HAT Distribution partners with CyberSmart to bolster Australian SME cyber safety

HAT Distribution, an Australian technology distributor, is set to streamline and simplify cybersecurity assessments for small businesses through a new strategic partnership with CyberSmart, a UK cybersecurity provider. This collaboration comes at a high-need time as cyber crime saw a sharp rise in Australia last year, with 94,000 reported incidents.

The partnership aims to strengthen the cybersecurity capabilities of small businesses by providing swift, hassle-free "Essential Eight" assessments alongside year-round assurance. The Essential Eight is a recognised government standard for cybersecurity in Australia, seen as not just beneficial but crucial in specific industries. By utilising CyberSmart's solutions, businesses can attain and maintain this important standard, greatly reducing their cyber risk.

CyberSmart is the world's first solution offering complete cybersecurity services for SMEs. This includes monitoring, optimisation, and training, all contained within one user-friendly platform. With its services, reaching the Essential Eight controls becomes a straightforward task for Australian businesses, providing them with protection all year round.

Designed with the needs of Managed Service Providers (MSPs) and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in mind, CyberSmart's platform tackles the common challenge these businesses face - maintaining robust cyber defences with often limited resources. As part of the new distribution agreement, MSPs will be able to enhance their services with CyberSmart's comprehensive and cost-effective offerings, while SMEs will gain access to uncomplicated Essential Eight assessments.

Australian SMEs will also benefit from access to CyberSmart's Active Protect, an advanced on-device agent offering comprehensive endpoint monitoring, risk management, policy enforcement, and cybersecurity awareness training. This unique feature continually assesses the security status of a device, identifies vulnerabilities, and provides easy-to-follow solutions to rectify them.

Josh Gammer, General Manager of HAT Distribution, spoke about the partnership, saying: "Amidst the ever-evolving cyber threat landscape, we are thrilled to partner with CyberSmart, a leader in cybersecurity innovation, to help more Australian businesses comply with the Government's endorsed Essential Eight framework." Gammer also emphasised the significance of the partnership for smaller businesses, stating that these enterprises will now have access to the tools needed for Essential Eight assessments. MSPs also stand to benefit by guiding their clients towards stronger cyber defences through this consultative business opportunity.

Jamie Ahktar, CEO at CyberSmart, highlighted the excitement surrounding the brand's expansion into the Australian market with HAT Distribution, recognizing the pervasive nature of cyber crime. He stated, "Cyber crime is a worldwide business, and the interconnected nature of global commerce in 2024 means that the more geographies we are able to offer SMBs complete cyber confidence in, the better." Given that almost half of Australians reported experiencing cyber crime in 2023, Ahktar expressed the belief that the comprehensive protection CyberSmart is bringing to the Australian market will be valuable in limiting the success and impact of these incidents in the future.