The number of companies using the Australian Made logo on their products has strengthened in the past three years, reflecting an increasing recognition by businesses that consumers are wanting to spend more money locally on items bearing trustworthy country-of-origin certification.

Not only has the sum of Australian Made licensees rocketed, but the breadth of products and categories leveraging the logo has also expanded – covering everything from handmade jewellery to electricity producers, medical equipment, pharmaceuticals to agricultural machinery and construction products.

According to recent Roy Morgan research: 94% of people surveyed believe Australian consumers and businesses trust the green-and-gold kangaroo certification logo; and 96% of respondents felt the logo reassures customers that the product is genuinely Australian.

In the countdown to Australian Made Week (15–21 May), Australian Made Chief Executive, Ben Lazzaro, it was encouraging to see the uplift in licensees and support of the program.

“The brand has become iconic over the past three years and businesses recognise that consumers rely on it to do their ‘heavy lifting’ in terms of knowing that if a product carries the logo, they can buy with confidence – seeing it as a symbol for authenticity, quality, sustainability and ethical labour,” he said.

“Australian Made Week is an ideal time to draw attention to the exceptional manufacturing quality standards of Australian Made-certified products and the flow-on benefits of buying local.

“When you buy Australian Made, you have a direct economic impact on the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of Australians throughout the supply chain.

“Even a small change to people’s shopping habits can make a huge difference, with Roy Morgan research showing that if every household spent an additional $10 a week on Australian Made products, it would inject an extra $4.8 billion into the economy each year and create up to 9,500 new jobs.”

The research also found that Aussies are willing to put their money with their mouth is, with nearly a third (31.1%)  saying they would be willing to pay up to 10% more for Australian Made products.

The latest Australian Made Week campaign includes advertisements featuring tennis champion, previous Young Australian of the Year, author and Australian Made Ambassador Ash Barty calling on everyone to get involved in Australian Made Week by celebrating and supporting local makers and growers.

“I’m proud to be part of the campaign as it supports the livelihood of local manufacturing, local businesses, local families and local communities,” Barty said.

“There are so many benefits to buying Australian Made, including creating and supporting local jobs and boosting the economies of the cities, towns and regions where the goods are produced.

“We’re absolutely spoilt for choice in Australia as we have some of the best products in the world, manufactured and grown to the highest standards right here in our own backyard.

Now in its third year, Australian Made Week follows on from the huge success of the inaugural and 2022 campaign that prompted approximately 70% (71.2% and 68.8% respectively) of Aussies to increase their efforts to prioritise local product purchases.

Queensland-based MJ Playgrounds, which designs and manufactures high-quality play equipment at its Coolum factory, is one of the 4,400 businesses that consider their Australian Made certification as a badge of honour.

“The Australian Made logo enables buyers here and around the globe to instantly identify authentic Aussie brands such as ours,” MJ Playgrounds’ General Manager Danielle Perry said.

“Through our cutting-edge manufacturing, we are not only creating play equipment – and of course boundless fun for those who enjoy it – we are creating jobs in regional areas and helping grow the local economy.”

The Australian Made Week advertisements can be viewed here. Australian Made Week runs from 15–21 May 2023. Consumers can discover more and find genuine Aussie products at australianmadeweek.com.au

Click Frenzy specials in an opportunity for small businesses also to benefit. If you are looking to upgrade your business security, Swann Security has some great limited-time deals.

For a limited time only, customers will be able to enjoy exclusive discounts on a wide range of Swann Security’s top-selling security products. From state-of-the-art security cameras to cutting-edge smart home systems, our Click Frenzy sale has something for everyone looking to secure their home or business.

The sale will be running from the 12th of May – 24th of May offering sales between 20-50% off.

Please see the list below of the latest / top curated products from this year’s sale:

Global leader in the technology industry, Samsung Electronics, has announced the launch of its Galaxy A Series Enterprise Edition which includes the Galaxy A54 5G, Galaxy A34 5G and Galaxy A14 4G in Australia, offering enhanced security, tools, applications, and support needed for businesses at an affordable price range. Boasting up to two full days of battery life¹, these innovative smartphones enable users to stay connected without worry.

Following the recent news that Samsung was awarded Canstar Blue’s 2023 Most Satisfied Customers in the Smartphone Category, the Galaxy A series Enterprise Edition announcement speaks to the brand’s delivery of the latest Galaxy advancements at a great value.

