< 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

< News Respond to the Interest Rate Rise by Increasing Your Data Efficiency. 9 Feb 2026 Following the Reserve Bank’s decision to hike interest rates it’s once again time for Australian businesses to explore ways to minimise economic headwinds. Business analysts suggest these potential approaches: Improve Productivity and Efficiency : Review processes and output and look at ways to improve or streamline your operations, such as automation of processes including business software. Strategically Cut Costs : Review your current service providers and contracts and compare to the current market. Revisit Your Banking and Financial Products : Look beyond the short-term and make sure the interest rate on your business loans is competitive. Develop a Pricing Strategy : Look at ways to leverage or bundle existing goods and services. Reconsider Your Supply Chain : Consider reducing risks by finding a domestic supplier to slash the costs of freight and storage. Review Workforce Arrangements : Consider offering flexible work arrangements, nine-day fortnights, and training and development opportunities - particularly those subsidised by government. Improving Data Efficiency One key way to improve the efficiency of your business is to reconsider how it transfers data between employees, with customers, and with supply chain partners. It’s a core process for every modern business, and that makes it a prime target for improving efficiency, productivity and cost saving. Many businesses are still relying on manual data transfers. Employees attach files to emails or use ad-hoc cloud sharing platforms like Dropbox and the like. The time that’s wasted by these manual data transfers – by every employee, every day – adds up to significant levels of cumulative incremental headcount. And then there’s the heightened risk of human errors, and exposure to cybercrime, through inadequate security on such transfers. More Efficient, Safer, Less Expensive A Managed File Transfer solution, such as GoAnywhere MFT is a more cost-effective approach to moving data within your business and supply chain. In fact, a study by Aberdeen Strategy & Research found that businesses which invested in a professional Managed File Transfer solution: experienced 26% fewer issues with file transfers, resolved problems 4.8 times faster, and achieved a full return on investment in less than 12 months through elimination of the hidden costs of "free" or manual file transfer methods. Local Data Efficiency Experts Generic Systems Australia are your local experts in file transfer solutions. If you’d like to discuss how MFT can help your business save money and become more secure and efficient, please feel welcome to get in touch with me . Previous Next

< News Top MFT for 7th Straight Year 5 Mar 2026 It’s not just that customers have declared GoAnywhere MFT to be the #1 Managed File Transfer solution for 2026 on respected review website G2. It’s that customers have been consistently declaring GoAnywhere MFT the Leader for 7 years running! Independent experts agree. Info-Tech Research Group has rated GoAnywhere #1 MFT for four years running. If you’re an IT leader, architect, or security owner responsible for how your organisation moves sensitive data, I’m standing by to help you join the thousands of customers globally leveraging GoAnywhere’s class-leading capabilities, flexibility and overall value. My tech team are Australia’s and NZ’s most experienced GoAnywhere specialists. And they’re right here - your market, your time zone - ready to support you. They – and the many customers they’ve supported over decades – are why Generic Systems Australia is A/NZ’s Top Fortra MFT Partner. Previous Next

Independent Info-Tech MFT Quadrant Report (2025) For the 3rd consecutive year, respected tech analysts Info-Tech have evaluated the most popular MFT software and vendors, and found that GoAnywhere is the top MFT solution. To receive a complimentary copy of their 2025 report, simply submit your email address below and we'll email you back a PDF. First name Last name Enter your email address Phone You'll receive the 'Independent Info-Tech MFT Quadrant Report' shortly! RESOURCES Receive Report HOME

< News Tame the File Transfer Time Sink 23 Oct 2023 When asked “How could you get more done at work?”, most people are quick to respond: “Fewer meetings, please!” However, research has revealed that other hidden time sinks may be an even greater drain on our personal productivity. For example: the amount of time lost while team members manually share files and data between themselves. A recent report found that a typical desk worker now uses 11 different applications to complete their tasks. during the course of their working day. According to research by Productiv , most company departments use between 40 and 60 different applications. Company-wide, that number sprawls to more than 200 apps. IT tools are designed to enhance our collaboration and productivity. But when different parts of a business adopt different tools, with different file formats, it opens up a black hole of time-wasting file translation and transference across the entire organisation. So, how can we help our employees spend more time productively contributing to the organisation, and less time on the drudge work of wrangling files…? Ideally, we can work to rein in the proliferation of apps across our organisations, standardising on a common set of enterprise IT tools. But that can be easier said than done. It takes time – and even some business risk – to wean teams off their familiar tools and train them on new ones. Until then, a Managed File Transfer (MFT) solution can help . With GoAnywhere MFT, data can be translated to and from a variety of widely-used formats without having to write cumbersome scripts or programs. Its comprehensive Extract, Transform, and Load features enable data values to be mapped, formatted and modified between source and target files automatically. Even better, GoAnywhere's secure collaboration features make connecting and sharing between employees easier and faster - even when they’re mobile. Features include an intuitive browser-based web client for performing ad-hoc file transfers, enterprise file sync and sharing using GoDrive, and a handy mobile application for moving files quickly while on-the-go. The benefits of using an advanced MFT like GoAnywhere continue well beyond the point where your team has happily standardised on common enterprise tools. The same flexibility and automations that enabled your team to eliminate their internal productivity time sink are just as useful in improving your interactions with customers and supply chain partners. Time to Tame This Time Sink? If you’d like to discuss how GoAnywhere MFT could help boost your organisation’s productivity and bottom line, please feel free to contact me ( bradley@gensys.com.au ) for an obligation-free discussion, or read more at Generic Systems Australia . Bradley Copson Business Manager Generic Systems Australia Previous Next

