Key Compliance Dates for Businesses

The Cyber Security Act introduces a phased approach to national cyber readiness. These key compliance milestones reflect how Australia is moving from awareness to accountability — giving businesses time to build maturity before enforcement begins.

29th

Nov 2024

Act receives Royal Assent—Australia’s first economy-wide cyber-security law begins

30th

May 2025

Mandatory ransomware-payment reporting starts; 72-hour deadline for businesses with ≥ $3 m turnover

01st

Jan 2026

Education-first phase 30 May - 31 Dec 2025. Enforcement and fines kick in from 2026

3 Core Business Duties

The Act sets clear expectations for how Australian businesses handle cyber incidents. Understanding these duties helps you respond lawfully, protect your organisation’s reputation, and contribute to a safer digital economy.

Report Ransom or Extortion Payments

If your annual turnover is ≥ AU $3 million, you must lodge a Payment Report within 72 hours of paying (or learning of) a ransom

Share Details Under Protection

Voluntarily brief the National Cyber Security Coordinator during or after an incident—information is shielded from most regulatory or legal action

Participate In Post-Incident Reviews

You may be invited (or required) to supply information to be published in lessons-learned reports without blame or liability

Does the Act Affect Your Business?

Do you turn over ≥ $3 million a year in Australia?

Businesses above this threshold are classed as “reporting business entities” and must lodge any ransomware-payment report within 72 hours.

Visit Home Affairs For More Info

Are you responsible entity for a critical-infrastructure?

Critical-infrastructure operators under the SOCI Act are in scope regardless of annual revenue.

Visit CISC For More Info

Have (or could) you paid a ransom or other cyber-extortion demand?

If the answer is yes and you meet either of the above criteria, a formal report is mandatory.

Visit Home Affairs For More Info

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