The Galaxy A54 5G, A34 5G and A14 4G offer enterprise-focused features, such as fast file sharing with enhanced security, easy management of multiple SIMs with secured authentication, and 25W fast charging (15W fast charging on the Galaxy A14 4G) which allows users to be more productive in any environment.

Featuring immersive Super AMOLED displays, the 6.4-inch² Galaxy A54 5G and 6.6-inch³ Galaxy A34 5G were upgraded for astounding outdoor visibility, even under bright sunlight. Between the enhanced Vision Booster and a 120Hz refresh rate, the displays complement users who are working on the go as they move between different lighting conditions. The hero device of the Galaxy A Series Enterprise Edition range, the A54 5G, features a premium look and feel as well as increased camera pixel size⁴, allowing for easy image capture in both bright and low light conditions. With a 32MP front camera, 50MP rear camera, and video digital image stabilisation (VDIS) to combat shakiness and blur, users can connect through super-smooth video calls.

In a world of ongoing cybersecurity threats, businesses need to invest in mobile experiences with high quality security. The Galaxy A series Enterprise Edition come equipped with a one-year subscription to Samsung’s Knox Suite, its built-in security platform that is designed to provide multi-layered protection against malware, hacking, and other cyber threats. Offering end-to-end mobile management tools, the latest A series iterations streamline device management for added convenience. Timely software updates and support helps users receive critical OS updates and patches for up to five years, with options for remote support. A two-year availability assurance post-launch allows businesses’ IT teams to test, use and maintain consistency across teams.

“At Samsung, we understand the unique needs of different businesses, and the Enterprise Editions of the Galaxy A series range demonstrate our commitment to providing them with the tools they need to succeed,” said Garry McGregor, Vice President, Mobile Experience Division, Samsung Electronics Australia.  

“These devices are designed to deliver a user-friendly experience, enabling businesses to enhance workplace productivity through powerful performance, advanced Knox security solutions, two year product life-cycle assurances, and world class system support at an accessible price point.”

The Galaxy A54 5G and Galaxy A34 5G are also compatible with the Samsung Galaxy ecosystem to provide seamless connectivity between devices. Users can get 100GB of cloud storage and easily back up photos to OneDrive with a six-month trial of Microsoft 365 Basic⁵, accessible on the Galaxy A54 5G and Galaxy A34 5G.

The Enterprise Editions of the Galaxy A54 5G, Galaxy A34 5G and Galaxy A14 4G devices can be purchased via Telstra, Optus, and IT distributors Dicker Data, Synnex, Ingram Micro and World’s Best Technology who have a network of IT Resellers which include CompNow, JB Hi Fi Commercial and RTV Computers. Varying by model, prices range from $329 – $699 RRP. For more information, click here.

Leading non-bank business lender, ScotPac has welcomed the Federal Governments small business budget measures to assist businesses, including the temporary extension to the instant asset write-off threshold.

ScotPac CEO, Jon Sutton said the temporary extension to the instant asset write-off threshold to $20,000 for businesses with a turnover of up to $10 million for one year was a welcome initiative.

“The extended instant asset write-off is good news for SMEs as it allows them to invest in growing their business by purchasing much needed equipment,” Mr Sutton said.  

“We know from our most recent SME pulse check (SME Growth Index Q1, 2023) that 60% of SMEs are planning to invest in their business in the next six months, up from 55% a year earlier. 

“SMEs will welcome this additional investment support which will in turn benefit other businesses throughout their supply chains,” Mr Sutton said.

Mr Sutton said the other key budget initiative for SMEs included cash flow support through halving the adjustment factor applied to Pay As You Go (PAYG) and GST instalments.

“Cash flow is the lifeblood for SMEs, so any measure like this that keeps more working capital in the pockets of small and medium business owners is a positive.”

Mr Sutton encouraged SME owners to engage with their broker or advisor to ensure they were maximising opportunities available to them under the sorts of measures outlined in the Budget.

“A lot of SME owners remain unaware of the range of financial support options available to make running and investing in their business easier,’ Mr Sutton said.

“ScotPac has the breadth of products and experience to help more businesses in more situations than any other non-bank lender, including invoice finance, asset finance and online business loans.

‘Our new Partner Portal also provides brokers and advisors with all the tools they need to quickly find the right solution for their clients and grow their own business at the same time.”

ePac Flexible Packaging (ePac) has announced the launch of in-house design services to support brands of all sizes to optimise packaging design and branding.

