The Ultimate Guide to Cybersecurity
A curated Kiwi edition of TechDay news, analysis, interviews, reviews, job moves, and related resources for Cybersecurity.
What to know about Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity is a critical and evolving field dedicated to protecting individuals, businesses, and governments from online threats. Amid transformative advancements such as AI, cloud adoption, quantum computing, and fluctuating geopolitical risks, organisations are navigating an increasingly complex cyber threat landscape.
Recent developments across the cybersecurity sphere highlight crucial topics including ransomware surges, deepfake scams, API security lapses, identity management complexities, and the growing importance of Zero Trust frameworks. These trends underscore the need for proactive strategies, comprehensive threat detection, agile responses, and a strengthening of human and technological defenses.
With expanding attack surfaces driven by remote work, Internet of Things (IoT) devices, and digital transformation, there is a paramount focus on integrating AI-powered solutions, enhancing data protection, and addressing skills shortages. Initiatives promoting diversity, education, and collaborative partnerships continue to be essential in fortifying cyber resilience.
Exploring these themes through the latest stories and expert insights encourages readers to deepen their understanding of contemporary cybersecurity challenges and solutions, emphasizing actionable knowledge to help safeguard digital futures in an interconnected world.
Kiwi Cybersecurity News
Regional stories with direct local relevance
EZVIZ launches its biggest New Zealand smart home range
NZ consumers can avoid monthly cloud fees as the expanded line-up is sold through Harvey Norman and Noel Leeming nationwide.
How safe are digital driver's licences?
The rollout could spare non-smartphone users from being left behind, while privacy safeguards and encrypted storage aim to keep hackers out.
Rockwell hosts OT cybersecurity roundtable in Hamilton
Industrial operators face mounting cyber risks as the roundtable will focus on keeping critical services running while tightening OT defences.
Half of New Zealand agencies miss email security bar
Spoofed emails could still reach public servants and citizens, as 50% of more than 200 New Zealand agencies have not met the DMARC standard.
Equinox IT appoints Victoria MacLennan as director
The Wellington consultancy is strengthening oversight as clients demand safer AI, cyber and digital change advice across public and private sectors.
Phantom Deal: Inside an Imposter Scam Targeting an Avast Employee
The fake acquisition pitch pushed an Avast employee towards a EUR €626,735.45 wire, exposing a broader impersonation scam across several industries.
Analyst Insights
Research and market analysis connected to Cybersecurity
EZVIZ launches its biggest New Zealand smart home range
Coder launches Agent Relay for Cursor in private preview
Shufti wins Gartner honour for global identity coverage
Embedded systems hit USD $585 billion as edge AI grows
Dragos tops Forrester OT security strategy ranking
Featured News
Governance controls are crucial for AI adoption and modernisation
Trusted partners and tighter guardrails are becoming essential as AI agents expand the attack surface and put data sovereignty on the line.
Exclusive: Cloudera builds Hadoop-free future platform
Existing customers get six years of support as Cloudera shifts new AI and analytics workloads to a Hadoop-free platform due in November.
Datadog targets enterprise risk with AI and automation
Australian enterprises are under pressure to tame AI-driven complexity, compliance risk and rising technology costs as Datadog broadens its platform.
Mimecast CEO: Agentic AI threat novel but not entirely new
Hidden AI risks are already widespread in workplaces, with Mimecast saying users are driving shadow tools and most exposure still starts with people.
The internet times are a'changing Fastly
Bot traffic is forcing Fastly to adapt its edge cloud tools as publishers and AI firms battle over caching, access and data protection.
Trusted identity cuts across physical and logical systems
Unified identity systems can cut admin overhead and shrink attack surfaces as remote work and cyber threats blur physical and digital access.
Rimini Street offers AI magic without the forced ERP migration
CIOs can keep existing ERP systems and still adopt agentic AI, as Rimini Street pitches a cheaper path away from vendor-led migrations.
Jamf launches AI Governance to enhance visibility, security
IT teams can now track AI models on Apple fleets to curb data leaks and token spend as businesses wrestle with shadow AI.
