Strengthening Cybersecurity: Managed Services Australia Partners with Keeper Security.

In today’s digital age, cybersecurity is no longer a “nice to have”—it’s an absolute necessity. One of the most overlooked yet critical aspects of protecting your business is password management. Weak, reused, or stolen passwords remain one of the leading causes of data breaches globally. That’s why Managed Services Australia is proud to announce our new partnership with Keeper Security, a global leader in password security and Dark Web monitoring solutions.

Together, we’re bringing cutting-edge password protection and proactive threat monitoring to our clients—empowering businesses of all sizes to take control of their digital security.

Let’s face it—managing dozens (if not hundreds) of passwords across your business can be a nightmare. From shared team logins to individual access credentials, the risk of human error is high. A password manager solves this problem by securely storing and managing all your credentials in one encrypted vault.

Business owners in Australia face a growing threat from cyber attacks – and one of the weakest links is poor password practices. Recent statistics from the last 2–3 years highlight how weak or reused passwords contribute to breaches, what causes most data incidents locally, and how exposed credentials end up on the Dark Web. Below we compile key Australia-specific cybersecurity stats (with credible sources) that underscore why using a password manager and strong, unique passwords is essential.

Using weak or duplicate passwords greatly increases the risk of a cyber incident. Attackers frequently leverage stolen credentials to break into business systems. Consider these findings:

• Credential compromise in breaches: An Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) analysis found that 41% of data breaches involved malicious actors exploiting valid user accounts and credentials – often by brute-forcing simple or reused passwords or by phishing for login details. In other words, nearly half of breaches stemmed from password compromise.

• Global trend of stolen passwords: This isn’t just an Australian trend. Verizon’s 2023 Data Breach Investigations Report noted that among external attack methods, using stolen credentials was the top tactic (49% of breaches) – far outpacing phishing (just 12%) or exploiting software flaws (5%). Weak or reused passwords effectively hand attackers the keys to company data.

• “81% of breaches” figure: Industry reports have long warned about password risks. One analysis famously found that 81% of hacking-related breaches are due to weak or stolen passwords. While this oft-cited stat originates from earlier studies, recent data continues to validate the central role of poor passwords in security incidents.

What this means for businesses: If employees recycle passwords or use easy-to-guess logins, attackers can quickly penetrate multiple accounts. A single compromised password can unlock an entire network – leading to financial losses, downtime, and reputational damage. Using a password manager to generate and store strong, unique passwords for every account helps eliminate this common vulnerability.

Statistics from the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) and other Australian sources show which threats most often lead to breaches – with credential theft leading the pack:

• Malicious attacks dominate: Malicious or criminal attacks (which include hacking, malware, phishing, etc.) remain the leading cause of reported data breaches in Australia, accounting for about 67–70% of incidents​. By contrast, human error (sending information to the wrong person, etc.) and system faults make up the rest. This highlights that deliberate attacks are the primary risk to guard against.
• Stolen passwords are the #1 breach cause: Within those malicious breaches, compromised logins are a major factor. In the OAIC’s latest Notifiable Data Breaches report (Jul–Dec 2023), “compromised or stolen account credentials caused a quarter (25%) of all data breaches” – making it the single biggest cause of breaches in that period​. Weak passwords and password re-use enable many of these incidents.
• Phishing and credential theft: Phishing (which often harvests passwords) is persistently common. In breaches affecting large numbers of people, the OAIC noted that attackers frequently used methods like phishing for credentials, brute-force password attacks, and other hacking techniques to gain initial access​. This aligns with global findings that phishing and stolen passwords are the top initial attack vectors in breaches​.

For Australian business owners, these stats send a clear message: stolen passwords are a leading cause of data breaches nationally. Failing to enforce strong password policies (with unique passphrases or multifactor authentication) puts your organization squarely in the crosshairs of the most prevalent attacks.

Stolen or leaked passwords don’t just disappear – they often end up for sale on Dark Web marketplaces, where cybercriminals trade credentials like commodities. Australian businesses have significant exposure here:

• Millions of records leaked: Recent high-profile breaches have led to massive data dumps online. The ACSC reports that significant data breaches in 2022 exposed millions of Australians’ personal information, which was then stolen and leaked on the dark web​. Each of those exposed passwords or identity details can be bought and later used to infiltrate companies.
• Government credentials found online: Even government agencies are not immune. In one incident, over 100,000 suspected login credentials for Australian government portals were discovered on a Dark Web forum​, raising alarms about the scale of credential leaks. If public-sector logins are available to cybercriminals, it’s likely that many business login credentials are floating around on dark web sites as well.