A network of designers has joined ePac to help bring new and existing customers’ brands to life, providing packaging design support, as well as branding and content services to support their growth journey.

To celebrate the launch of the new offering, ePac is launching a design competition open to new and existing customers, as well as design and creative agencies. The competition will run between 8 May 2023 and 30 June 2023, with the winner of the ePac Packaging Design Awards to win A$5,000 worth of flexible packaging in the form of roll stock or pouches.

Claire Summers, ePac Flexible Packaging Marketing Director, APAC says: “Branding and design plays a pivotal role in the battle for attention on shelves and online, and we are thrilled to be able to offer design services to our customers in addition to their digital packaging needs.”

“Since launching in 2021, ePac has received a great response from the community, helping us build momentum in Australia. ePac’s design offering is a natural progression from our vision to help small businesses establish big brand presence by supporting their packaging needs with its local, cost-effective, fast and sustainable offerings.”

Built entirely on breakthrough digital printing technology, ePac serves local brands of all sizes, across multiple product categories from snacks, confections health and beauty, coffee, natural and organic foods, pet food, and nutritional supplements.

ePac provides 10-15 business day lead time, focuses on small and medium run-length orders, and enables brands to order to demand and avoid costly inventory and obsolescence.  

Backed by industry leading digital printing capabilities, ePac’s order-to-demand model equips local businesses with the confidence to take new products to market without the hassle of lost costs associated with inventory and obsolescence, through short and medium run length orders.

The network of designers and content creators include David Schembri Studios, Designable, Birdstone and Thick Black Frames.

The judging criteria for the Design Awards can be found here and entries need to be submitted at competitions@epacflexibles.com.

More information on ePac’s design services can be found here: epacflexibles.com/en-au/flexible-packaging-graphic-design-services.

In the first quarter of 2023 there was a significant increase in cyberattacks exploiting trust in established tech brands Microsoft and Adobe, according to Avast, a leader in digital security and privacy. The Avast Q1 2023 Threat Report, found a 40 percent rise in the share of phishing and smishing attacks over the previous year. Overall, two out of three threats people encounter online today use social engineering techniques, taking advantage of human weaknesses.

Malware, scams, and phishing attacks attempt to steal consumers’ sensitive data, like passwords, Tax File Numbers, and other personal identifiable information. When this data gets into the wrong hands, cybercriminals have the arsenal to easily steal someone’s identity. Identity theft can lead to a nightmare of events, from scammers ruining people’s credit score, to selling their information on the dark web, and even impersonating people to pass background checks.

“If you think your data has no value then why would scammers spend so much time trying to steal your data if it’s worthless? The truth is that anyone can be affected, and it is important to stay vigilant and use proper protection,” said Jakub Kroustek, Avast Malware Research Director.

“Unfortunately, scammers have made it nearly impossible to take any message at face value – all communications, whether seemingly from a friend, boss, or household brand, have potential to be fraudulent.”

New Malware Distribution Tactics Abusing Microsoft OneNote & Adobe Acrobat Sign

Cybercriminals know they can lure victims by using the names and likeness of well-known brands that consumers already trust. Avast has observed this trend among two popular applications commonly used for work: Microsoft OneNote and Adobe Acrobat Sign.

Scammers are sending out Microsoft OneNote files as email attachments to victims. When someone opens the attachment, it triggers the download of malware onto a device. Avast has spotted malware such as Qbot and Raccoon using this distribution technique to steal information, and has also observed IcedID, a banking Trojan, using OneNote attachments to steal money. During Q1 of 2023, Avast protected more than 47,000 global customers, including 940 in Australia from these types of attacks.

In some cases, Avast researchers also observed cybercriminals exploit Adobe Acrobat Sign by adding malicious links into documents that are sent from legitimate Adobe email addresses. These links prompt victims to download .ZIP files, which contain a variant of the Redline Trojan that can steal passwords, crypto wallets, and more.

“My advice is to take extra caution with any email asking you to download files or click on a link, even those that appear to be from reputable brands,” advises Jakub Kroustek.

“Cyber Safety software can act as a safety net for providing an extra layer of security to these types of savvy attacks that are increasingly targeting people.”

Avast’s Web Shield technology, part of all Avast Antivirus versions, is capable of scanning and unpacking OneNote files to detect malware. The threat research team has also developed specific heuristics and Yara rules to keep people safe from these threats.