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AI models expose new attack surfaces through misconfiguration
Misconfigured models are giving attackers a fresh route into cloud systems, raising the risk of data theft and service compromise.
Thermomix moves HQ to Melbourne to capture Aussie kitchens
The shift will bring the appliance maker closer to eastern customers, as Australia and New Zealand now account for most of its sales.
Schrodinger's ERP both dead and alive, says Rimini Street
Businesses can avoid costly ERP rip-and-replace projects by layering AI and automation onto existing systems, Rimini Street says.
AI adoption races ahead of governance in businesses
Only one in six staff are getting enough AI training, leaving firms exposed to poor decisions, shadow tools and weak returns.
Network segmentation - you can't attack what you can't see
Fast-moving exploits are shrinking patch windows to hours, making network segmentation vital for protecting cameras, medical devices and other connected assets.
SAS Innovate: New era of scams requires novel solutions
Australians are losing billions as AI-driven fraud pushes banks, telcos and platforms to share scam data faster and stop payments earlier.
Check Point CTO on AI's double-edged sword
AI is shrinking the gap between vulnerability disclosure and real-world exploitation to hours, forcing security teams to adapt fast.
SonicWall boosts endpoint security for SMBs and mid-market
SMBs and mid-market firms facing AI-driven attacks are set for tighter device controls as SonicWall prepares a new endpoint security product.
Resilience over prevention as AI reshapes security landscape
Rising ransomware speed is pushing ANZ firms to increase spending on recovery strategies as AI gives attackers new ways in.
Check Point: Be the best, or get out the way
Rising AI-driven attacks are compel security buyers to cut vendor sprawl, though Check Point warns over-consolidation can still raise risk.
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Check Point: Hackers are already in. Act accordingly
Hackers are exploiting vulnerabilities in hours or minutes, leaving many organisations compromised before defenders spot the breach.
Archaic payment processes costing SMEs time and money
Australian SMEs are missing working capital gains as manual invoicing and EFTs leave payments slower and less secure.
AI reshaping cybersecurity - on defence and attack
Criminals are using AI to scale phishing and hunt flaws faster, forcing firms to harden defences as alert volumes and risks rise.
Reducing cyber risk is still hard: Why CTEM stalls at action
Security teams are still struggling to turn vulnerability alerts into fixes, leaving companies exposed for months when IT and operations must act separately.
Quantum computers aren't here yet. But the data threat is
Hackers are already hoarding encrypted data, as businesses race to adopt quantum-safe protection before Q-Day arrives.
UiPath assisting One NZ on journey to become AI leaders
Strict controls are now central to One NZ's AI push as it guards customer data and avoids costly errors in billing and finance.
Defence Australia puts data at core of national security
Sovereign AI is becoming vital to mission readiness as Defence Australia builds a connected data ecosystem for faster decisions.
Banks face AI balancing act as regulation tempers uptake
Australia's banks are steadily increasing their use of artificial intelligence, but regulation and data security fears are tempering adoption.
Samsung AI push focuses on proactivity, personalisation
Devices that anticipate routines could cut friction for New Zealand users as Samsung extends hyper-personalised AI across phones, wearables and the home.
Hype growing - but SMEs still face barriers to AI adoption
Small firms risk falling behind unless they adopt AI for practical gains, as SMEC AI says many are still confused by the technology.
'Smart people changing': How humans and agentic AI co-exist
Governance fears and skills gaps are pushing businesses to deploy agentic AI in secure systems while protecting staff from disruption.
Reviews
Expert Columns
CISO-CFO alignment key as cyber insurance market shifts
Weaponizing trust: How AI and social engineering bypass personal security boundaries
Phantom Deal: Inside an Imposter Scam Targeting an Avast Employee
AI closes vulnerability window as zero-day exploits surge
Collective cyber defence will be won or lost in how we act together
Machine vs. machine: The new reality of cybersecurity in ANZ
Unlocking potential: How expanding leadership pathways for women strengthens cybersecurity
Minimum viable company: Recover faster when systems go dark
Singapore's security teams are losing a race they don't know they're running
AI visibility becoming the new boardroom blind spot
Interviews
Interviews and video coverage from the networkRecent Cybersecurity News
Guardian Flame launches dating app with biometric checks
Stricter identity checks and behavioural risk scores aim to cut scams, bots and harassment as the Palmerston North app takes on bigger rivals.
