What is the Cyber Security Business Connect and Protect?
The Cyber Security Business Connect and Protect Program is a grant opportunity to support trusted organisations that advise small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to raise awareness of cyber security risks and promote action to address these risks.
Background
As part of the 2020 Cyber Security Strategy, Cyber Security Business Connect and Protect will provide funding to trusted organisations that provide business advice to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) which have a demonstrated reach and influence over a large number of SMEs across regional and metropolitan Australia. Funding will support projects that raise the awareness of cyber security risks amongst SMEs, promote action to address these risks and support and uplift the capability of SMEs to meet best practice in cyber security.
Objectives
The objectives of Cyber Security Business Connect and Protect are to:
- raise cyber security risk awareness among SMEs through trusted advisers
- promote action amongst SMEs to address cyber security risks
- lift the cyber security capability of SMEs, including through transfer of cyber security knowledge and skills.
The intended outcomes of Cyber Security Business Connect and Protect are:
- Australian SMEs are aware of cyber security risks and trusted cyber security information sources and advice
- demonstrated action by SMEs to reduce cyber security risks
- cybersecurity capability of SMEs has been lifted
- trusted advisers continue to disseminate cyber security resources and information to SMEs, beyond the life of this grant opportunity.
Funding
Grants from $100,000 up to $750,000 to fund 100 per cent of eligible project expenditure.
Eligible Projects
To be eligible your project must:
- be aimed at raising cyber security awareness, promoting action to address cyber security risks amongst SMEs and supporting and uplifting the capability of SMEs to meet best practice in cyber security
- include eligible activities and eligible expenditure
- include at least $100,000 in eligible expenditure
Eligible activities may include:
- delivering innovative methods of raising awareness of cyber security risks and building SME cyber security capability
- establishing methodologies for promoting action for SMEs to adopt cyber security best practices
- showcasing quality cyber security best practice engaging with stakeholders including SMEs, industry and the Australian Cyber Security Centre
- monitoring and evaluation activities that seek to demonstrate uplift of cyber security capability among SMEs (evaluation activities can be supported by a cyber security diagnostic tool to be made available to grant recipients).
Eligible Applicants
To be eligible you must:
- have an Australian business number (ABN)
- be an organisation that provides business advisory services
You must be one of the following entities:
- an entity, incorporated in Australia
- an incorporated association
You must be able to:
- certify that you are an organisation that provides business advisory services
- provide a letter, on the template provided, from your board (or chief executive officer or equivalent if there is no board) that:
- details the types of SMEs that you currently provide advice to, the location of these SMEs and a quantification of the number of SMEs you currently regularly advise
- confirms that the project is supported, and that you can complete the project within the timeframe specified in 3.2 and meet the costs of the project not covered by grant funding
- include all the mandatory attachments as per the application form.
Timing
Applications close 30 November 2020.
Current Recipients
| Organisation | Project title | Grant amount |
|---|---|---|
| IT Connexion Pty Ltd | Cyber Security Awareness Training | $250,000.00 |
| Murray Hume Business Enterprise Centre Limited | Business Enterprise Cyber Secure | $750,000.00 |
| Loyal I.T. Solutions Pty. Ltd. | Cyber Secure Central Coast! | $456,258.00 |
| Hunter Business Centre Ltd | Cyber Security Culture Program for Regional SMEs | $349,040.00 |
| Queensland Chamber Of Commerce And Industry Limited | CCIQAssure (Cyber Security Accreditation Program) | $738,500.00 |
| Cybercx Pty Ltd | Cyber123 for SME | $750,000.00 |
| Caravan Industry Association Of Australia Limited | Cyber Awareness Training in Australia’s Caravan and Camping Industry | $364,500.00 |
| Western Sydney University | Oz Cybersecurity Aid Centre OCAC | $745,920.00 |
| The Project Lab Pty Ltd | CyberUP for SMEs | $641,434.00 |
| Business Enterprise Centre (Darwin Region) Incorporated | CyberSafe | $219,596.00 |
| Real World Technology Solutions Pty Ltd | Cyber Security resilience within SMB, Charity & Indigenous Businesses | $750,000.00 |
| First Focus IT Pty Limited | Develop & deliver a cyber security education package for SME C-suite | $339,780.00 |
| Concept Data Pty Ltd | SA Business Cyber Security Advisory Service | $188,721.00 |
| Belmont Business Enterprise Centre Inc | MY Business Incubator© CYBER SECURITY Training & Mentoring Project | $274,900.00 |
More Information
Media Release
Almost 600,000 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) across Australia will soon have access to free advice and assistance to upgrade their cyber security.
The Cyber Security Business Connect and Protect Program is providing $6.9 million in funding to 14 trusted organisations that will work directly with businesses to identify security risks and help them take active steps to secure their systems.
Minister for Industry, Science and Technology Christian Porter said building digital security and capability among SMEs is a Government priority and vital to our continuing economic prosperity and development.
“SMEs make up 99 per cent of all Australian businesses and employ about half our workforce, so it is essential to our economy and national security that SMEs continue to expand and improve their digital capabilities in a secure way,” Minister Porter said.
“The assistance provided through this grant program will support businesses in recognising cyber risks and opportunities, particularly in the wake of the strong digital uptake during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
The 14 organisations receiving funding will provide support to businesses in both regional and metropolitan areas in every state and territory.
One of the projects to receive funding is Western Sydney University’s Oz Cyber Security Aid Centre in Parramatta, which has received a $745,920 grant. The university will partner with four NSW cyber security companies to set up an online call line and physical Cyber Security Aid Centre.
The grants support the Australian Government’s Cyber Security Strategy 2020 and its vision of creating a more secure online world for Australians, their businesses and the essential services upon which we all depend.
The grants will also leverage the newly released Cyber Security Assessment Tool, available on business.gov.au. This tool is free to use for all SMEs and provides easy to follow, actionable advice on how to secure your business from cyber security threats.
