Managing cyber risks in an interconnected world, a report released by PwC this week, states cybersecurity has become a concern beyond information technology professionals and major corporations.
In addition, when it comes to discovering breaches, the report found large companies have a significant edge over smaller firms.
Speaking to AccountantsDaily, PwC’s national cyber leader Steve Ingram said accounting firms, regardless of size, need to “shake” the general perception that they won’t be affected by cybersecurity breaches.
“People think it’s too farcical, it’s too extreme, it’s too much to comprehend,” Mr Ingram said.
“It definitely applies to accountants. Nobody is immune. It’s such a connected network today, the risk is so ubiquitous.
“A lot of the smaller accounting firms would think that they’re just a small operation and they wouldn’t be of interest to a foreign government, or to an active competitor, or organised crime or a hacktivist.
“But in fact they could well be, and they could be an easier target.”
