< News Compulsory Disclosure of Ransomware Payments Looms 6 Aug 2024 Australian organisations will soon be forced to disclose their ransomware payments to cyberthieves. The measure is included in a landmark new Cyber Security Act to be brought before parliament’s next sitting. It comes in response to research which shows Australian businesses have been paying untold amounts of ransom to hackers in what is now a mounting wave of ransomware hacks. Ransom payments flourishing The government is reportedly concerned that the practice of quietly paying off cybercriminals has flourished in secrecy. While the government originally planned to place an outright ban on ransom payments, it’s now focused on mapping the scale of the problem. "People are paying criminals money and it is happening in the darkness (and) we need to bring this out into the light," said former minister for cybersecurity Clare O'Neil. "Government cannot win this war alone. We need a whole-of-nation effort here." Every six minutes In its 2022/23 Annual Cyber Threat Report, the Australian Cyber Security Centre confirmed it was notified of a new cyber incident every six minutes on average. Ransomware attacks have increased roughly five-fold since 2020. As worrying as those numbers might seem, they are still only a glimpse of the real problem. "It is believed that in the Five Eyes countries alone - Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States - literally billions of dollars in ransoms is being paid, and criminal gangs are reinvesting that money … to attack us again," O'Neil said. Business groups concerned Cyber security experts say the proposed changes strike the right balance. However, business groups say they are concerned the new disclosure rules could sink some small operators. To help tempt reluctant businesses into transparency, the government is proposing that disclosures will not be subjected to "the glare of regulators". A "Limited Use Provision" will prevent the Australian Signals Directorate and the Australian Cyber Security Centre from sharing the information more widely, except in narrow circumstances. Said O’Neil: "This is a no-fault scheme. We're not blaming businesses … they're victims of a crime." Under the existing proposal, regulators such as the Privacy Commissioner would still be allowed to investigate and prosecute companies that "leave the front door unlocked", but only using their existing powers. "It doesn't absolve business of any of their legal responsibilities or liabilities," O'Neil said. "We expect Australian businesses to take care of their customers … but sometimes things do go wrong." Not just the private sector The problem of ransomware attacks is not limited to the private sector. The Australian Signals Directorate said almost one-third of cybersecurity incidents reported in the 2022-2023 financial year came from the public service. Consecutive audits of the government sector have found it has a "low-maturity level" when it comes to cybersecurity, despite holding the largest store of sensitive data about Australian citizens. As it stands, about 1,000 Australian entities providing "critical infrastructure" such as energy, healthcare and banking services are obliged to report ransom payments. Attacks escalating The new mandatory reporting measures are recognition that there is no end in sight to ransomware attacks. Johanna Weaver, director of the Tech Policy Design Centre at ANU, said "No matter how good our cybersecurity protections are … (attacks) will continue to happen." She applauded the push to establish an ongoing "Cyber Incident Review Board", similar to what exists in the aviation industry, to learn from other major breaches, such as the attack on MediSecure. Avoiding Ransom Payments To be truly secure, an organisation’s data must be protected not only when it’s stored, but also while it’s enroute to and from storage. Managed File Transfer (MFT) solutions such as the class-leading GoAnywhere MFT encrypt data at rest and in transit, complying with the highest data security standards (including the US’s and Europe’s HIPAA, HITECH, PCI DSS, SOX, and GDPR). MFT manages inbound and outbound file transfers across an organisation, using industry-standard file transfer protocols such as SFTP, FTPS, and AS2 to send files securely, and encryption standards such as Open PGP and AES to protect data in transit and at rest. Local Expertise on Hand Generic Systems Australia are your local experts in Managed File Transfer solutions. We’ve assisted hundreds of organisations across the Asia-Pacific region to secure their data and keep cybercriminals at bay. If you’d like to discuss improving your cybersecurity, please feel welcome to contact me , Bradley Copson. I’m always happy to have an obligation-free discussion, explain how simply we can transition you from outdated software and approaches, and offer you a zero-cost Proof of Concept. Attribution: sections of this article were substantially sourced from an item originally published by ABC News Australia. Previous Next