Scammers are Casting More Lures as the Share of Phishing Attacks Increases 40% YoY

Phishing continues to be another way scammers take advantage of trust, posing a significant and rising threat to consumers. The Avast team found that the share of global phishing attempts among all threats blocked in Q1 was up 40% compared to the same quarter in 2022.

One type of phishing scam on the rise is refund and invoice scams, which happen when fraudsters send false bills or invoices for goods or services that were never ordered or received. Scammers often use household names with recognisable branding and logos to make these scams appear legitimate. Invoice scams also had a sharp uptick in Q1 2023.

The pervasiveness of attacks via mobile text messages, called smishing attacks, has also contributed to the rising rate of phishing incidents. The issue has become so severe that the Federal Government has announced the allocation of $10 million over four years from the upcoming budget to establish a new SMS sender ID registry, that will act as a blocking list and stop scammers from impersonating trusted contacts. Common smishing attack themes include financial alerts, package delivery notifications, tax alerts, charity scams and lottery scams.

“Scammers often play off victims’ emotions by creating a sense of urgency in their messages. If you receive an email or text out of the blue with an urgent request, or a message that seems too good to be true, take a few extra moments to verify it before acting,” says Jakub Kroustek.

“Always take a close look to confirm that an email or text is coming from a trusted sender, and if you have any doubt, go directly to the source, whether that be a person you know or a company’s help portal.”

Avast Free Antivirus, all Avast’s premium versions, and Avast Secure Browser provide top protection against phishing attacks, which is verified in quarterly tests by independent testing organisation AV-Comparatives.

The Avast Q1 2023 Threat Report can be found here: https://decoded.avast.io/threatresearch/avast-q1-2023-threat-report/

92% of Australian small businesses are calling for more support to help mitigate the negative effects of inflation, as revealed by a new study by accounting software provider Reckon . Fears of a recession are also front of mind, with 75% worried about this prospect.

The survey, which includes over 290 Australian SMB owners, reveals their aspirations and mood in the run-up to the 2023-24 federal budget, which will be revealed on 9 May 2023.

Small businesses are not confident that the budget will deliver positive change, with only 13% feeling optimistic. The survey also found that only 15% believed that enough was being done to improve Australia’s economic prosperity.

Sam Allert CEO of Reckon said, “Most SMBs are significantly concerned about the pressures of high inflation, as we can clearly see from the survey results. With the cash rate being raised by the RBA yet again, and the cost of living remaining high, SMBs want to see relief for these issues in the upcoming federal budget.

It seems, however, that the vast majority are not confident that the budget will adequately address these concerns. In the current economic climate, this comes as no surprise, and we remain hopeful that the budget will deliver on this front.”

Cybersecurity

With cybercrime becoming more widespread and sophisticated, representing a credible threat to businesses and their clients, 90% of SMBs want to see more being done to alleviate cyberthreats and boost cybersecurity.

Sam Allert commented, “It’s also no secret that there has also been a significant increase in cyberthreats over the last few years. Cybercrime has grown in sophistication and prevalence, leaving most small businesses looking to the federal government for relief and protection.

The threat of data loss, scams, or fraud for a small business is very real, and would represent an existential threat to livelihoods, business reputation, privacy, and the ability to continue to trade. Let’s hope the budget contains measures to mitigate cyberthreats and boost cybersecurity.”

Societal issues

In terms of societal issues, the study revealed that 51% wished to see more being done about climate change, while 39% wanted more support for mental health.

Sam Allert continued, ‘The peril of climate change is a primary concern for Australia and the globe, representing an environmental and economic threat. However, it seems that while this is certainly of concern to SMBs, it’s not a primary one.

Similarly with the issue of mental health, which we at Reckon take very seriously, our survey revealed only modest support for assistance in this area.

Taken as a whole, this would indicate that while such societal issues rank reasonably high in terms of importance, SMBs are much more focused on tangible economic support at this time. While I certainly hope to see these issues being addressed in the budget, it would also have to include meaningful economic relief to satisfy Australian small businesses”

Primary areas of concern

The study also revealed and ranked the primary concerns of small businesses, which they want to see included in the federal budget.

The study revealed that SMBs wanted to see more focus and investment in addressing; inflationary pressures (22%), healthcare (21%), and personal and business tax cuts (20%). Interest rates (15%) and power costs (14%) also ranked as of reasonable concern. Lower on the list were defence (9%) and super changes (7%).

Australian businesses are being warned to make sure their passwords are up to scratch, with ‘123456’ and ‘password’ still amongst the most popular choices.

