Cyber attacks are on the rise in New Zealand as more organisations report security breaches, according to the Government Communications Security Bureau.

The bureau’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) recorded 132 such incidents in the first six months this year, compared with 147 cases reported throughout last year.

It expects more than 200 cases to be reported this year. There were 134 in 2012, and the figure grew to 219 in 2013.

“The reason for the increases is expected to be a combination of increased awareness of the importance of reporting cyber incidents and awareness of the role and functions of the NCSC,” the bureau’s Acting Director Una Jagose told insuranceNEWS.com.au.

“Incidents meet a certain criteria, which we continually review, to differentiate them from other common online events before they are logged by the NCSC.”

The bureau declined to name the organisations – which include state agencies – it is helping, to protect sensitive information surrounding the cases.

The Insurance Council of New Zealand (ICNZ) is not surprised by the rise in cyber attacks.

Its research shows three in four New Zealanders believe the country’s businesses are not ready to cope with hacks.

“New Zealand may become more of a target because our businesses are likely soft targets,” ICNZ CEO Tim Grafton told insuranceNEWS.com.au.

He says the low take-up of cyber cover and the business community’s attitude must be reversed to tackle the threat effectively.

“Until [we have] mandatory reporting of cyber breaches and stronger duty-of-care obligations that require businesses to have systems, procedures and policies to ensure compliance with cyber-specific obligations, such as a requirement to take reasonable steps to protect information, then awareness of the need to manage these risks will not be high”.

About 29% of businesses have no insurance and a “very high percentage” have no cyber cover, he says.