< News How Load Balancing optimises your file transfers 30 Apr 2024 Network bottlenecks that cause business downtime are the bete noir of corporate IT teams. Businesswire found that 82% of companies experienced at least one downtime incident during the past three years… costing small businesses $660 per minute, and larger organisations $14,000 per minute. Load balancing is a key technique for keeping network traffic flowing. What is Load Balancing? Load balancing is key to “clustering”, where multiple systems work together as a single unit to help ensure high-availability, scalability, and reliability. It’s a technique which enables organisations to distribute workloads and network traffic across multiple servers or network interfaces in a computer cluster. Effective load balancing means that network traffic is always directed to servers which are “available”, should a particular server become overwhelmed or fail. Balancing workloads optimises the performance of systems and applications –– for example, a managed file transfer (MFT) solution for exchanging data –– preventing bottlenecks and other efficiency-sapping impacts. Why Load Balance for File Transfers? Delays in sending files can have significant negative ripple effects throughout an organisation. Incoming orders may not be received, or shipping may be delayed, leading to dissatisfied customers. Delayed financial transactions with trading partners may weaken an organisation’s supply chain. Load balancing helps organisations continue to operate ‘business as usual’ even when a system fails or is inundated with a heavy network workload. Other benefits of load balancing include: Scalability: Load balancers can help organisations adapt to growing and changing conditions and workloads without suffering adverse events. New servers can be seamlessly added to the cluster when more scalability is needed. Performance Optimisation : Traffic is routed to the server most capable of handling a given request based on location or server health. Redundancy: Organisations safeguard themselves, should one server become overloaded or fail, with load balancing enabling processing work to continue without interruption. Using Middleware and Active-Active Framework for Load Balancing A robust managed file transfer solution, such as Fortra’s GoAnywhere MFT, delivers critical load balancing and scaling when installed in a cluster. The solution’s load balancer, GoAnywhere Gateway, serves as both a reverse proxy and load balancer. When paired with Gateway as a load balancer, each inbound file server connection can be distributed to available systems in the environment. MFT workflows performed in a clustering environment gain increased performance and throughput. If a system within a cluster fails, GoAnywhere Gateway automatically routes all new trading partner connections to the remaining systems in the cluster. For mission critical environments and processes, this is an “active-active” framework providing high availability. Enhanced Security GoAnywhere Gateway also provides an extra security layer when exchanging data. The Gateway keeps file sharing services such as FTPS, HTTPS, SFTP servers and any documents secure in the private or internal network. No additional inbound ports need to be opened, which helps organisations meet compliance requirements such as those for PCI DSS, SOX, HIPAA, GLBA, as well as certain privacy laws. This round robin algorithm essentially works like this: For each new FTP, FTPS, or SFTP connection from a trading partner, the Gateway distributes that session sequentially to the next FTP/FTPS/SFTP server within the cluster. HTTP/S, however, is a stateless protocol. It uses the round robin algorithm but will persist each connection for a time to maintain session integrity. HTTP/S sessions typically are only served by one HTTP/S server at a time. If you’d like to discuss how your organisation can reduce downtime through MFT load balancing, please feel welcome to contact our Business Manager, Bradley Copson (mail to: bradley@gensys.com.au ). He’s always happy to have an obligation-free discussion, explain how simply we can transition you from outdated software and approaches, and offer you a zero-cost Proof of Concept. Generic Systems Australia Your Local Experts in Secure Managed File Transfer Previous Next

< News How MFT Monitors and Protects Your Organisation’s Vulnerable Edge Devices 11 Mar 2025 The Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) has urged Australian organisations to ensure they employ effective logging and monitoring to detect potential threats on network edge devices. Edge Devices Edge devices are critical network components positioned at the periphery of an organisation’s internal network (i.e. "the edge"). They’re the critical interface between the organisation and the internet, performing essential functions such as managing data traffic, enforcing security policies and enabling seamless communication across network boundaries. The most common edge devices across enterprise networks include enterprise routers, firewalls and VPN concentrators. Every organisation with a connection to the internet has at least one edge device. Edge Vulnerability Because edge devices they can access other assets on the organisation’s network, they’re an appealing target for cyber criminals. Failing to secure them is like leaving a door open from the internet to internal networks. Once inside, hackers can access sensitive data and disrupt business operations. As they perform their important task in the background, it can be easy to overlook the security vulnerabilities that edge devices present. And the more edge devices an organisation uses, the greater the potential “threat surface”, and the greater challenge for IT staff to keep them secure. Compromised edge devices can lead to data loss, intellectual property loss, financial loss, business disruption, reputational damage and legal liabilities. Maintaining The Edge The ASD says that, to protect their edge devices, organisations should focus on: • capturing high-quality logs • centralising logging in real time, and • securing event log storage. Automated Logs, Auditing and Reporting Managed File Transfer (MFT) technology has a key role to play in monitoring data transfers, both within an organisation and to the outside world. Leading MFT solutions such as GoAnywhere MFT