ManageEngine, the enterprise IT management division of Zoho Corporation, has released the findings of its Cybersecurity and PII Report, an exploration of the cyber readiness of organisations across Australia and New Zealand (A/NZ). Through a survey of more than 300 A/NZ IT decision-makers, the report found the majority of organisations breached over the last year had personally identifiable information (PII) compromised, but most have not yet modified their data management policies.

The survey respondents who had reported their organisation experienced between one and five data breaches in the past 12 months said PII was involved in 51% of instances. Despite this, of the respondents who can comment on PII and are aware of major data breaches, the majority (54%) reported either no changes in PII management following the breaches or said they were unaware of any changes. Further, 42% said they have not been advised of their organisation’s protocols around PII management.

When it came to data categories, 55% of respondents said they store data on past customers, 41% on past employees, 70% on current customers, 66% on current employees and 37% on potential customers.

Vinayak Sreedhar, ManageEngine’s country manager for Australia, said the findings highlight alarming gaps in Australia’s cybersecurity preparedness. “One year ago, a string of high-profile breaches saw millions of Australians have their data compromised, with identification points traded on the dark web,” he said. “This prompted discussions around the legal right to request the erasure of personal information in company databases. The law is yet to change in Australia and, as this survey indicates, local organisations have not changed their practices.”

When it came to cyber resilience, 24% of survey participants who were aware of cyber resilience said their organisation either did not have a cyber resilience policy or they were unaware of it. The majority (63%) were also unfamiliar with the Essential Eight, the cybersecurity framework proposed by the Australian Cyber Security Centre that is mandatory at the federal government level, to enhance cyber readiness.

Rajesh Ganesan, president of ManageEngine, said the report underscores the pressing need for stronger cybersecurity measures and more effective PII management strategies among A/NZ companies. “It’s imperative that businesses adopt the data protection standards specific to their region, stay compliant, and bolster their cyber resilience to protect not only their own operations, but the sensitive information of staff and customers, both past and present. We hope this report drives home the urgency of these requirements.”

Other key findings:

Of the respondents who’d experienced a breach, 73% said it took their organisation less than 24 hours after critical systems were taken offline or impacted to recover and restore operations. Of the respondents, 74% said their organisation has not paid a ransom to recover data, but 10% indicated they had.

Of the 78% of respondents aware of major data breaches in other organisations, 17% of Australian respondents weren’t aware of recent major cybersecurity breaches occurring in Q3 2023, while 47% of those in New Zealand were uninformed.

Conducted by Sydney-based research and insights advisory firm StollzNow, the study commissioned by ManageEngine surveyed 306 senior IT decision-makers from different organisations in A/NZ, covering topics such as cyber resilience, PII management, cyber practices under hybrid work models, the Essential Eight, malware and ransomware. The study identified key dimensions that require immediate attention by decision-makers and highlighted cybersecurity challenges. The report enables key stakeholders to take a focused and holistic approach towards reimagining their organisation to accelerate future growth.

Justin Lance Marcel Lavadia

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Justin Lavadia is a content producer and editor at Public Spectrum with a diverse writing background spanning various niches and formats. With a wealth of experience, he brings clarity and concise communication to digital content. His expertise lies in crafting engaging content and delivering impactful narratives that resonate with readers.

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