How South Australian Businesses Can Prevent Costly Email Scams

22 Oct

The Real Cost of Email-Based Attacks (Local Statistics)

Email scams are no longer just an IT issue—they're a business risk. In South Australia, the average cost of a successful business email compromise (BEC) incident exceeds $25,000, with some cases reaching six figures. In June 2020 alone, three Adelaide-based businesses we support experienced coordinated phishing attempts that nearly led to financial loss and data breaches. These incidents highlight the urgent need for proactive security measures.

Common Email Scams Targeting Australian Businesses

Understanding the threat landscape is the first step in prevention. The most common email scams affecting SA businesses include:

Invoice fraud: Attackers impersonate suppliers and request payment to fraudulent accounts.
CEO fraud: Scammers pose as executives requesting urgent fund transfers.
Credential harvesting: Phishing emails trick staff into revealing login details.
Malware attachments: Emails with malicious files that compromise systems.

These scams often exploit trust and urgency. Educating your team is critical to building resilience.

Essential 8 Email Security Framework

The Australian Cyber Security Centre’s Essential Eight provides a solid foundation for email security. For SA businesses, aligning with this framework helps meet compliance requirements, especially in healthcare and finance sectors. Key controls include:

Application control
Patch management
User access restrictions
Multi-factor authentication (MFA)
Daily backups

Implementing these controls not only reduces risk but also demonstrates due diligence.

Technology Solutions That Actually Work

Technology plays a vital role in defending against email threats. At asp, we recommend and implement Acronis Email Security, which offers:

Advanced threat detection
Anti-phishing and anti-spoofing filters
Real-time sandboxing
Seamless Microsoft 365 integration

Combined with our remote monitoring and response capabilities, this solution provides robust protection tailored to SA businesses.

Why Adelaide Businesses Choose asp for Email Security

With over 20 years of experience securing South Australian businesses, asp is trusted by companies across Normanville, Adelaide CBD, and regional SA. Here’s why:

99% remote resolution rate
Microsoft Partner and Acronis Gold Partner
Tailored solutions for small and medium businesses
Local presence and rapid response

Our clients span industries from retail to healthcare, and we’re proud to support their growth with secure IT foundations.

Get Your Free Security Assessment

If your business has experienced a phishing attempt or you're concerned about email security, don’t wait. Contact asp for a free security assessment. We’ll analyze your current setup and provide actionable recommendations within 48 hours.

Call 08 8291 5000 for immediate assistance (1-hour response time for critical issues).

Shane Grocke