automatically compile comprehensive audit reports of file transfer activity. All file transfer activity is securely stored and easily searched. Reports and alerts can be automatically emailed to cyber security staff, who can instantly check files are only being sent where they should go, and by people appropriately authorised to send and receive them. Further, any organisations required to report on file transfer activity can use GoAnywhere’s logs to comply with their industry’s cyber regulations. Heeding the ASD’s Advice At Generic Systems Australia, we have decades of experience helping Australian and New Zealand organisations take advantage of the security and efficiency that MFT provides. And our Migration Service makes the transition even easier for busy businesses who’d rather spend their time focusing on their customers than their IT systems. If you’d like a no-cost, no-obligation discussion about how we could help you simply and affordably adopt an advanced MFT solution, please feel welcome to get in touch . Previous Next

SECURE YOUR CLOUD DATA Whether you are already moving select pieces of your business to the cloud, just starting the cloud conversation, or are considering establishing a hybrid environment, you're in good company. Organisations move to the cloud in some fashion for its flexibility, scalability, and faster deployment. However, there is still hesitancy in adapting cloud technology due to security concerns as well as compliance requirements, and a lack of visibility and control. A 2023 Cloud Security Report, which surveyed the challenges and priorities of more than 750 cybersecurity professionals, found that 39% of respondents already have more than half of their workloads in the cloud, and 58% planned to get to that level in the next 12–18 months. However, Cloud security continues to be a significant concern, with 95% of surveyed organisations concerned about their security posture in public cloud environments. In this article, we explore how a robust Managed File Transfer (MFT) solution can help protect your data transfers, in transit and at rest, without compromising the convenience or cost-effectiveness of moving your business to a cloud-based environment. Cloud File Transfers Most organisations oversee dozens (if not hundreds or thousands) of in-house file transfers a day. Whether it’s sending files to employees, transferring reports to trading partners, receiving data from third-party vendors, or collecting sensitive information from customers, it’s all part of the exchange of information that is regularly processed. Where do cloud-based file transfers fit in? Cloud infrastructure can give companies a lot of leeway. Some data can be managed in the cloud, or all of it can be — the choice is entirely up to you. Moving data to the cloud can be as simple as transferring files and folders to whatever storage platform you use with your provider. And with strong encryption and security policies in place, you can control who has access to that business-critical, sensitive data in the cloud. Data that’s been entrusted to the cloud is kept in physical servers and data centres managed by cloud computing services. Almost all file movement between a business, its employees, its trading partners, and its remote locations can happen through the cloud. Sensitive information can move quickly and efficiently between the business and wherever it’s stored (even on servers around the world), which gives organisations the ability to operate smoothly and access their data from anywhere. Because everything is stored off-site, local outages and user errors are minimised, bettering the chances that important, scheduled transfers will complete successfully. The Current State of Cloud D ata Security For cloud computing platforms like Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud, security of customer data is one of their highest priorities. They have a variety of resources in place to protect their clients’ privacy, but despite their best attempts, these measures don’t always stop data loss, compromised information, or unexpected cloud server outages. Cloud security is a two-way street. Researching each cloud provider’s cybersecurity methods and selecting the best one for your organisation is imperative — a positive step toward ensuring your data’s integrity. But it’s not the only step. IT teams are just as responsible for the security of their sensitive business data as the cloud platforms that hold it. Whether your organisation is thinking of deploying to the cloud or already has, you'll need to perform due diligence regarding your processes and policies. Start by asking questions like these: What are our top security considerations? How will our IT team processes change? What vulnerabilities have been introduced or addressed from moving to the cloud? Do we have points of failure that should be planned for? Are cloud file transfers properly encrypted to minimise risk of data breaches? Protecting Your File Transfers Many of these questions are subjective, of course. Each IT team is likely to answer them in different ways, based on your company policies and processes. But to achieve the best possible cloud security, don’t overlook the current state of your file transfers. Encryption is often the last line of defence between a malicious user or human error and sensitive information. If, however, data is properly secured with strong encryption protocols during transfers as well as when idle and sitting on a server, a cloud breach is far less likely to result in data exposure. For those who must comply with regulations like HIPAA, GDPR, GLBA, PCI DSS, and SOX, following encryption requirements in the cloud comes with extra