A survey of 513 Australian business owners and decision-makers has found that data protection, privacy, and security are key concerns for the year ahead.
Thirty-six per cent of respondents to the survey, conducted by Shopify, rate data protection as a top priority, with using AI for content creation and efficiency not far behind.
“Shopify data shows Australian small businesses are entering 2026 with strong optimism about the year ahead, with three-quarters expecting better performance than in 2025,” Shaun Broughton, managing director for APAC and Japan at Shopify, told Cyber Daily.
“However, that confidence sits alongside growing cyber risk. As organisations manage more cloud tools, AI applications, and digital touchpoints than ever before, every new integration expands the attack surface that criminals can exploit. It’s why 36 per cent of Australian SMBs are prioritising investments in security, privacy, and data protection this year.”
Broughton added that, for retailers in particular, fraud prevention is also becoming essential.
“Practically speaking, to help prevent fraud, retailers should explore using secure payment gateways, deploy IP fraud scoring tools to flag risky orders, and implement verification software to confirm customer identities,” Broughton said.
“Additionally, regularly reviewing suspicious orders and training employees on fraud awareness are key steps to safeguarding their business.
“By being vigilant with effective retail risk management, retailers can clearly understand the threats they face and stay ahead of emerging risks as the digital landscape continues to evolve.”
David Hollingworth
David Hollingworth has been writing about technology for over 20 years, and has worked for a range of print and online titles in his career. He is enjoying getting to grips with cyber security, especially when it lets him talk about Lego.