Commercial Broker

8 October 2026

October is Cyber Security Awareness Month, making it a useful time to check how your business is protected from cyber crime. Everyday activities such as paying invoices, buying materials online and paying employees can expose your business to cyber threats. Building strong security habits can help reduce the risk.

Practical steps to help your business stay cyber safe

Stop and check before you click

Phishing messages are designed to trick you into sharing personal information or account details. Cyber criminals may contact you by email, text message or social media and pretend to be someone you know or a trusted organisation, such as a bank or government department.

To help protect your business:

• Stop before opening links or attachments or responding to unexpected social media messages or ads. Askyourself whether the message could be a scam.
• Before sharing personal or banking information, confirm who you’re dealing with using a trusted phone number or official website.
• NAB will never ask you to share your PIN or password, or ask you to log in to your account through a link in an email.

Strengthen your passwords

Strong passwords can make it harder for someone to access your business accounts without permission.

Consider these practical steps:

• Set strong password policies across your business.
• Use a different complex password or passphrase for each account.
• Choose passphrases that are meaningful to you but difficult for others to guess.
• Avoid details that may be easy to work out, such as names, birthdays or common number combinations.
• Consider using a reputable password manager to create and securely store complex passwords.

Add an extra layer of protection

Set up multi-factor authentication (MFA) on online accounts, including email and social media. MFA asks you to complete another security check, such as entering a one-time code or approving a request in an authenticator app. This can help protect an account if its password is compromised.

Where possible, require employees to use MFA when accessing sensitive business systems and information.

Keep software and devices up to date

Keeping systems up to date can help protect your business from known security vulnerabilities.

• Update software, operating systems and apps regularly, including banking apps.
• Turn on automatic updates for computers, phones and other devices where available.
• Back up important business data regularly so you can restore information and keep operating if your business is affected by malware or another cyber incident.

Help build a cyber-aware business

Everyone in your business can play a part in staying cyber safe. Talk to your employees about common threats, encourage them to pause and check unusual requests, and make sure they know how to report suspicious messages or activity.

Building cyber security awareness across your business can help reduce risk and strengthen your overall security.

Find out more

For more information and tips to help protect yourself and your business online, visit nab.com.au/security.

Learn more about cyber security threats targeting Australian businesses and practical steps you can take to help protect your business at the Securing Australia Together 2026 webinar. Register at nab.com.au/cybermonth.

Taking a few practical steps can help strengthen your cyber security and support your business’s response if something goes wrong.

Commercial Broker