From May 30, 2025, that of Australia New Ransomware -Payment Rule Rules come in the game. This means that companies are required by law to report ransomware payments within strict timetables.
This is part of a broader effort to improve transparency and to strengthen national cyber security, in addition to the establishment of a Cyber Incident Review Board.
This mandatory report will help the government better understand the scale and nature of ransomware attacks, so that it can allocate resources, disrupt cyber crime networks and support affected companies.
But for CEOs, reality is anything but simple. Ransomware attacks often unfold at the lightning speed, so that organizations are left in a complex dilemma while they are against the clock. Here are five urgent questions that CEOs should ask before the rules start and what they should know to stay for them.
Am I legally obliged to report any ransomware attack?
Not every attack, but every ransom payment must be reported. From 30 May 2025, companies are obliged to inform the government within 72 hours if they pay a ransom after a cyber attack. This includes the amount, the payment method (such as cryptocurrency) and any identifying details about who received it. Even if you do not pay, depending on your sector, you may still have to report the incident under existing cyber incident obligations.
Do I ever have to pay a ransom?
This remains one of the most confrontational questions that a CEO can be confronted with. In the heat of an attack, when your systems are frozen and your data is on the line, you can pay as the only feasible option. Failure to comply with the requirements can lead to a huge loss of data, even worse is still the chance that these stolen, often very private, will be leaked publicly on the grid.
But it’s a dangerous gamble. There is no guarantee that your files will be fully or not at all. Even when decoding tools are provided, they are often defective or incomplete, so that companies still rebuild their systems.
However, it is worth remembering that refusal to pay can send a powerful message to attackers who do not work. In fact, collective resistance can reduce future attacks and reduce the profitability of ransomware in the long term. But it only works if your data will make a backup and can be restored quickly.
What should I do during a ransom attack?
Speed and clarity matter when you are attacked. If you are rumbling for legal contacts or you wonder who is authorized to speak with supervisors, you have already lost time that you cannot afford.
Every company must know exactly who is responsible for Ransomware reporting. Your legal and cyber security teams must already be tailored to the process. Communication plans, internal and external, must be ready to go. Cyber insurance policies, back -up protocols and escalation contacts must be easily accessible. Preparence cannot be offered afterwards middle crisis. It must be appropriate before you ever need it.
Reporting, especially if a ransom is paid, must also be part of your real -time response. Providing quick information Snel does not only help you to meet your obligations, it helps the government to allocate resources to take out ransomware networks and prevent future incidents.
Will reporting expose or protect me?
Some CEOs are worried that reporting will damage their reputation or reveal operational weaknesses. But in reality, transparency is increasingly significant strength. Not reporting reporting, in particular when it is required by law, can lead to fines, reputation -returns and even loss of insurance coverage.
Reporting also makes access to government support possible, improves sector -wide threat awareness and signals to stakeholders that you act with integrity and responsibility. In a landscape where cyber attacks are a matter of whennot whenOwning your reaction is part of protecting your brand.
What should we do now, before 30 May?
If you have not yet started preparing, this is the moment.
View the new Ransomware reporting requirements with your executive and legal teams. Make sure you clearly determine who is responsible for reporting and what the internal escalation path looks like. Rate your back -up systems again, not only whether they exist, but how quickly and effectively they can be restored in the case of an infringement.
The most important thing is that this makes a leadership interview, not just an IT. The companies that are best positioned to respond to ransomware are those where managers play an active role in the cyber security strategy, instead of waiting and responding.
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