The Tax Practitioner Board (TPB) have announced that cyber security training will now be recognised as part of continuing professional education requirements.
The updated guidance comes after the TPB received information that hackers may be targeting tax practitioners and their practices in an attempt to harvest personal information, commit identity fraud or to launch ransomware and other malicious attacks.
The TPB have recognised that cyber security awareness training will assist tax agents in protecting themselves, and their businesses against a cyber-attack. The training will contribute to meeting their continuing professional education/development requirements with the TPB and their obligations under the professional code of conduct.
“The TPB recognises the emerging threat of cyber attacks and the importance of tax practitioners proactively protecting themselves, their practice and their clients”, said acting chair of the TPB, Greg Lewis.
Cyber security training is not only beneficial for your professional training and development, it is essential in protecting your business. Staff members are often the weakest link in your cyber security, the easiest way for a hacker to gain access to your system is through good old fashioned human error.
Continuous staff training on cyber and email security is one of the best ways to protect your business against hackers and scams.