< News AI Agents + File Sharing Tools: a Cyber Security Blind Spot? 14 Aug 2026 AI agents are rapidly becoming part of everyday workflows. They collect data, analyse it, generate content, and increasingly act on behalf of employees. However, as employees embrace these autonomous tools, a new and largely unmonitored threat vector is emerging: AI agents using casual file‑sharing services like Dropbox, Google Drive, or OneDrive without adequate oversight. It’s not a theoretical risk - and it’s becoming widespread. AI agents are designed to optimise tasks, and when they need to store or retrieve files, they naturally gravitate toward the easiest available option. Consumer‑grade file‑sharing platforms are often already available in on employee devices. However, convenience becomes a liability the moment an AI agent begins uploading sensitive data - customer records, financial reports, internal strategy documents - into a location outside corporate governance. The danger is twofold. First, these platforms lack the strict policy enforcement, auditability, and access controls required for regulated or sensitive information. Second, AI agents operate at machine speed and scale. A human might accidentally upload one file; an AI agent can upload hundreds in seconds. Because these actions often occur in the background, security teams may not detect that data has left the organisation until it’s too late. Shadow AI compounds the problem. Employees experimenting with AI tools frequently connect them to personal cloud storage, creating untracked pathways for data exfiltration. Once an AI agent has access to a casual file‑sharing service, it can move information freely - well outside the visibility of traditional security controls. In regulated industries, this isn’t just a breach risk; it’s a compliance failure waiting to happen. MFT Helps Close This Gap To mitigate this new class of AI‑driven risk, organisations need more than awareness - they need governed, enforceable, and auditable data‑movement infrastructure. This is where Managed File Transfer (MFT) becomes essential. MFT provides a controlled environment where every file movement is authenticated, encrypted, logged, and policy‑driven. Instead of allowing AI agents to choose their own storage destinations, MFT gives organisations a secure, centralised channel that enforces: Strict access controls that prevent AI agents from pushing data to unapproved cloud services Automated governance that ensures sensitive information only moves through compliant pathways Immutable audit trails that record every transfer, including those initiated by AI agents Content inspection and DLP to intercept regulated data before it leaves the organisation By integrating AI workflows with MFT, organisations can harness the power of autonomous agents without sacrificing control over where data goes and who can access it. In an era where AI accelerates both productivity and risk, MFT becomes the safeguard that keeps file movement predictable, governed, and secure. AI agents aren’t going away. But with MFT in place, the risks associated with casual file‑sharing services can be contained. Your organisation stays firmly in control of its data. Local Help for Australian and NZ Businesses At Generic Systems Australia , we have decades of experience helping Australian and New Zealand business automate and protect their workflows with the world’s leading MFT solution, GoAnywhere MFT. If you’d like to discuss better protecting your business data, please feel welcome to contact us for a no-obligation discussion. Previous Next

< News Ditch Your File Transfer Scripts 10 Sept 2024 More and more companies across the Asia-Pacific region are realising they have a pressing need to eliminate their use of outdated file transfer scripts. A Key Vulnerability A recent survey found that our region is on the frontline, subject to more cyber attacks than any other. 72% of local organisations experienced four or more cybersecurity incidents in the past year - 20% more than the global average. Manual scripts – often written by employees to reduce the repetitive burden of manually transferring files – are a key vulnerability. Not only are file transfer scripts risky, they’re also inefficient and prone to failure. MFT: safer, more efficient Managed File Transfer (MFT) is a powerful technology which comprehensively addresses the risks and challenges of moving information, both within an organisation, and with external suppliers, partners and customers. It simplifies and secures data transfer by providing centralised control, encryption, enhanced security protocols and auditing. Unsurprising then that more and more IT departments are using MFT to replace their outdated manual file transfer scripts. Reasons to Ditch Scripts Scripts don’t play well with new tech. For example, cloud-based computing environments require file transfers to be integrated with cloud-based solutions, and platforms such as Azure and AWS. Scripts lack advanced features. For example, automating file transfers – say, with FTP - requires you to add a second solution, which is time-consuming and complex. Scripts are also challenged to detect and implement automatic “re-try” features in the event of failure, or prevent employees mishandling sensitive data. Scripts are time consuming. Developing, maintaining, and troubleshooting scripts takes time, distracting valuable IT staff from more important tasks. Worse, if the author of a script isn’t available when it fails, bottlenecks can occur in your workflow. Scripts don’t offer built-in reporting. Logging needs to be manually added