Implication: If any employee’s work credentials have ever been part of a breach, that password is likely already in the hands of bad actors. Without a password manager and strong password hygiene, reused passwords exposed on the dark web can be weaponized to attack your business. It’s critical to monitor breach notifications and ensure all staff use unique passwords that are changed if exposed.

Failing to address password security can have dire consequences for companies – from direct breach costs to regulatory penalties:

• Cost of a breach is soaring: Data breaches in Australia are more expensive than ever. IBM’s 2024 Cost of a Data Breach Report found the average cost of a breach in Australia hit a record A$4.26 million (≈US$2.8M), a 27% increase since 2020​. Small and medium businesses are not exempt – costs include incident response, downtime, legal fees, and customer notifications. Many of these breaches start with a stolen password, meaning a single weak credential can trigger a multi-million dollar incident.
• Common entry points – passwords and phishing: IBM’s report also highlighted that the most common initial attack vectors in breaches were phishing and stolen or compromised credentials​. In practice, these often go hand-in-hand (phishing sites steal passwords, which hackers then use to log in). It reinforces that improving password practices (and training against phishing) can significantly reduce the likelihood of a costly breach.

From a business perspective, these numbers make it clear that investing in password management and security is far cheaper than dealing with a breach. The downtime, financial loss, and reputational damage from an incident far outweigh the effort of implementing a good password manager, employee training, and multi-factor authentication.

Given the risks above, cybersecurity experts and government agencies urge organizations to strengthen password practices. Key advice includes using password managers to enforce strong, unique passwords:

• The Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) explicitly advises all Australians to “use long, unique passphrases for every account”, especially if multi-factor authentication isn’t available – and notes that password managers can assist with this​. A reputable password manager helps employees generate complex passwords and store them safely, removing the temptation to reuse easy passwords across services.
• Enabling multi-factor authentication (MFA) on business accounts is another top recommendation​. MFA ensures that even if a password is stolen, an attacker likely cannot access the account without the second factor. This is particularly crucial for email, VPN, banking, and administrator logins. Many breaches (including a scenario described by the OAIC) could have been thwarted if MFA had been properly implemented for all users​.
• Regularly monitor for credential leaks relevant to your organization. Given the prevalence of Australian credentials on dark web markets, businesses should consider services or tools that alert them if company email/password combinations appear in breaches. Early awareness can allow prompt password resets and damage control before hackers use them.
• Educate employees about phishing and good password habits. Human error contributes to credential theft (e.g. staff falling for phishing emails). Training employees to spot scams and avoid password pitfalls (like writing them down or sharing them) is an ongoing necessity.

By following these practices – and leveraging a password manager to maintain unique credentials – Australian businesses can dramatically lower their risk of being part of the next breach statistic.

🔐 Password Security & Management

• Password Manager – Store and access all your passwords from one secure location. Say goodbye to sticky notes, spreadsheets, or risky browser-saved passwords.
• Shared & Private Vaults – Seamlessly share credentials within teams or keep them private for personal accounts. Great for managing access across departments.
• Zero-Knowledge Encryption – Your data is encrypted before it leaves your device, meaning even Keeper can’t access your vault.

🛡 Dark Web Monitoring & Threat Protection

• BreachWatch® – Continuously scans the Dark Web for compromised credentials and alerts you immediately if your information is found.
• Real-Time Alerts – Get notified the moment your login data is exposed—allowing you to act before it’s too late.
• Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) – Adds an additional layer of protection, making it much harder for cybercriminals to gain unauthorised access.

📁 Additional Features

• Secure File Storage – Store sensitive files, documents, and notes securely in the Cloud Security Vault™.
• Cross-Platform Access – Access your vault on any device, anywhere, with automatic sync and offline capabilities.

With remote work, hybrid teams, and an ever-expanding digital footprint, it’s more important than ever to ensure every employee follows secure practices. Password policies alone aren’t enough—Keeper helps enforce strong password hygiene with automation, visibility, and control.

Our clients can now benefit from:

• Improved compliance with data protection standards
• Centralised credential management
• Reduced risk of insider threats and accidental breaches

We’re thrilled to offer Keeper Security as part of our managed cybersecurity services. Whether you’re a small business or an enterprise, this solution is scalable, user-friendly, and essential.

Ready to take your password security to the next level?
Get in touch with our team today to learn how Keeper can become an integral part of your organisation’s security strategy.

Need help with onboarding, training, or setup? As your trusted technology partner, Managed Services Australia is here to make the transition seamless.

Visit our website at Managed Services Australia to learn more about our services and discover how we can help your business stay one step ahead of IT Security.

Dial 1300 024 748, shoot us an email at [email protected], or schedule a session with one of our IT specialists.

Let’s make security simple—and strong.