The latest data from Microsoft shows hackers are conducting 921 password attacks every second, a 74 per cent increase from 2021*.

“Using the name of your childhood pet, your birthday or the street you grew up on simply isn’t enough to protect yourself from scams or cyber attacks in 2023,” said Phil Parisis, General Manager of My Business

“If it’s easy for you to remember, chances are it’s also easy for cybercriminals to guess and that’s not only putting you at risk but also exposing the businesses and corporations that you work for.

“Often a password is a first line of defence in a cyberattack so you want to make sure it’s like a locked door.” 

According to CyberNews** and their analysis of leaked accounts, the most popular passwords in 2023 are:

• 123456
• 123456789
• qwerty
• password
• 12345
• qwerty123
• 1q2w3e

Of the more than 15 billion passwords analysed from publicly-released data breaches, only around two billion were unique. 

“What’s interesting about this password data is that researchers were able to tell users favourite sporting teams, their cities, favourite food and even their ages just by their passwords,” Mr Parisis said.

“Another common inclusion is a year – often their birth year or another significant year in their life.

“Often people have the same password across their personal and work accounts which increases their chances of being hacked and losing multiple accounts at the same time.”

Mr Parisis’ top five tips for creating strong passwords:

1. Multi-factor Authentication. A security measure that requires two or more proofs of identity to grant you access. Multi-factor authentication typically requires a combination of either passwords, PINs, secret questions, an authenticator app, or fingerprint/other biometric. 
2. Use a mix of characters. Use a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters (such as %, *, and @) in your password. This makes it much harder for someone to guess your password using brute force methods. The longer your password, the harder it is to crack. Aim for a password that’s at least 12 characters long. 
3. Avoid common words and phrases. Avoid using common words or phrases in your password, such as “password,” “123456,” or “qwerty.” These are among the most commonly used passwords and are easily guessed by attackers.
4. Don’t reuse passwords. Never use the same password for multiple accounts. If one password is compromised, all of your accounts are at risk. Staff should have their own accounts and passwords. 
5. Use a password manager. The best passwords are the ones you don’t have to remember at all. A password manager can generate strong, unique passwords for each of your accounts and store them securely. This eliminates the need to remember multiple passwords and helps you create stronger passwords overall.

Mr Parisis says the latest ReportCyber*** data shows an eye-watering $300 million is lost every year to cybercrime.  My Business helps small businesses protect against cyber scams and attacks by offering automated staff training, tools and resources.

“Our simple training helps small business owners work smarter, not harder but giving them the tools needed to stay protected online,” Mr Parisis said. 

“Weak passwords are one of the top causes of data breaches and cyberattacks. Small businesses are particularly vulnerable to these threats due to their limited resources and often lack of dedicated IT departments.

“Make sure staff undergo regular security training exercises to follow password hygiene best practices, including identifying and reporting suspicious emails and messages.” 

Fiverr International Ltd., the company that is revolutionising how the world works together, is introducing Fiverr Enterprise, formerly Stoke Talent. This announcement comes as Stoke Talent is being integrated into Fiverr, and as the company continues to expand its solutions upmarket and aims to bring larger brands into the Fiverr suite of products as well as offer its existing customers additional capabilities. Fiverr Enterprise gives businesses complete control and offers a frictionless all-in-one solution to source, onboard, manage and pay their own freelance talent, while importantly simplifying budget tracking, tax, legal and workforce classification and compliance processes.

“Across the world, we are already seeing progressive companies integrate freelance talent into their workforces strategy to propel their growth,” said Micha Kaufman, Founder and CEO of Fiverr. “Fiverr Enterprise allows big businesses to quickly and simply engage with this integral part of their workforce, and to seamlessly incorporate freelance talent into their day-to-day workflows. This is a natural extension for Fiverr to be able to provide a centralised, and simple-to-use platform for companies to engage with their entire contingent workforce.” 

Fiverr Enterprise will continue  serving Stoke Talent’s wide range of customers including Amdocs, Similarweb, MinuteMedia and Waymo. Fiverr Enterprise gives businesses the ability to build their own curated freelance workforce with both online and offline talent whether they come from Fiverr or not, risk-free by leveraging its legal, tax, and worker classification capabilities. It provides onboarding and management capabilities that are standardised across the organisation along with complete visibility into the organisation’s global freelance workforce. 

For more information on Fiverr Enterprise, click here.