to scripts. Accessing those logs – say, when you need to prove audit compliance, or meet other regulatory reporting requirements – is time consuming and difficult, requiring an effective filter and search tools. Scripts aren’t secure. As explained above, scripts don’t offer the security features necessary to keep cyber thieves at bay. User credentials aren’t encrypted, there’s no in-built key management, no access controls, and they’re unlikely to use up-to-date security protocols. Why MFT is Better than Scripts As well as increasing the security of your file transfers, ditching scripts offers your organisation many other compelling advantages. Centralised Control. Instead of using multiple different tools, programs, and scripts to encrypt, send, and automate your file transfers, MFT can enable all of these from a single interface. That significantly streamlines day-to-day operations and reduces wasted tool maintenance time. Automate. No matter the volume of files to be transferred across your business and supply chain, the best MFTs enable your team to spend time focusing on other things. Save Money. Clients are often surprised how many employee-hours they’re spending creating, maintaining and resolving problems with file transfer scripts. These ongoing hidden costs can really mount up. (And that’s without considering the potentially catastrophic cost to your business of a data breach enabled by an insecure script!) Flexible Scalability. The best MFTs scale fluidly – horizontally and vertically - as file transfer loads increase. They make redundant tedious and uncertain processes of buying, deploying and understanding gateways, load balancers and other expensive network devices and hardware. Cloud-friendly MFT tools also exploit new cloud and virtualisation capabilities to scale up quickly to meet demand. They can even be “failed over” to a DR site in the event of an outage. Regulatory Compliance. By logging file transfers and access across your organisation, the best MFTs ensure your compliance with legal requirements, such as data privacy and encryption. Logs are also readily accessible if you’re called on to demonstrate your compliance during an audit or need to conduct forensics after an internal security breach. The Best MFT Independent analysts agree that that GoAnywhere MFT is the industry’s leading Managed File Transfer solution. GoAnywhere not only enables your data to be moved securely - both internally and externally – it also enhances your team’s productivity. Asia-Pacific’s MFT Experts No-one better understands local MFT needs and best practices than Generic Systems Australia. Our local team has decades of experience helping businesses replace outdated and risky scripts with the world’s leading MFT solution, and our Migration Service makes the transition easy. If you’d like a no-cost, no-obligation discussion about how we could help you simply and affordably transition from risky scripts to an advanced MFT solution, please feel welcome to get in touch . Previous Next

< News Don’t Let Your Data Be Lost in Cyber Space 2 Sept 2025 In this digital age, our businesses depend on the seamless movement of files to operate efficiently. From financial reports and customer data to product designs and legal documents, files are the lifeblood of a modern organisation. However, despite sophisticated networks and cloud-based tools, files still vanish into cyberspace, leading to business disruption, unhappy customers and confused suppliers. The reasons files go missing are often quite mundane. Perhaps they were intercepted, having been sent via unsecured email. Perhaps their transfer failed silently and unknown, due to a network glitch. Maybe an employee uploaded the document to the wrong folder, or worse, to the wrong server. Legacy systems, manual processes, and ad hoc workarounds compound the problem. Without proper oversight, files can be lost, duplicated, corrupted, or exposed—leading to compliance violations, reputational damage, and costly delays. Avoid Data Danger, Will Robinson! This is where Managed File Transfer (MFT) technology steps in—not as a patchwork fix, but as a strategic upgrade. MFT provides a secure, automated framework for transferring files across internal systems, external partners, and cloud environments. It replaces risky methods like FTP, email attachments, and consumer-grade sharing apps with encrypted, policy-driven workflows. Security and Reliability MFT platforms use robust encryption protocols (like SFTP, FTPS, HTTPS) to protect data in transit. Authentication mechanisms ensure only authorised users can initiate or receive transfers. Files are tracked from origin to destination, with detailed logs and alerts for failures or anomalies. This means no more blind spots—every movement is visible, verifiable, and recoverable. Compliance and Control For industries bound by regulations (finance, healthcare, government), MFT offers built-in compliance features. Audit trails, role-based access, and data retention policies help meet demanding standards like GDPR, HIPAA, and ISO 27001. Administrators can monitor activity in real time, enforce file naming conventions, and prevent unauthorised access or data leakage. Automation and Integration Beyond security, MFT streamlines operations. It integrates with ERP systems, cloud storage, and APIs to automate recurring transfers—like nightly batch jobs or supplier updates. This reduces human error and frees up IT teams to focus on higher-value tasks. Some platforms even support conditional logic, retry mechanisms, and load balancing to ensure mission-critical transfers never