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As artificial intelligence (AI) technology rapidly evolves, Harvey Norman Technology for Business, a partner of the Australian Bookkeepers Network (ABN), is urging bookkeepers to bolster their cybersecurity protocols to mitigate emerging risks.
While the bookkeeping industry embraces the efficiencies and opportunities offered by AI, Harvey Norman Technology for Business Director Rutland Smith warns that these advances also increase vulnerabilities to cybersecurity threats.
Government tightens cybersecurity expectations
Rutland’s comments follow the introduction of stricter cybersecurity legislation in November, targeting critical infrastructure companies. The government has also placed growing emphasis on encouraging industries handling sensitive data—such as bookkeeping and accounting—to align with the Essential Eight cybersecurity framework.
“This new legislation and the government’s focus on the Essential Eight framework reflect a broader plan to hold businesses accountable for protecting client data,” said Rutland. “It’s a necessary step, especially as the rapid pace of AI development exposes us to new risks, such as data breaches and hacking.”
AI’s role in cybersecurity vulnerabilities
Rutland highlighted that AI-related risks can stem from both external and internal sources.
“We’ve seen incidents where AI has been used to exploit internal systems,” he said. “For example, we’ve seen a young employee who used AI to request personal addresses and phone numbers of female colleagues. In another case, a school staff member asked AI for a report detailing all teachers’ salaries.”
Bookkeepers struggling to meet Essential Eight standards
Speaking to over 100 ABN members at a recent Adelaide conference, Rutland underscored the challenges bookkeepers face in meeting cybersecurity standards.
“The government strongly encourages all business directors to comply with the Essential Eight cybersecurity framework,” said Rutland. “At the conference, many bookkeepers took advantage of our offer to audit their systems against the framework. Unfortunately, not one passed the audit.”
Balancing AI benefits with strong governance
Despite the challenges, Rutland emphasised that AI’s advantages can be enjoyed with robust governance and security measures.
“To fully leverage AI, businesses need rigorous processes to govern data security,” he said. “This includes enforcing strict access controls, using secure passwords, and implementing advanced protocols to protect sensitive information.”
Supporting bookkeepers with practical solutions
Recognising the increased compliance burden on the bookkeeping and accounting industry, ABN has partnered with Harvey Norman Technology for Business to provide members with regular training, expert advice, and exclusive offers. This includes a complimentary security audit valued at $499.
“We’ve created an IT department that rivals those of large organisations and made it accessible to small businesses across Australia at an affordable price,” said Rutland. “Our services cover everything from establishing security protocols and installing advanced tools to managing help desk support and 24/7 security monitoring.”
Rutland concluded with a message of optimism: “AI presents incredible opportunities, and with the right professional support, bookkeepers can confidently rise to the challenge of safeguarding sensitive client data. I’m proud that we can offer this initial audit to help ABN members improve their systems.”
ABN members can access this exclusive offer from Harvey Norman Technology for Business by visiting the ABN Member portal or clicking here.