benefits — as long as the keys for encrypted data are safe, breached information can’t be read, preventing hackers from selling or otherwise exploiting your or your customers sensitive data. File Transfers and the Cloud When moving your data between your network and the cloud, it’s considered best practice to always encrypt your files and protect your communication using secure network protocols like SFTP, FTPS, or SCP. Your files, databases, and even entire folders should be encrypted at rest, too, whether or not the cloud platform you’ve chosen already secures it. A common dated (and not recommended) approach to file transfers uses custom scripts created by internal programmers. The scripts often include commands for encryption, which may or may not be simple to modify, depending on your team's given skillset. While this file transfer process "can" work for a while, as it addresses basic company needs initially, as the number of file transfers rise, so does the difficulty of maintaining a homegrown solution. And that’s not including other possible roadblocks, like an inability to handle logging capabilities or alerts when a file transfer fails. Managed file transfer solutions provide organisations with helpful, robust features that enable them to grow with their data exchange requirements –– especially beneficial when moving to a cloud environment. GoAnywhere Managed File Transfer GoAnywhere MFT eliminates the need for homegrown scripts and multiple programs by streamlining the file transfer process. It can be installed in a cloud-based environment (single or multi) or on-premises via a variety of platforms, giving you full control of your deployment. Transfers can be scheduled and automated with custom workflows (projects), and data can be sent securely between systems, employees, customers, and trading partners. Meanwhile, administrators are given a single point of control with extensive security settings, audit trails, and reports, greatly reducing the possibility of user errors and oversights. GoAnywhere also provides high return on investment by reducing the time spent on manual labour, improving the quality of file transfers, making security more cost-effective, and helping organisations meet a variety of requirements including PCI DSS, HIPAA, GDPR, and FISMA. MFT Security and Encryption All file transfers are protected with popular encryption protocols, including SFTP, FTPS, FTP, SCP, AS2, HTTPS, Open PGP, and ZIP with AES. In the GoAnywhere MFT solution. A built-in key manager allows administrators to create, import, export, and manage Open PGP keys, SSH keys, and SSL certificates. And for those who must comply with FIPS 140-2, validated encryption ciphers can be enabled for SSL and SSH protocols. GoAnywhere offers connections to a variety of servers and guarantees file delivery by using connection retries and file auto-resume. Admins can monitor transfer success, review account activity, and authenticate user access from anywhere via GoAnywhere’s browser-based interface. Beyond basic encryption practices and features, GoAnywhere also addresses several business requirements for the cloud. GoAnywhere and Amazon EC2 For organisations that use AWS as their cloud provider, GoAnywhere MFT easily integrates with Amazon Elastic Cloud Computing (EC2). You can find, and quickly install, GoAnywhere MFT on Amazon's AWS Marketplace. You can use GoAnywhere’s secure FTP technology to protect sensitive file transfers with strong encryption technology and modern authentication methods. This creates encrypted tunnels between client and server systems and provides confidentiality and integrity to critical transmissions. Secure FTP also protects any user credentials that flow over the connection. Do you need to address high volumes of file transfers in your organisation? With GoAnywhere’s clustering technology, file transfers and other processes can be distributed across multiple Amazon EC2 instances for load balancing. And when an instance is taken offline, file transfers and jobs will be automatically routed to other installations in the cluster. GoAnywhere and Microsoft Azure For organisations that use Microsoft as their cloud provider, GoAnywhere integrates with Azure to provide IT teams with secure file transfers between all active parties. Installing and running GoAnywhere MFT on Azure is an effortless process, as everything you need is included, reducing the need for additional third-party solutions. You can install GoAnywhere on your choice of Azure-supported Windows or Linux operating systems, then set up your trading partner accounts and file transfer processes. GoAnywhere’s intuitive design and modular features allow you to be up and running on Azure quickly. If you want to scale GoAnywhere on Azure, file transfers and other processes can be distributed across multiple Azure VM instances for load balancing. Connections to a variety of databases including Microsoft SQL Server through GoAnywhere, and user accounts can be authenticated against Microsoft Active Directory to simplify user management for your file collaboration needs. Conclusion Organisations worldwide have already, or soon will be turning their focus to the cloud. Yes, security will continue to be an issue in all configurations of technology on-premises, in the cloud, or in hybrid situations. And moving to the cloud isn't without risk. To help prevent data loss, IT teams must do due diligence and take steps to protect their data — starting with their cloud file transfer process and solutions. Implementing a managed file transfer solution like GoAnywhere MFT enables businesses to control how their data is protected, in transit and at rest. Through strong encryption protocols, file monitoring, and integration with Amazon EC2 and Microsoft Azure, IT teams can rest assured that organisational and customer data is safe in a variety of environments without running outdated, unsecure expensive, time-consuming scripts and programs. Is it time to enhance the security of YOUR cloud data? If you’d like to discuss how GoAnywhere MFT can enhance the security of your organisation’s cloud data, please feel welcome to reach out to our Business Manager, Bradley Copson. He’s always happy to have an obligation-free discussion, explain how quickly and easily we can transition your organisation to the class-leading MFT solution, and offer you a zero-cost Proof of Concept. At Generic Systems Australia, we’re your local experts in secure Managed File Transfer. RESOURCES HOME