fail silently. Scalability and Visibility As organisations grow, so does the complexity of their data flows. MFT scales effortlessly, handling thousands of transfers per day across geographies and departments. Dashboards provide a centralised view of all activity, making it easy to spot bottlenecks, troubleshoot issues, and optimise performance. In short, Managed File Transfer transforms chaotic, error-prone file sharing into a disciplined, auditable process. It’s not just a tool—it’s a safeguard against digital entropy. For organisations juggling sensitive data across borders and platforms, MFT ensures that files don’t just travel—they arrive, intact and accounted for. From “Lost in Space” to “Found, Locally” At Generic Systems Australia we’re Australia’s and NZ’s experts in deploying Managed File Transfer solutions. We’ve assisted businesses of all sizes to protect their customer data and secure their file transfers, while keeping their operations running smoothly. 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 help you maintain your customers’ trust. 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 How GoAnywhere prevented a Customer’s SAP budget blowout 13 Aug 2025 Confronted by the prospect of a crippling increase in cloud data storage costs, one of our customers leveraged GoAnywhere to help manage the archiving of their data in a far more cost-effective way. Here’s what happened… Extensive ERP Data Our customer is responsible for the reliable distribution of a vital consumer service across some of the most populous regions of Australia. Due to their critical role, they’re required by government to maintain stringent auditing and record keeping across their organisation. The organisation has moved its enterprise resource planning to an outsourced cloud-based SAP system. Over time, that system has consumed and generated many terabytes of data in archived interface files - all of which have needed to be safely retained for audit purposes. The Tier Trap Now, the service provider for the cloud SAP system allows for a fixed amount of cloud data storage as part of their service agreements. But our client’s data was quickly consuming that allowance - and about to go over. That would trigger contract negotiations for expensive additional cloud data storage. Our client needed to quickly find a way to automatically archive their data at a lower cost. Fortunately, their prior investment in a GoAnywhere Managed File Transfer (MFT) solution was about to pay off for them (again!) GoAnywhere Saves the Day One of the capabilities that makes GoAnywhere the world’s leading Managed File Transfer solution is its advanced automation. A simple drag-and-drop interface enables administrators to define how an organisation’s files are monitored, translated, and securely and reliably moved between internal IT systems and those of their supply chain partners and customers. GoAnywhere’s modular approach to defining file transfer processes is simple and intuitive – no programming experience required. Our customer was able to quickly define a new “archive SAP data” process in GoAnywhere which bypassed their reliance on the expensive default cloud storage service. Now, on a set schedule, GoAnywhere routinely searches for files which have been sent to, or originated from, the SAP system. It then automatically, reliably and securely archives those files to inexpensive Azure Blob storage. No human intervention is necessary. Audit trails are being automatically created. And significant incremental storage costs are being avoided. Here For You, Too At Generic Systems Australia , we’re Australia and New Zealand’s experts in helping businesses take advantage of GoAnywhere’s many capabilities. We’ve assisted hundreds of organisations to automate their data flows, making their file transfers secure, reliable and efficient, boosting their efficiency. If you’d like to discuss how we can boost your organisation’s efficiency, please feel welcome to contact me . I’m always happy to have an obligation-free chat and explain how easily we can transition you from your current approach to a new world of productivity. At Generic Systems Australia, we’re your local experts in data 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

< News New Cyber Laws Impose New Business Obligations 16 Oct 2024 Australia’s federal government last week introduced much-anticipated legislation to parliament which will revolutionise Australia’s cyber security preparedness. If passed as expected, the new laws will impose new compliance and reporting requirements on local businesses. Govt Intent Designed to protect businesses and consumers from the growing scourge of cyber crime, the Cyber Security Act 2024 is Australia’s first standalone cyber security legislation. Introducing the Act, Minister for Cyber Security, Tony Burke, said that – like IT systems themselves - legislation needed to be hardened to protect national security and economic stability. He described the package as providing a clear legislative framework for contemporary, whole-of-economy issues which would identify and respond to new and emerging cyber threats. Seven Initiatives There are seven initiatives under the 2023-2030 Australian Cyber Security Strategy which collectively address gaps in current legislation to: Mandate minimum cyber security standards for smart devices; Introduce mandatory ransomware reporting for certain businesses to report ransom payments; Introduce a ‘limited use’ obligation for the National Cyber Security Coordinator and the Australian Signals Directorate; and Establish a Cyber Incident Review