IT Brief Australia - Technology news for CIOs & IT decision-makers
Australia

Australian Stories

Data breach stories

Australia's cyberattack surge demands a new approach to data resilience
Malware

Australia's cyberattack surge demands a new approach to data resilience

Australia faces world's highest rate of serious cyberattacks, exposing millions and forcing a rethink of data resilience strategies.

By Brett Chase • 5 min read • Wed, 18th Feb 2026
Centacare halves Azure storage costs in DR overhaul
Storage

Centacare halves Azure storage costs in DR overhaul

Centacare slashes Azure storage costs by 50% in disaster recovery revamp with 11:11 Systems, boosting resilience against cyber threats.

By Joseph Gabriel Lagonsin • 3 min read • Wed, 18th Feb 2026
Australia to enforce tougher rules on smart devices
Internet of Things

Australia to enforce tougher rules on smart devices

Australia will impose mandatory cybersecurity standards on smart devices from March 2026, forcing stronger passwords and update guarantees.

By Catherine Knowles • 4 min read • Tue, 17th Feb 2026

Global Stories

Data breach stories

AI-driven cyber attacks now breach networks in minutes
Malware

AI-driven cyber attacks now breach networks in minutes

AI-fuelled hackers can now spread across corporate networks in as little as four minutes, outpacing human defenders by hours.

By Shannon Williams • 4 min read • Thu, 26th Feb 2026
GenAI misuse & ransomware drive surge in cyber attacks
Malware

GenAI misuse & ransomware drive surge in cyber attacks

Global cyber attacks hit 2,090 a week in January as ransomware surges and risky GenAI use exposes fresh data-leak and intrusion paths.

By Sean Mitchell • 4 min read • Thu, 26th Feb 2026
Yubico unveils YubiNation Partners identity channel push
Multi-factor authentication

Yubico unveils YubiNation Partners identity channel push

Yubico launches YubiNation partner tiers and expanded training to boost phishing-resistant identity security amid rising breach costs.

By Joseph Gabriel Lagonsin • 4 min read • Wed, 25th Feb 2026
Insider risk costs soar as AI reshapes workplace data
Data Protection

Insider risk costs soar as AI reshapes workplace data

Insider risk now costs organisations an average USD $19.5 million a year as AI reshapes data access and employee negligence drives losses.

By Mark Tarre • 5 min read • Wed, 25th Feb 2026
Upgrade advantage: Why security enhancements matter for MSPs and MSSPs
Firewalls

Upgrade advantage: Why security enhancements matter for MSPs and MSSPs

For MSPs and MSSPs, next-gen firewall upgrades are now critical to stay secure, competitive and ready for relentless cyber threats.

By Sarah Choi and Mahpara Banday • 4 min read • Mon, 23rd Feb 2026
Proofpoint & Concentrix deepen Asia Pacific cyber push
Data Protection

Proofpoint & Concentrix deepen Asia Pacific cyber push

Proofpoint and Concentrix form Asia Pacific partnership to embed people-centric cyber and data protection tools into regional SOC services.

By Sean Mitchell • 4 min read • Mon, 23rd Feb 2026
From breach to recovery - 5 ways to prepare your IT team for the unexpected
Firewalls

From breach to recovery - 5 ways to prepare your IT team for the unexpected

When cyber attacks slip through defences, recovery readiness - not just prevention - decides whether your organisation bends or breaks.

By Al Kingsley MBE • 4 min read • Sat, 21st Feb 2026
Adfinis unveils flat-fee OpenBao-based secrets service
DevOps

Adfinis unveils flat-fee OpenBao-based secrets service

Adfinis launches Secretz Enterprise, a flat-fee OpenBao-based secrets service promising up to 50% savings and 24/7 support.

By Mark Tarre • 3 min read • Fri, 20th Feb 2026
LockBit 5.0 ransomware targets Windows, Linux, ESXi
Malware

LockBit 5.0 ransomware targets Windows, Linux, ESXi

New LockBit 5.0 ransomware hits Windows, Linux and ESXi in single campaigns, widening blast radius across mixed and virtualised environments.

By Catherine Knowles • 3 min read • Wed, 18th Feb 2026

Stories from Other Regions

Data breach stories

UK small firms lag on cyber breach & ID fraud defences
Multi-factor authentication

UK small firms lag on cyber breach & ID fraud defences

Fewer than half of UK small firms can spot cyber breaches, as identity fraud and supplier scams expose gaps in remote and hybrid working.

By Sofiah Nichole Salivio • 4 min read • Fri, 27th Feb 2026
Innovation without infrastructure? The hidden risk in Canada's AI-powered care
Firewalls

Innovation without infrastructure? The hidden risk in Canada's AI-powered care

Canada's AI-led healthcare boom is running on ageing systems, raising cyber risks and outages that threaten the promise of smarter care.

By Shash Anand • 5 min read • Fri, 27th Feb 2026
Surveillance, AI and the security gaps behind the camera
Data Protection

Surveillance, AI and the security gaps behind the camera

As facial analytics quietly spread through public spaces, Canadians face urgent questions over privacy, consent and digital surveillance.

By Jake MacAndrew • 7 min read • Sat, 21st Feb 2026
Phishing & smishing scams surge across Philippines
Firewalls

Phishing & smishing scams surge across Philippines

Phishing and smishing scams in the Philippines surged in 2025, with phishing sites jumping 423% as fraud shifts to mobile and social media.

By Kaleah Salmon • 4 min read • Thu, 19th Feb 2026
Record ransomware surge as 7,458 victims named in 2025
Malware

Record ransomware surge as 7,458 victims named in 2025

Ransomware hits record 7,458 named victims in 2025 as 124 gangs crowd dark web leak sites and new “supergroup” alliances emerge.

By Shannon Williams • 4 min read • Wed, 18th Feb 2026