< News Five Indications Your Organisation Could Benefit from an MFT 20 May 2025 Data is the lifeblood of a modern business. Your ability to safely store and move data is fundamental to your daily operations. Your efficiency in moving and using data determines the overall speed at which your business operates. So it’s worth taking a few moments to consider how to potentially improve the way your team currently stores, protects and moves your valuable organisational data. Are they still relying on outdated file transfer protocols like FTP? Are they trusting your data to a hodge-podge of risky ad-hoc cloud dropbox-style services? Are they relying on years-old hand-coded file transfer scripts? There’s a better – safer, more robust, faster, more efficient, fully automated – way: Managed File Transfer (MFT). Here are five key indicators that your business may be ready to benefit from an MFT solution. Using Outdated Ways to Send Data? A surprising number of organisations still rely on outdated protocols and clunky scripts to move precious data around. However, these legacy methods increase the risk of human error, take time away from more critical tasks, and are difficult to maintain. An MFT is easy to use, easy to audit, requires little maintenance, and removes manual tasks from your stretched IT team’s To Do list. Increasingly Targeted by Cybercriminals? Your IT team can tell you how many cybercrime incursions they’re seeing daily. The number may shock you! With hackers escalating their efforts to extort your business and customers, it’s more essential than ever to secure your data and maintain a ‘circle of trust’ with your supply chain partners. An MFT solution, such as GoAnywhere MFT, employs the latest encryption algorithms to reduce the risk of data breaches during transit. Features like Access Controls, and Multi-factor Authentication, safeguard sensitive information from unauthorised access. New Government Regulations? In response to the impacts of escalating cybercrime on businesses and citizens, governments are imposing ever greater requirements on businesses to ensure they protect consumers’ personal data. From health data (hospital records, test results), to banking data (debit and credit card numbers, bank account details), to identity data (home address, government id), businesses that fail to take responsible measures to protect sensitive data face growing sanctions. Worse, a breach may not only cost your organisation time and money to remediate, it may also ruin your reputation. An MFT solution helps ensure your file transfers comply with regulatory requirements. Features such as auditing, reporting, role-based access, secure protocols, centralised security controls, encryption, and key management protect employee and consumer data from security mishaps. Cloud Dependencies? Many organisations have moved business processes to the cloud, and regularly exchange files with trading partners there. But transfers to and from the cloud – especially those over public telecommunications networks – require extra protection. From streamlining and automating cloud file transfers to platforms like Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure, to integrating with popular web and cloud services like SharePoint and Google Drive, using an MFT makes working with partners in the cloud smooth, reliable and safe. Evolving Network Conditions? Research shows that a single hour of system downtime can easily cost a medium-sized business a six-figure sum. As organisations and trading partners become increasingly integrated, it’s critical that file transfers are performed without delay or disruption. Whereas a document containing a batch of important transactions may once have been delivered over several hours, today’s fast pace of business requires it to take mere seconds. An enterprise-calibre file transfer solution should have a high availability plan in place. The right solution will provide active-passive and active-active (i.e. clustering) methods for organisations who need to keep their processes running no matter the situation at hand. Clustering provides the best high availability by running multiple servers simultaneously. Therefore, if one goes down, file transfers and workflows will continue to run on other servers so communication with your trading partners won’t be interrupted. The Leading MFT If any of these indicators ring true for you, it may be time to consider upgrading to an MFT solution. The acknowledged leading MFT, GoAnywhere, is an all-in-one solution, automating and encrypting file transfers from a centralised dashboard. GoAnywhere saves businesses time, money, and reputation. Local Expert Help At Generic Systems Australia we have decades of experience installing and customising MFT solutions to suit the needs of Australian and New Zealand businesses. If you’d like to explore how MFT can boost your organisation’s security and efficiency, please feel welcome to get in touch . I’m always ready to have a broad-ranging, no-obligation discussion. If you’d like, I can even organise a quick proof-of-concept to demonstrate how MFT can be easily tailored to your organisation’s specific needs. At Generic Systems Australia, we’re your local experts in Managed File Transfer. Previous Next

