3-MINUTE READ
Every board wants peace of mind.
So, they invest in tool after tool such as firewalls, monitoring systems, endpoint protection, compliance software… and then more dashboards to manage the dashboards. But despite all that spending, the attacks still get through.
More tools don’t mean more security.
A recent survey revealed that nearly 40% of Australian business leaders are confident in their organisation’s defences against cyberattacks. However, these organisations experienced an average of five major security incidents in the past year, despite utilising an average of eight cybersecurity platforms.
Clearly, the equation “more tools = more security” doesn’t always hold true.
In Brief
Most Australian businesses have invested in cybersecurity tools but breaches are still rising. Why? Because:
✅ Tools don’t work without people, process, and strategy
✅ Siloed systems leave dangerous blind spots
✅ Many tools are misconfigured or ignored
✅ Boards assume “we’re covered” when they’re not
Security isn’t what you buy. It’s what you build.
The Risk
The illusion of protection can be more dangerous than having no protection at all.
In 2023, Australians reported one cybercrime every 6 minutes, and breaches cost local businesses an average of $97,200 per incident (ACSC 2023–24).¹
So why are companies still getting hit?
Because tools don’t stop attacks, execution does. If your stack isn’t integrated, monitored, and actively managed, it becomes a false comfort blanket.
Why It Happens
Let’s break down the top reasons tools fail:
- They don’t talk to each other.
Your firewall doesn’t sync with your endpoint logs. Your backup tool doesn’t alert your SIEM. The gaps grow wider. - Alerts are ignored.
IT teams are overwhelmed with noise. Real threats get buried in meaningless notifications. - Tools are misconfigured.
A “default settings” installation is the same as leaving the door unlocked. Many teams never audit the tools they deploy. - Leadership assumes they’re protected.
Boards often believe their IT team has it handled but they rarely ask the right questions to confirm.
4 Signs (How to Fix It)
1. You don’t even know what’s in your toolbox.
✅ Audit your stack – Take inventory: what’s installed, what’s actually used, and what’s pretending to protect you. If you don’t know what you have, you can’t defend it or even explain it when something goes wrong..
2. Your tools are giving each other the silent treatment.
✅ Prioritize integration – If your tools don’t “talk,” you’re building security silos and threats slip through the cracks. Choose solutions that work together, or invest in platforms that unify your security view.
3. Your people think the tool is the solution.
✅ Train your team – Even the flashiest tech is useless if your team isn’t confident using it. Ongoing training turns your people from tool users into real defenders of faster responses, fewer missteps.
4. Leadership thinks cybersecurity is “IT’s problem.”
✅ Shift the mindset – Cybersecurity is a leadership issue. Ask: “Are we confident these tools are protecting the business, or just ticking boxes?”
Case Study: Real Stats from Australia
According to the Australian Cyber Security Centre, the top three cyber threats in 2023 were:
- Email compromise
- Online banking fraud
- Business email compromise (BEC) fraud
All three are human-led attacks, not failures of tech. Tools didn’t fail. People did, because they weren’t prepared, trained, or supported by a coherent security strategy.
Final Thought:
Cybersecurity tools are essential. But they’re not a silver bullet. If your board isn’t asking hard questions about strategy, integration, and execution again, you’re not protected. You’re exposed.
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