< News Is Your Greatest Cyber Risk “Inside the Building”…? 22 May 2026 Most organisations focus their cyber security efforts on fortifying their networks against external attackers. However, firewalls, endpoint protection, and threat intelligence feeds don’t matter if someone on the inside simply hands over the keys to your data. Fresh research suggests that a worrying number of employees are prepared to do exactly that. A Workplace Fraud Trends study by Cifas has revealed that around one in eight UK employees have either sold company login details in the past year or personally know someone who has done so. The results were even more alarming when it came to who was most likely to justify this behaviour… Surprising Seniority It wasn’t disgruntled junior staff. Rather, the research points squarely at senior leadership. As reported by Infosecurity magazine, 32% of senior managers, 36% of directors, 43% of executives, and an astonishing 81% of business owners believe that selling access to company systems can be acceptable in certain circumstances. Cyber security professionals know that’s not true. Once an outsider has a legitimate set of credentials, they effectively become an insider, inheriting the same trust, permissions, and ability to move through systems undetected. That’s a cybercriminal jackpot. A valid username and password is the most efficient bypass of every security control your IT team has painstakingly put in place. That’s why every employee - regardless of seniority - must understand the importance of keeping their system access credentials confidential. However, with economic uncertainty, job insecurity, automation anxiety, and rising living costs, the temptation to make a quick buck by selling credentials is likely to grow. That’s why organisations need to put in place technical safeguards to backstop the trust they put in their employees. Technical Safety Net Managed File Transfer (MFT) acts as a powerful safety net when insider behaviour becomes a threat. Even if an attacker gains a valid username and password, an MFT platform forces all file movement through a tightly controlled, policy‑driven channel. Every transfer is authenticated, encrypted, logged, and monitored, which means stolen credentials alone don’t grant free‑form access to sensitive data. Automated workflows, IP restrictions, device‑fingerprinting, and multi‑factor requirements create friction that criminals can’t easily bypass, and the audit trail exposes any unusual behaviour instantly. As per the phrase Ronald Reagan once popularised, organisations need to “trust, but verify”. Every employee, from intern to owner, is a potential point of failure if they view their credentials as a commodity. Local Experts Available At Generic Systems Australia , we're a global leader in implementing the world's best MFT - Fortra's GoAnywhere. As one of Fortra’s top MFT partners globally, we've helped dozens of Australian and NZ organisations leverage the protection and efficiency offered by GoAnywhere. And we're right here in Australia, ready to share our deep expertise with you. Previous Next

