October

Organised crime gangs are the biggest perpetrators of security breaches in Australia, while hacktivists and disgruntled employees factor in only a tiny fraction of crimes. Ninety-two percent of breaches are perpetrated by outsiders, of which 55% come from organised crime, followed by 21% by state-affiliated hackers and just 2% by activists and 1% by former employees. Some 14% of breaches are perpetrated by insiders, although this is rising. There's an overlap between external and outside perpetrators, who sometimes collude. In addition, weak or stolen credentials are the No.1 cause of breaches, responsible for more than three quarters of incidents. The average cost of a data breach to an Australian business is more than $2.5 million per year, and over the five years to 2014, the average breach involved more than 20,000 records.

Workplace drug testing is on the rise among Australia 's white-collar workforces. The workplace drug testing industry - which is valued at around $80 million - sees an average annual growth of up to 20%. While the testing of mine site, transport and logistics workers remain the pillars in the Australian industry, experts are reportedly noticing an increase in demand from white-collar sectors. Much of this stems from companies attempting to prevent problems, which have in recent years been uncovered by rising incidences of random drug testing being carried out on drivers by police around the country. Andrew Liebie, national marketing director of Safe Work Laboratories said Australia still has a way to go before catching up with the U.S., where an estimated 70% of workers have to partake in drug testing.

Where safety is a critical component of an employee's duties, employers' drug and alcohol policies are more likely to be enforceable. The Full Bench of the Fair Work Commission recently upheld the termination of employment of an employee who returned a positive test for cannabis in a random drug test. Employer policies, which provide for disciplinary action including dismissal where an employee tests positive for cannabis may, at least in the context of safety critical work, be judged to be lawful and reasonable. Make sure your drug and alcohol policy expressly states that disciplinary action including dismissal will be taken where an employee fails to comply.