Top tips to boost your cyber security in 2025

The theme for Cyber Security Awareness Month 2025 is building our cyber safe culture, underscoring the importance of proactive online safety measures, supported by a range of resources designed to help individuals and businesses to prioritise cyber security.

The cost of cyber crime

In this year’s annual Cyber Threat Report, Australian Signals Directorate’s Australian Cyber Security Centre (ASD’s ACSC):

• answered over 42,500 calls to the Australian Cyber Security Hotline, equating to around 116 calls per day, up 16 per cent
• responded to more than 1,200 cyber security incidents, an 11% increase from 2023-24
• received over 84,700 cybercrime reports, an average of one report every 6 minutes, consistent with last year.

The average self-reported cost of cybercrime per report for small business rose by 14 per cent to $56,600, while the cost to individuals rose 8 per cent to $33,000.

Top tips

This year’s top advice from Australia’s Department of Home Affairs includes:

Install all software updates to keep your devices secure

Install all software updates to keep your devices secure. Make sure that automatic updates are switched on so that you are notified when an update is available.

Installing regular updates will keep your devices secure and makes it harder for cyber criminals to access them.

Use a unique and strong passphrase on every account

Use a unique and strong passphrase on every account. A passphrase is a more secure version of a password which are hard for cybercriminals to crack, but easy for you to remember.

Create passphrases that are:

• long: 15 or more characters
• unpredictable: use 4 or more random words. Avoid identifying information such as family names, birth dates or addresses
• unique: are different for every account.

Always set up multi-factor authentication (MFA)

Enable multi-factor authentication where available to add an extra layer of security to all your online accounts.

MFA requires two or more proofs of identity to log in to your account, adding an extra layer of security

Start with setting up MFA on your most important accounts (such as online banking and email accounts).

Training to stay cyber secure

As a special offer for Cyber Security Awareness Month, the Victorian Chamber is offering access to one free CyberSimple Boot Camp - Self-Paced Learning for members. 

With 95% of all breaches occurring due to human error, upskilling all new and current employees is vital. Across 20 modules in the Cyber Safe Boot Camp virtual training, employees will learn the key concepts of cyber security and how to keep your business safe. Use code CYBERSIMPLEFREE at checkout. T&Cs apply. Book now

The Boot Camp is part of the Victorian Chamber’s renowned CyberSimple offering, delivering a suite of affordable, online, self-paced learning programs help you ensure your staff are prioritising cyber safety. Find out more

More cyber resources

The Victorian Chamber’s library of business tools and templates includes important cyber resources:

Small Business Cyber Security Checklist

Not only can an attack have a financial impact on your business, but it can also damage reputation, disrupt essential services and drive away customers. Download our checklist for tips on how to protect your business and customers from cybercrime. Download now

Cultivating a Cyber Safe Culture webinar

This webinar session covers: Common cyber security risks and how to identify them, best practices for securing devices, networks, and sensitive data, and the importance of cultivating a culture of cyber awareness within teams. Watch now