NTT New Zealand revenue rises as annual loss narrows
Higher product sales and managed services helped lift revenue at NTT New Zealand, but cash outflows widened and net liabilities grew.
NZ CIO of the Year 2026 - Tighe Wall on trust, culture and the cost of holding to strategy
Trust and culture, not technology, powered Contact Energy's transformation, delivering a 30% cost-to-serve cut and 100,000 new customers.
MSP buyers focus on margins as AI reshapes M&A market
Private equity buyers are valuing managed service providers on recurring revenue and gross margins as AI uncertainty slows technology dealmaking.
Inde appoints Nish Sudhakaran as AI & data director
The hire bolsters Inde's push into AI and data services as New Zealand firms grapple with governance and security before deployment.
Workday joins New Zealand government digital marketplace
Eligible New Zealand agencies can now buy Workday software through a pre-vetted channel, potentially speeding procurement and reducing risk.
Could Bitcoin collapse?
Bitcoin's slump has revived fears over whether investors could flee to the point that even the biggest cryptocurrency loses all value.
TUANZ backs online safety plans but warns on age ban
Support for tougher online protections comes with calls for scrutiny of age checks, as TUANZ warns they could harm privacy and exclude vulnerable youth.
Kiwibank posts $174m profit as lending & deposits grow
Earnings fell as lower margins squeezed Kiwibank, even though home loans and deposits climbed faster than those of bigger rivals.
New Zealand cyber incidents needing specialist support rise
More New Zealand cyber incidents are now being escalated for specialist help, even as total reports stayed broadly steady in the June quarter.
The human side of being future ready
Cyber defences falter when staff know the rules but still fail to act, making psychology as important as software for resilience.
2degrees turns on default blocks for malicious sites
The default filter could spare 2degrees customers from scams and phishing attempts without any sign-up, app or settings change.
REANNZ signs cyber resilience pact with Asia-Pacific
Cross-border research could face slower recovery from cyber attacks, as network operators agree to share contacts, lessons and support before crises hit.
Netsafe launches nationwide online safety programme
A third of young New Zealanders have sought personal advice from AI, highlighting a trust gap that Netsafe hopes to tackle with its new programme.
NRC explores how AI could boost council services and decision-making
The review could identify quick wins for Northland residents, while weighing privacy, security and ethical risks before any rollout.
NZSIS warns security threats intensify across New Zealand
New Zealand's national security threats have intensified amid geopolitical upheaval, foreign espionage and online violent extremism, NZSIS says.
Microsoft appoints Nick Walton as NZ Managing Director
The appointment strengthens Microsoft's push in New Zealand as businesses weigh AI adoption, cloud investment and data-residency demands.
Problem Gambling Foundation tightens privacy rules after email breach
Human error exposed client email addresses to other recipients, prompting PGF Services to overhaul bulk email checks and staff training.
Tech New Zealand urges action on digital skills gap
New Zealand's tech growth is being constrained by a deepening talent shortage, with firms struggling to fill AI, cyber and cloud roles.
Cello buys GKC Consulting to boost digital resilience
Customers will get fewer handovers during outages as Cello folds GKC Consulting's observability expertise into its network operations business.
Job Moves
Equinox IT appoints Victoria MacLennan as director
Inde appoints Nish Sudhakaran as AI & data director
Microsoft appoints Nick Walton as NZ Managing Director
One New Zealand names CFO, CTO in executive succession
HP New Zealand appoints Daniel Roberts as Head of Enterprise
Spectrum Consulting names Darryl van Rensburg for AI drive
Gallagher Security names Josh Arnold Chief Product Lead
Crimson Education names Sir John Key chair amid expansion
DLA Piper appoints Edward Eisdell-Moore as NZ tech partner