Board. SOCI Reforms The legislation will also progress and implement reforms under the Security of Critical Infrastructure Act 2018 (SOCI Act): Clarifying existing obligations in relation to systems holding business critical data; Simplifying information sharing across industry and Government; Introducing Government powers to direct entities to address serious deficiencies within their risk management programs; and Moving regulation for the security of telecommunications into the SOCI Act. The SOCI Act reforms will also expand current Government assistance measures to ensure Government can step in as a last resort to manage the consequences of significant incidents. Govt Empowered Changes to government assistance measures will empower the Government to gather information or direct entities to take or refrain from certain actions, on authorisation from the Minister for Home Affairs, in response to a serious incident. Characterising the legislation as a significant step towards his government’s vision of becoming a world leader in cyber security by 2030, Tony Burke said: “We know government has to lead the way on cyber, but we also know we can’t do it alone. This is why these new laws have been consulted extensively with business. “To achieve Australia’s vision of being a world leader in cyber security by 2030, we need the unified effort of government, industry and the community.” New Business Obligations Legal firm A&O Shearman cautioned that the new Cyber Bill will introduce several new critical areas of compliance and reporting. It said businesses must take heed of these new obligations, and ensure they put in place robust cyber security measures. • Ransomware Reporting Obligations : Entities impacted by cyber security incidents and making ransomware payments must report these payments within 72 hours. The aim of this obligation is to improve the detection and response to ransomware incidents, thereby reducing their impact. Failure to report can result in civil penalties. • Security Standards for Smart Devices : The Cyber Bill mandates that manufacturers and suppliers of smart devices comply with specified security standards. This is crucial for businesses involved in the production or distribution of smart devices. Non-compliance can result in compliance notices, stop notices, and recall notices. These measures are designed to ensure that smart devices are secure and do not pose a risk to users. • Protected or Limited Use of Incident Information : The Cyber Bill includes provisions to ensure that information provided about cyber security incidents is used or disclosed only for permitted purposes, with strict limitations on using this information for civil or regulatory actions against the reporting entity. • Cyber Incident Review Board : The Cyber Bill establishes a Cyber Incident Review Board tasked with reviewing certain cyber security incidents and making recommendations. The Board has the authority to request and require documents from entities. Non-compliance may result in civil penalties. A&O Shearman said organisations should make sure they implement security standards in compliance with the specified security measures currently provided for in the Cyber Bill, and make sure they can comply with the ransomware reporting obligations, including the timelines foreseen in the Cyber Bill. Meeting New Requirements Criminal syndicates target organisations which haven’t adequately protected their data transfers and systems access. Defending against them requires a multi-layered strategy which includes robust data transfer protection, multifactor authentication and employee training. 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 stringent 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. GoAnywhere MFT also provides audit reports, which will help organisations meet new reporting and compliance needs. All file transfer and administrator activity is stored and easily searchable. To help organisations report on file transfer activity and remain compliant with the new legislation, these audit logs can be automatically generated and provided as PDFs. 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 Expertise on Hand Generic Systems Australia are your local experts in Managed File Transfer solutions. We’ve assisted dozens 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. Previous Next

< News Small-to-Medium Businesses the Big Targets for Cybercrime 17 Mar 2024 While cyberattacks on large corporates make the headlines, it’s small to medium businesses who are being hit the hardest. The 2024 Sophos Threat Report found that the sophistication of cyberthreats faced by small to medium organisations is often on par with those used to attack large enterprises. Apparently, while the amount of money that can be stolen is less than that available from a larger organisation, cybercriminals more than make up the difference in the volume of thefts. More vulnerable, greater impact Sophos say that organisations with fewer than 500 employees are not only more vulnerable to cybercriminals, they also suffer more proportionally from the results of cyberattacks. The greater vulnerability is due to a lack of experienced security operations staff, underinvestment in cybersecurity, and smaller information technology budgets. And, when these businesses are hit by cyberattacks, the expense of recovery forces many to close. Attractive Ransomware Targets 90% of the world’s businesses are small- and medium-sized. In Australia, these businesses contribute more than 60% of the nation’s overall GDP. According to The Institute for Security and Technology’s