A recent Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Business Characteristics Survey showed that a significant measure of the adoption of digital technologies by Australian businesses is the use of paid cloud computing services, with 42% of businesses reporting the use of cloud computing, compared to 31% in 2015-16.
The survey revealed that, in 2017-18, insufficient knowledge of paid cloud computing services was the greatest factor limiting or preventing its use (17% of businesses).
Some 78% of innovative businesses indicated cloud technology was of some importance in regards to their digital technologies, compared to only 53% of non-innovative businesses.
In 2017-18, 54% of businesses indicated cybersecurity was of some importance to their digital technologies, compared to 47% of businesses in 2015-16. The majority (92%) of businesses with 200 or more employees indicated cybersecurity was of some importance in 2017-18.
In 2017-18, 11% of businesses reported internet security incidents or breaches. Manufacturing and Wholesale trade industries had the highest proportion of businesses that reported internet security incidents or breaches (18%).
For those businesses that reported an internet security breach or incident, downtime of service was the most common impact of the breach or incident (52%).
In 2017-18, 52% of businesses with 200 or more employees upgraded cybersecurity software, standards or protocols, compared to 34% of these businesses in 2015-16.