< News Paying a Ransomware Demand is No Guarantee 31 Aug 2026 Paying a ransom is no guarantee you’ll get your data back. Recent research by Rubrik shows that Australia is now one of the world’s most vulnerable ransomware targets. Worse, attackers are increasingly destroying or corrupting backup systems, meaning even organisations that pay often cannot recover quickly, if at all. The most ransomware‑targeted nation Rubrik Zero Labs’ research shows Australia recorded the highest proportion of ransomware attacks globally, with 35% of organisations hit in the past 12 months. One major driver of this surge: Australian organisations keep paying. Rubrik’s research found that that the majority of Australian victims paid a ransom (second only to Singapore). Rubrik’s analysts were blunt in their observations on their findings: paying ransoms fuels the criminal ecosystem and encourages repeat targeting. Backup systems are being compromised too Rubrik’s telemetry highlights a critical shift: attackers now target backup and recovery systems directly. 78% of Australian organisations said attackers partially compromised their backup systems. 35% said backups were completely compromised. This is why paying a ransom doesn’t guarantee recovery - the systems needed to restore data are often damaged. Rubrik says the operational impact is severe: No Australian organisations said they recovered within an hour. 23% took more than 24 hours. 34% said they believed full recovery would take at least a week. Cloud and SaaS are widening the attack surface Australian organisations are rapidly expanding their digital footprint. 98% use 2–5 cloud/SaaS platforms and most plan to increase cloud/SaaS usage. This leads to key challenges such as securing sensitive data across multiple environments, data/privacy compliance/privacy and other complications that arise from a lack of centralised management. MFT helps prevent ransomware attacks Modern Managed File Transfer (MFT) platforms provide a critical layer of defence against the exact weaknesses Rubrik identifies. A robust MFT solution: Eliminates risky manual file handling , a common ransomware entry point. Encrypts all data in transit and at rest , preventing credential theft from exposing sensitive files. Centralises access control , reducing the identity sprawl attackers exploit. Provides tamper ‑ proof audit trails , making it harder for attackers to hide lateral movement. Automates file workflows , removing insecure ad‑hoc transfers that often bypass security policy. In a landscape where attackers are compromising backups, stealing credentials, and exploiting cloud complexity, MFT gives organisations a governed, hardened data‑movement layer - reducing exposure and strengthening resilience before an attack ever begins. On Hand in Australia to Help At Generic Systems Australia we have decades of experience helping local businesses keep cyber thieves at bay through deployment of the world’s best MFT, GoAnywhere . If you’d like a no-cost, no-obligation discussion about how we could help you, please feel welcome to get in touch with me. Previous Next

< News Black Friday Sales Splash Creates Data Surge 12 Nov 2024 Data transfer traffic is already surging across Australia as many online retailers jump the gun and promote Black Friday Sales early this year. Australians are set to spend a record $6.7B during the Black Friday/Cyber Monday weekend, according to Roy Morgan Research. An increase of 5.5% on last year, this level of spending will mean Black Friday has well and truly eclipsed Boxing Day as Australia’s top shopping event of the year. 50% of Australians plan to participate in the annual sales splurge, according to Future Publishing Australia’s inaugural Consumer Confidence Report. Of these, 45% plan to find their Black Friday deals online. Data Transfer Tsunami The surge in sales will in turn create a tsunami of data transfers, as businesses transact, process orders, and share a variety of e-commerce files with their supply chain partners. For some businesses – those still using outdated file sharing technologies like email and FTP – this will be a hugely stressful period. They’ll need to be hyper vigilant for lost orders, failed file transfers, and man-in-the-middle hack attacks. Other businesses - those taking advantage of modern, automated file transfer technologies such as Managed File Transfer (MFT) - will surf the data tsunami with ease. MFT will comprehensively address the risks and challenges of moving information, both within their organisation, and with external suppliers, partners and customers. Through centralised control, encryption, automation and auditing, MFT will provide the security, efficiency, reliability and scalability that FTP and email never could. “Cyber Trust” Consumer trust in retailers’ e-commerce transactions will be an even more important factor in eventual sales numbers this year. High profile hacks of consumer data over the past 12 months are leading consumers to question the security of a company’s systems before handing over credit card and other information. Companies will need to be able to provide reassurance – and proof – that transactions and personal data will be secure. Companies with MFT will be better able to provide that reassurance, keeping a clean history as responsible guardians of customer data. Shopper Shift Chris Ferguson, commercial director APAC at Future Publishing Australia, described the popularity of Black Friday in the local market as a “pivotal” change in the retail landscape. “Consumers are increasingly drawn to the prospect of early savings and the convenience of online shopping, so retailers anticipate and accept this new reality to capture their share of the market.” He said that, despite the current economic climate, his research showed Australians remained committed to their festive spending plans. 