Small Business (SMB) stories - Page 26

Nearly half of Australian Baby Boomer SME owners plan to retire soon, yet only 24% have prepared succession plans to secure their businesses' futures.

SonicWall launches its Generation 8 platform with nine new firewalls and an embedded cyber warranty covering up to USD $200,000 for enhanced MSP cybersecurity services.

Commonwealth Bank will cut interest rates on eligible variable-rate business loans by 0.25% from 22 August 2025, following the RBA's recent rate cut.

Australian tech sector backs swift digital skills reforms to bridge a AUD $25 billion gap and boost economic growth by 2035, says ACS.

Future Skills Organisation and Microsoft launch a 12-month pilot to upskill 30,000 educators and boost AI skills in Australia's vocational education sector.

Nearly 40% of Australian employees feel pressured to be 'always on' despite Right to Disconnect laws aiming to protect after-hours work boundaries.

Xero is set to launch a redesigned navigation and homepage, shaped by customer feedback, enhancing usability with customisable, insight-rich features.

Australian employers plan to prioritise hiring in AI, cybersecurity, and software engineering throughout 2025 amid ongoing tech sector challenges.

ISO 27001 certification helps businesses secure sensitive data, boosting compliance, trust and competitive edge in sectors like finance and healthcare.

Small and medium businesses face rising cyber risks; VAPT offers a crucial proactive approach to identify and fix weaknesses before attackers exploit them.

JetBrains has launched Kineto, a no-code platform letting anyone create custom apps in 20 minutes by simply describing their idea in plain language.

AppSignal now offers expanded OpenTelemetry support, enabling SMBs to monitor Go, Java, PHP, Ruby, Elixir, and Node.js applications with ease.

Eightcap's new AI-powered Eightswarm SOC cuts cyber threat detection time to under 50 seconds, slashing security costs for SMEs by up to 80%.

Upcover partners with Coalition to launch a digital cyber insurance platform, swiftly protecting Australian SMBs and startups with tailored coverage online.

Employee share schemes are expanding beyond tech, helping Australian SMEs attract and retain staff while fostering widespread wealth creation through equity.

AI adoption soars to 93% in ANZ firms amid growing worries over skills gaps, ethics, and employee trust, reveals ManageEngine survey.

Wisr has named Sam Harding as COO, leveraging his 20 years' banking experience to enhance operations and drive growth in personal and vehicle loans.

Xero suits small operations but strains under multiple entities, causing manual work and errors; CFOs must consider unified ERP for scaled finance leadership.

Small business tax refunds surged by 75% in Q1 2024, with average returns reaching AUD $5,000, reveals CommBank data on Australian financial year start.

Optus has launched Expert AI, an AI platform that assists frontline staff in real time to improve customer service and resolve queries faster.