Ransomware Task Force, 70% of ransomware attacks target small to medium businesses. Other Prevalent Threats Beyond Ransomware, a variety of other cyberthreats also pose an existential threat to small and medium businesses. Data theft is the focus of most malware targeting small and medium businesses. Password stealers, keyboard loggers, and other spyware make up nearly half of malware detections. Credential theft through phishing and malware can expose small businesses’ data on cloud platforms and service providers, and network breaches can be used to target their customers as well. Web-based malware distribution — through “malvertising” or malicious search engine optimisation — is also on the rise. Unprotected devices connected to organisational networks — including unmanaged computers without security software installed, improperly configured computers and systems running software fallen out of support by manufacturers — are a primary point of entry. Attackers are increasingly abusing device drivers — both vulnerable drivers from legitimate companies, and malicious drivers that have been signed with stolen or fraudulently obtained certificates. Email attacks have begun to feature more active engagement with targets over email, using a thread of emails and responses to make their lures more convincing. Attacks on mobile device users, including social engineering-based scams tied to the abuse of third-party services and social media platforms, have grown exponentially, affecting individuals and small to medium businesses. Your Data is Their Target The greatest cybersecurity challenge facing organisations of all sizes is data protection. More than 90% of attacks reported to Sophos involved data or credential theft, with methods ranging from ransomware attacks, to data extortion, unauthorised remote access, and simple data theft. Compromised business email userids are also a substantial problem for small to medium businesses, and the next most prevalent threat after ransomware. Stolen credentials, including browser cookies, can be used to compromise business email userids, provide unauthorised access to third-party services such as cloud-based finance systems, and entry to internal resources. Turning Your Own Tech Against You Sophos said that, as 2023 progressed, they observed an increase in the use of remote execution of ransomware. Unmanaged devices on an organisation’s own network were hijacked to encrypt files on other systems via network file access. Ransomware and other malware developers are increasingly using cross-platform languages to build versions for not only Windows, but also macOS and Linux operating systems. Small and medium businesses also need to be concerned about the security of the services they depend upon to manage their business. Attacks against managed service providers became an enduring part of the ransomware playbook in 2023. How to Protect Your Business Criminal syndicates count on smaller organisations to be less well-defended and to not have deployed modern, sophisticated tools to protect their users and assets. The key to successfully defending against their threat is to use a multi-layered strategy that includes robust data transfer protection, staff education, and multifactor authentication. A Secure Managed File Transfer solution such as the class-leading GoAnywhere MFT addresses the many risks of ad hoc techniques through a holistic approach to security, including: Automatic authentication, encryption and decryption User access controls Auditing and Reporting, and Industry standards compliance. If you’d like to beef up your organisation’s defences against the increasing threats posed by cybercriminals , please feel free to contact me , Bradley Copson (mail to: bradley@gensys.com.au ). I’m always happy to have an obligation-free discussion, and explain how we can quickly and affordably transition you from your existing approaches without disrupting your business. I’ll even offer you a zero-cost Proof of Concept. Bradley Copson Business Manager Generic Systems Australia Your Local Experts in Secure Managed File Transfer #MFT #managedfiletransfer #securefiletransfer #sft #cybersecurity #datatransfer Previous Next

< News Hidden Cost of "Free" File Transfers 1 Nov 2023 The Hidden Cost of "Free" File Transfers With 329 million terabytes of data being created each day, the ability to transfer files quickly and dependably has become a core business process for every business. Surprisingly, some businesses continue to entrust this critical dependency to free file transfer software. But is this software truly “free”…? A study by Aberdeen Group identified hidden costs that businesses incur using “free” file transfer mechanisms. In fact, 80% of files sent through e-mail attachments or “free” file transfer services ended up costing organisations money in the long run. How…? It’s taking longer to move a lot of data around. For example, as our businesses are finding new ways to make use of the high-resolution cameras in our smartphones, video files growing exponentially in size. HD video – with files measured in gigabytes - is already the standard. But 4K videos – typically hundreds of gigabytes– will soon be the norm. Moving high-res movies around finds employees spending more time than ever before simply waiting for file transfers to complete. When your team is sitting around waiting for a file to arrive, there’s a significant reduction in their productivity. If it takes them 3 hours to send a file, that’s 3 hours where both they and their collaborator are without the file needed to work effectively. Multiply