Last week, we hosted Sip & Secure – an afternoon dedicated to cutting through the noise around cybersecurity, insurance, and IT partnership for Australian SMBs.

We brought together cybersecurity experts Paul Barge from Kaseya and Daniel Boufarhat from Cyber Threat Insure to have real conversations about what Sydney businesses need to know about protecting themselves in today’s threat landscape.

The conversations and questions throughout the afternoon showed us that businesses are ready to tackle cybersecurity – they just need the right guidance. Here are the key insights from each of our speakers.

Australia’s Cybersecurity Crisis

Paul Barge, Kaseya Australia

Australia is facing an unprecedented cybersecurity crisis. Research shows that cyberattacks are not only increasing in frequency and sophistication, but they’re also becoming more costly – and small to medium businesses are increasingly in the crosshairs.

Why? Because cybercriminals know that SMBs often lack the dedicated resources and enterprise-level security that larger organisations have. The threat landscape has fundamentally changed, and no business is too small to be a target anymore.

The reality: If you’re thinking “we’re too small to be a target” – that’s exactly what cybercriminals are counting on.

What Cyber Insurers Are Looking For

Daniel Boufarhat, Cyber Threat Insure

Cyber insurers are raising the bar. They’re no longer just asking ‘do you have antivirus?’ – they want to see documented security controls, alignment with recognised cybersecurity frameworks, and demonstrated compliance.

This is where certifications like SMB1001 become critical. It’s not just about ticking a box for insurance – it’s about proving you have the right protections in place, and SMB1001 provides a clear, structured pathway for Australian SMBs to meet these requirements.

The takeaway: Insurance requirements aren’t about creating more paperwork – they’re about ensuring you have genuine protection in place.

What True IT Partnership Looks Like

Garth Lewis, Alpha IT Solutions

You don’t need to become a cybersecurity expert to protect your business – you need a true IT partner who builds security in from day one, not bolts it on after something goes wrong.

The right partner understands your business, thinks strategically about your technology, and makes compliance feel manageable rather than overwhelming. With AlphaCORE, the technical controls for SMB1001 Gold are already built into the foundation of your IT infrastructure – so you’re protected from day one.

The difference: Security isn’t something you add later – it’s the foundation of how your IT should work.

Want to Learn More?

If you’re thinking about your business’s cybersecurity strategy, here are some helpful resources:

Explore AlphaCORE and our security-first approach:
Alpha IT | Managed IT Solutions

Learn about cyber insurance options:
www.cyberthreatinsure.com

Explore SMB1001 Certification:
Dynamic Standards International (DSI)

What’s Next?

Sip & Secure was just the beginning. We’re planning more events in 2026, including a session on AI & Digital Transformation for SMBs.

Want to be the first to know when we announce the next event? Get in touch and we’ll make sure you’re on the list.

Have questions about anything we covered? We’re here to help. Contact us at hello@alphait.com.au or call (02) 8071 4180.

Thanks to everyone who joined us at Sip & Secure. Your questions and engagement throughout the afternoon reminded us why we love doing this – helping Sydney businesses tackle cybersecurity with confidence, not fear.