56% of Australians still plan to spend the same amount as last year on Christmas gifts, while 21% intend to spend even more. Australian Retailers’ Association CEO Paul Zahra said retailers were “pulling out all the stops to ensure they have the best product lines and gift solutions, customer service offerings and enhanced online platforms to make shopping during this peak season more seamless than ever.” He said most discretionary retailers expect to make up to 66% of their annual profit during peak season. Surf the Tsunami Generic Systems Australia are Australia’s experts in deploying Managed File Transfer and other layered defences, such as Advanced Threat Protection . We routinely help local organisations better manage their file transfers, seamlessly scaling up to meet the heightened demands of sales events like Black Friday. If you’d like to discuss how we can help you, please feel welcome to contact me . I’m always happy to have an obligation-free chat and explain how simply we can level up your file transfer approaches. I can even arrange a simple, zero-cost Proof of Concept. Previous Next

< News Migration Services make upgrading easy 17 Mar 2024 Are you attracted to the security and efficiency of a Managed File Transfer solution… but a little worried about the potential disruption of installing one? You needn’t be! Our technical experts at Generic Systems Australia have decades of experience migrating clients from handwritten scripts, outdated integration packages and other legacy software - and everything in between. So it’s no surprise that many of our clients prefer to leave the changeover to us and our Migration Services. Our technical experts can quickly and efficiently install GoAnywhere MFT – the world’s leading file transfer solution – and then configure it to replace all your existing scripts, integration packages and other file transfer middleware. You and your team can keep on doing what you do best – free of distractions – while we do what we do best. Once you have GoAnywhere MFT installed, you may be pleasantly surprised at just how simple it is to set up further automated file transfers into the future. GoAnywhere features an easy-to-understand drag-and-drop interface to create automatic file translation and transfer workflows. In fact, configuring workflows is so easy that most users quickly learn to do it themselves, freeing up your technical staff to focus on other important work. If you’d like to discuss how your organisation’s file transfers can be made more efficient and secure, please feel free to contact our Business Manager , Bradley Copson (mail to: bradley@gensys.com.au ). He’s always happy to have an obligation-free discussion, explain how simply we can transition you from outdated software and approaches, and offer you a zero-cost Proof of Concept. Generic Systems Australia Your Local Experts in Secure Managed File TransferMore Resources at: www.gensys.com.au (Covering Post by Bradley a few days later) Talking to clients, I sometimes sense they’re worried about the perceived complexity of moving from their existing ad-hoc file transfers to a modern, secure and efficient Managed File Transfer solution. I reassure them that they needn’t be concerned. Our technical experts at Generic Systems Australia have decades of experience migrating clients from handwritten scripts, outdated integration packages and other legacy software - and everything in between. This article explains the benefits and advantages of using our Migration Services . #MFT #managedfiletransfer #securefiletransfer #sft #cybersecurity #datatransfer Previous Next

< News Companies ignoring hack warnings 4 Oct 2024 Almost half of the businesses warned by Australia’s top cyber security agency of impending hacks didn’t bother to return the phone call. In an alarming disclosure to The Australian Financial Review, the new director-general of the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD), Abigail Bradshaw, said that the agency had contacted organisations 620 times in the last 12 months to tell them it had information “that suggests that you might have a problem”. But of those calls, 280 were never returned. Bradshaw said the agency shared such information because it had been shown to help companies to achieve positive outcomes in the face of escalating threats while enabling The ASD to detect more incidents. Sharing Encouraged The ASD’s alerts are part of a broader government plan to encourage more information sharing. New rules recently announced will permit businesses to share private details with government agencies without concern it will be used against them in future damages claims. That being said, regulators are still tightening the screws on directors and executives to take responsibility for cyber security prevention and recovery. The new laws won’t provide “immunity” for those who fail to prepare in the months or years leading up to a hack. Hacking: this century’s “H-Bomb” Not only is cybercrime financially lucrative for ransomware gangs, but digital attacks are becoming a critical component of geopolitical conflict, Bradshaw said. “The line between state-based actors and criminal actors is becoming finer,” she