the number of hours by the salaries of both professionals in question and the “free” file transfer isn’t free anymore. How often have you tried to send a file, only to have the transfer crash out midway? It’s not just frustrating, it’s a further waste of time. When file transfers fail, the non tech savvy among us need to seek the help of their IT department. So, not only is their time being wasted, but there’s a labour cost in resolving the problem. Aberdeen’s study estimated that resolving each stalled file transfer required a cumulative 11 hours of team time. Even when files successfully transfer, there remain significant cybersecurity risks when sensitive files are sent via free services. In Aberdeen’s study, free service transfers were twice as likely to result in security breaches compared to those conducted with professional Managed File Transfer software such as GoAnywhere . Major security issues took an average of 16 business hours to resolve and cost companies millions of dollars. When files are too big to send as email attachments, employees turn to “free” transfer tools. However, the time spent finding such tools could have been better spent on their core responsibilities. There’s not only a better way to move data around your business and its supply chain… it’s also a more cost-effective way. Aberdeen’s study found that businesses which invested a little in a professional Managed File Transfer solution had a median return of almost 500 times their investment. When it comes to Managed File Transfer solutions, there is one acknowledged industry leader – GoAnywhere MFT . GoAnywhere automates and encrypts data between an organisation’s employees and with its trading partners, protecting from unnecessary vulnerabilities while vastly improving file transfer speed and quality. If you’d like to discuss how GoAnywhere MFT could improve your organisation’s productivity and bottom line, please feel free to contact me ( bradley@gensys.com.au ), or read more at the Generic Systems Australia website. Bradley Copson, Business Manager, Generic Systems Australia Previous Next

< News Automate Cyber Security to Help Manage the Staff Shortage 7 Oct 2025 Automating your cyber security is one key way organisations can deal with the worsening scarcity of skilled cyber security staff in Australia. ISACA’s  State of Cybersecurity 2025 report shows that cyber security teams in Australia remain stretched thin. More than half (54%) say they are understaffed. Even more (58%) say they have unfilled positions. Hiring headache Australian organisations say there is a continuing high demand for technical cyber security professionals, but that they struggle to hire and retain them. Around a third (36%) say it takes three to six months to hire for even entry-level roles, and the challenge worsens (48%) for non-entry-level roles. The problem is more acute in Australia than on average globally (39%). Under-funded, and under threat Australian organisations’ hiring challenges are exacerbated by lack of staff funding. Almost half of respondents to ISACA’s survey said they had received insufficient funding to address cyber security issues, and only 24% predicted they would receive any budget increase in the year ahead. Again, this compared unfavourably to the 41% of cyber security professionals globally who expected their organisation’s cyber security budgets to increase. Skill profile changing The qualifications being sought by employers are also evolving … though perhaps not in the way you might expect. “Organisational Fit” is now the most highly sought after attribute (66%), followed by usual factors such as “Prior Cybersecurity Experience” (62%). Also highly-valued are “Adaptability” (57%), “Communication” (60%), “Critical Thinking” (55%) and “Problem Solving” (44%). Worse to Come? 41% of the Australian organisations who responded to ISACA’s survey said their organisation had experienced more attacks than a year ago. While half believe an attack on their organisation is likely or very likely in the year ahead, only 35% feel confident in their team’s incident response capabilities. ISACA’s Oceania Ambassador, Jo Stewart-Rattray, said Australia couldn’t “hire its way out of a skill gap this deep”. “Fewer organisations are training non-security staff into cyber roles, even though most organisations acknowledge they are under-staffed (and) this approach is unsustainable,” she said. Automating to Augment Organisations struggling to recruit cyber security specialists should consider how automation can augment and relieve the load being carried by their existing cyber security specialists. Advanced Managed File Transfer solutions, such as GoAnywhere MFT , can centrally manage and secure file transfers organisation-wide. Recognised for its class-leading features, GoAnywhere frees up your cyber security specialists, working in the background to comprehensively mitigate the risks of storing and moving your data, both within and outside your organisation. Through its centralised control, encryption, and auditing capabilities, GoAnywhere replaces risky traditional approaches and improves productivity. Its versatility, security, ease of use, and budget-friendliness have made it a must-have solution for organisations committed to protecting their information assets. Expert Local Advice On Hand At Generic Systems Australia , we’re Australia’s and New Zealand’s experts on Managed File Transfer solutions. If you’d like a no-cost, no-obligation discussion about how we could help you augment your cyber security team’s efforts, please feel welcome to get in touch . Previous Next