment tool can help you identify vulnerabilities before they turn into real issues. Just get in touch and we’ll send it straight to your inbox.
Stay ahead of cyber threats with Truis. Our team are ready to help with solutions including penetration testing, threat detection, endpoint and network security to safeguard your school from any potential attacks. Partner with us today for reliable and cutting edge protection.
Contact us on 1800 777 111 or visit us at truis.com.au.
Sources
¹ https://www.cyber.gov.au/about-us/view-all-content/reports-and-statistics/annual-cyber-threat-report-2023-2024² https://www.myob.com/au/press-releases/australian-mid-market-on-high-alert-against-cyber-threat
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