said. Cybercrime and conflict are set to escalate as quantum computing coupled with artificial intelligence supercharges hacking efforts. The US’s Pentagon described that emerging combination as “the 21st century’s equivalent of the nuclear bomb”. The Australian Financial Review warned that “if you get caught out by a cyberattack which causes broader harm, directors will not be able to talk their way out of trouble by saying they thought their techies had it covered”. Acting on ASD Alerts To mitigate hefty fines and sanctions, directors and executives need to prioritise their time and attention on cyber safety. A Managed File Transfer (MFT) solution such as GoAnywhere MFT can encrypt data at rest and in transit, complying with the highest data security standards. It manages inbound and outbound file transfers across an organisation, using industry-standard file transfer protocols and encryption to protect data in transit and at rest. Advanced Threat Protection and Adaptive Loss Prevention add a further layer of defence. SFT Threat Protection enables safe collaboration with external parties, preventing malware from entering an organisation, and reducing the risk of employees losing or mishandling sensitive data. Local Experts On Hand Generic Systems Australia are local experts in helping companies deploy Managed File Transfer and Advanced Threat Protection. We’ve assisted hundreds of organisations across Australia and New Zealand to secure their data and keep cybercriminals at bay. If you’d like to discuss how we can help you, please feel welcome to contact me, Bradley Copson. I’m always happy to have an obligation-free discussion, explain how simply we can transition you from outdated software and approaches, and offer you a zero-cost Proof of Concept. Previous Next

< News Battle “Breach Fatigue” with Managed File Transfer 16 Dec 2025 With the festive season fast approaching, many in business may be left feeling a little fatigued by what has been a hectic business year. But none more so than your beleaguered IT team. In 2025 they’ve been facing relentless waves of cyber-attack. From phishing campaigns to ransomware threats, they’ve needed to maintain constant vigilance to defend against the hordes of cyber criminals eager to steal your organisational data. In a phenomenon known as “Breach Fatigue”, a state of near exhaustion occurs when IT teams become desensitised to the sheer volume of alerts, warnings, and incidents they must manage daily. The consequences are serious: slower response times, overlooked vulnerabilities, and a creeping sense of burnout. Human Toll IT departments are inundated with hundreds of alerts each day, ranging from minor anomalies to potentially serious threats. Over time, the sheer volume of these notifications becomes mentally exhausting, making it increasingly difficult for teams to distinguish genuine risks from false positives. This operational overload not only slows response times but also raises the likelihood of critical signals being overlooked. As fatigue sets in, vigilance naturally declines. Teams may unconsciously lower their guard, treating new alerts as routine rather than recognising the urgency each one demands. This reduced attentiveness can allow real threats to slip through undetected, leaving systems exposed to breaches that could otherwise have been prevented with sharper focus. The constant exposure to high-stakes scenarios also takes a toll on morale. IT professionals working under relentless pressure often experience burnout, which can lead to disengagement or even resignation. When skilled staff leave, organisations face knowledge gaps and weakened defences, compounding the vulnerability created by Breach Fatigue. Financial Toll The financial consequences of this cycle are significant. A single overlooked breach can trigger costly downtime, regulatory fines, and lasting reputational damage. Breach Fatigue magnifies these risks by eroding the organisation’s defensive posture, turning what might have been a manageable incident into a major financial and operational setback. MFT Lightens the Load One way to alleviate Breach Fatigue is by reducing the number of potential breach vectors. Managed File Transfer (MFT) technology provides a secure, automated framework for moving sensitive data across systems, partners, and users. Unlike ad hoc file sharing methods — such as email attachments or unsecured FTP — MFT is designed with security and compliance at its core. MFT solutions encrypt files both in transit and at rest, ensuring that sensitive data cannot be intercepted or tampered with. This reduces the number of alerts IT teams must chase down related to insecure transfers. Instead of tracking multiple file-sharing platforms, IT staff gain a single dashboard to monitor transfers. This consolidation cuts down on noise and helps teams focus on genuine anomalies. By automating repetitive file transfer processes, MFT reduces human error — a common cause of breaches — and frees IT staff to focus on higher-value security work. MFT platforms often include built-in compliance features, such as audit trails and role-based access controls. This not only strengthens security but also reduces the stress of preparing for regulatory audits. Here to Help If you’re considering supporting your hard-working IT team with a Managed File Transfer solution, please feel welcome to get in touch . I’m always available for an obligation-free exploration of how MFT can help your business. I and my team have many years of experience helping companies big and small painlessly and affordably implement MFT solutions. At Generic Systems Australia , we’re your local experts in Managed File Transfer. Previous Next