< News Increased 3rd Party Data Sharing Increases Data Theft Risk 29 July 2024 The inability to track, control and report sensitive content shared with external contacts is a substantial risk for modern enterprises. And that risk appears to be rapidly escalating, as two-thirds of organisations each exchange sensitive data with more than a thousand third parties. These are some of the key findings from a survey conducted recently by Kiteworks, a US-based data security firm. Sensitive Content Kiteworks defines “sensitive content” as the wide variety of content commonly targeted by cyberthieves. It’s content which poses a significant threat to an organisation once bad actors get their hands on it. Sensitive content includes the data of customers and employees — personally identifiable information (PII), protected health information (PHI), and payment card industry (PCI) data. It also includes an organisation’s intellectual property (IP), legal communications and documents, financials, mergers and acquisitions data, and other types of private and confidential information. Kiteworks says that the key problem with sensitive content is how it does not stay in one place. During daily operations, it is shared not only among employees, but also with partners, suppliers, contractors, legal counsel, accountants, auditors, and more. More Comms Channels = More Risk Efficient organisations are always searching for more “frictionless” ways to move their data. However, as their number of communication channels with external parties grows, so too does the potential opportunity for bad actors to intercept and steal the data. That escalating risk is borne out by Kiteworks’ analysis. They found that organisations with more than seven communication tools experience ten plus data breaches, which is 3.5 times higher than the aggregate of those experiencing one to ten breaches. File Size Limits Exacerbate Risks The file size limits imposed by many content communication tools are a key contributor to the risks of moving data. Frustrated employees simply trying to do their jobs will sometimes use insecure and unauthorised consumer-grade file sharing services to bypass organisational limitations. Even for those employees who always follow the rules, the resulting workarounds can trigger significant waste of staff time. More than 30% of organisations surveyed by Kiteworks needed to implement workarounds due to file size limits for email, file sharing, and managed file transfers over 50 times per month. Around 10% said they must do so over 100 times per month. IT Teams Stepping Up Switched-on IT teams are increasingly focused on addressing their organisation’s need to protect sensitive content. A popular solution is to unify communication tools and channels to secure sensitive content communications. Their primary drivers for change may vary – from protecting intellectual property and corporate secrets to mitigating litigation, avoiding regulatory violations and protecting their brand reputation – but the way they are addressing these risks is similar… Control Through Consolidation Consolidating communication tools onto a single platform needs to be a foundational element of an organisation’s cyber defences. By reducing the number of disparate tools used for content communication, they can significantly lower the risk of data breaches and improve operational efficiency. Kiteworks’ survey shows that organisations with fewer communication tools experience fewer breaches. Tool consolidation significantly enhances security. MFT Consolidates, Automates, Improves Efficiency Managed File Transfer (MFT) software is a powerful technology which comprehensively addresses the risks and challenges of moving information within an organisation, and with external suppliers, partners and customers. MFT simplifies the complexities of data transfer by offering centralised control, encryption, and auditing capabilities. A significant advance on traditional approaches, MFT provides enhanced security protocols, ensuring data privacy during transmission and storage. And it does so via a user-friendly interface, which is easy to use for even non-technical employees. In addition to consolidating the plethora of disparate data exchange channels employees create during an organisation’s evolution, MFT technology provides an array of organisation advantages: Security: MFT employs robust encryption algorithms, reducing the risk of data breaches during transit. Features like Access Controls, and Multi-factor Authentication, safeguard sensitive information from unauthorised access. No Size Limit Straitjacket: The best MFT solutions enable organisations to set file size limits appropriate to their teams’ needs. They also offer “persistence protocols” which ensure large files are fully transmitted to their intended destinations. Efficiency: MFT automates repetitive tasks. This not only reduces human error, it saves significant staff time. Through scheduling of file transfers, monitoring of progress, and automatic error-handling, it enables a significant boost to operational efficiency. Compliance: In industries with strict regulatory requirements, MFT helps companies meet compliance standards (e.g. HIPAA and GDPR) by automatically maintaining detailed logs and audit trails. Scalability: Through its ability to handle large file transfers and an ever-growing number of users, MFT is able to grow in sync with an organisation's needs, while maintaining superior performance. Collaboration: In addition to improving business processes within an organisation, MFT facilitates seamless collaboration with external partners, suppliers, and customers, fostering strong relationships built on shared trust and reliability. The Best MFT At Generic Systems Australia, we recommend the industry’s class-leading MFT solution, GoAnywhere MFT . GoAnywhere is consistently declared by independent experts to be the best-in-class MFT solution. Besides achieving the highest overall score in the MFT category, GoAnywhere is also ranked highest for Vendor Capability Satisfaction, including the key dimensions of: • Business Value Created • Breadth of Features • Quality of Features • Product Strategy and Rate of Improvement • Useability and Intuitiveness • Vendor Support • Ease of Data Integration • Ease of Customisation • Availability and Quality of Training, and • Ease of Implementation GoAnywhere MFT's combination of versatility, security, ease of use, and budget-friendliness has propelled it to the top of the MFT market. Gain Expert Local Advice At Generic Systems Australia , we’re Australia’s and the Asia-Pacific region’s experts on MFT in general, and GoAnywhere in particular. If you’d like an obligation-free discussion about how we could help you keep your organisation’s sensitive content safe, please feel welcome to get in touch . We’re always happy to have an obligation-free discussion, and even offer a free Proof of Concept. Previous Next

Our SFT Threat Protection Bundle can automatically catch and kill email threats before they enter or leave your organisation. This brief video shows how. Review the video below: RESOURCES HOME