Funding to build cyber resilience and capability of small businesses

The Small Business Cyber Resilience Service program will fund one service provider up to $8.1 million to set up a free, tailored, person‑to‑person support that will help small businesses improve their cyber resilience and support small businesses impacted by a cyber incident.

The Small Business Cyber Resilience Service program (the program) was announced as part of the 2023-2030 Australian Cyber Security Strategy. Under Shield 1 of the Strategy, Strong businesses and citizens, the program will support small businesses to build their cyber security resilience and capability.

Small businesses face unique barriers to strengthen their cyber security as they have limited knowledge, time, staffing and resources to invest in cyber security. Small business owners need help navigating cyber security information and applying it to their business.

The Small Business Cyber Resilience Service will provide free, tailored, person-to-person cyber security support for small businesses, including:

• working one on one with a small business to develop a tailored plan to improve the small business's cyber security
• recommending specific actions, tools and guidance best suited to the small business's risk, situation and capability
• providing guidance on practical steps the small business can take to recover from an incident
• facilitating referrals to additional support services where required.

The objectives of the program are:

• build the cyber resilience and capability of small businesses
• provide support to small businesses impacted by a cyber incident.

The intended outcomes of the program are to improve the cyber security of small businesses and their ability to recover from a cyber incident.