Strengthening Your Cyber Defences: Practical Steps for Kiwi Organisations

29th September 2025 3 minute read

Cyber Smart Week is coming! 6 – 12th October and it presents the perfect opportunity for organisations and individuals to reassess their cyber resilience strategies and adopt smarter online behaviours. As cyber incidents become increasingly visible in the public eye, the threat landscape continues to evolve in both scale and sophistication, making proactive security measures more critical than ever.

The urgency is clear: in 2024, New Zealanders suffered financial losses totaling $1.6 billion, with 1.3 million online attacks causing direct financial harm, according to the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC). Cyber threats now impact organisations of all sizes and industries, and the frequency and complexity of these attacks are on the rise. Establishing a well-organised and proactive cybersecurity plan is essential to help your organisation anticipate, withstand, and recover from potential incidents.

We recognise that time and resources can be limited, so we encourage our partners to take advantage of the free resources and supporter packs the NCSC has developed to help organisations assess their current posture, educate teams, and implement strong security measures. Own Your Online, created by the NCSC, is an excellent starting point for anyone in New Zealand looking to build their cybersecurity knowledge. The platform offers practical tools, guides, and resources tailored to the unique needs of Kiwi businesses, simplifying complex topics and providing step-by-step advice on everything from incident response planning to protecting against ransomware and online scams.

With the prevalence of online attacks increasing, Own Your Online shares their top tips for online security:

Back up your data
Update regularly
Use different passwords for different accounts
Turn on two-factor authentication
Generate secure and inventive recovery questions
Be cautious on public WiFi networks
Protect your devices with antivirus software
Be mindful of your digital footprint
Think twice before disclosing your data
Review your bank statements regularly

These resources are not only practical but also provide a valuable opportunity to assess your current security posture and identify any gaps in your organisation’s cyber resiliency.

Check out the link to discover more top tips - Top tips for online security - Own Your Online

With 68% of breaches in 2024 attributed to human error, employees are often the first line of defence against evolving threats. Training and educating employees remain one of the most effective ways to build cyber resilience. The consequences of a breach can be severe: 60% of businesses do not survive more than six months after a major cyber incident, and the average cost of mediation is $70,000 NZD. By investing in ongoing education, awareness programmes, and regular phishing simulations, organisations can empower their teams to recognise and respond to suspicious activity more effectively. This not only reduces the likelihood of accidental data loss or exposure but also fosters a culture of shared responsibility, where everyone understands their role in protecting sensitive information. Ultimately, prioritising staff training strengthens an organisation’s overall security posture and helps ensure long-term resilience in an increasingly complex digital landscape.

As the threat landscape continues to adapt and evolve, so too must organisations. Maintaining best practices in data management, cyber resiliency, and recovery is critical. Dicker Data plays a key role in supporting organisations on their cyber resiliency journey by offering a comprehensive ecosystem of guidance, enablement, and education. Our partners can tap into the expertise of our business development managers, technical specialists, and solutions architects to scope, design, and implement solutions tailored to your needs. Through targeted workshops and enablement sessions, we help partners strengthen their security posture and confidently navigate today’s evolving threat landscape.

Our Head of Software, Dan Wehner, highlights that “through our comprehensive portfolio of world-leading technologies and solutions, we help partners address critical gaps across the six key pillars of cyber resilience, securing accounts and access, defending devices and apps, spotting and stopping attacks fast, protecting sensitive data, backing up and recovering quickly, and driving governance through user training.

Our approach is to help partners navigate the noise by providing access to specialised resources, facilitating technical evaluations that drive discovery, and accelerating go-to-market efforts through co-branded campaigns and MDF support. We also offer certification programs and sales training to ensure your teams are equipped to deliver outcomes with confidence in an ever-evolving threat landscape.”

As we move forward into Cyber Smart Week and beyond, it is clear that building cyber resilience is not a one-time effort, but an ongoing commitment. By leveraging trusted resources and partnering with experts who understand the unique challenges facing New Zealand organisations, you can confidently strengthen your security posture and safeguard your business against emerging threats. Now is the time to take proactive steps – review your current practices, educate your teams, and make use of the accessible tools available.

Reach out to your local Dicker Data representative, or email sales@dickerdata.co.nz