There’s no question that we live in a connected world today. Paul Stathis looks at what this connection means for trust and how the cabling industry can play its role.

Despite the incredible recent technological advancements, we’re at greater risk than ever before. Despite all these enablers that supposedly make our lives better, we’re also more exposed to individuals who want to gain advantages by doing us harm than ever before. We’re all fearful of the day we or our clients discover our bank accounts or identities get hacked, because of insignificant openings or weaknesses in our online presence.

Notably, most people think of software technologies to protect us from cyber harm – firewalls, multi-factor authentication and blockchain. While these are essential, a ‘smart’ criminal will always look for the weakest link – which could be the connectivity provided by you, thereby potentially making you that weakest link; this raises the bigger question – are cablers as an industry that weakest link, since we’re the ones who connect everyone?

So, are you trustworthy?

As cablers, there’s much we can do to protect our clients – and ourselves – from harm caused by those who want to do harm online. How can the cabling industry be more trustworthy to clients and help them bolster their protection against nasty hackers?

The reality of cyber-security risks

“In an era where digital connectivity underpins every aspect of operations, the internet has become both a vital asset and a prime attack vector for cyber threats,” Fenix24 chief information security officer and co-founder Heath Renfrow said at the 2025 Australian Cyber Summit.

“Organisations that fail to implement robust security measures risk data breaches, financial loss, operational disruption, and reputational damage. Cyber-security extends far beyond firewalls and encryption; it demands a culture of awareness and proactive risk mitigation. A well-informed workforce is as critical as the technologies deployed to safeguard digital environments.”

Bazaarvoice Asia Pacific managing director Kate Musgrove summarised the commercial benefits of trustworthy connectivity that cablers should note: “With the internet flooded with content, authenticity is everything. Consumers crave genuine experiences, whether they’re scrolling through socials, shopping online, or engaging with brands.

“Our research shows that 88% of consumers say authenticity is key when deciding which brands to support. But with the rise of fake reviews, scams and misleading content, trust is at risk. Businesses must take an active role in protecting their customers. Brands that champion transparency help create a more trustworthy online marketplace for everyone.”

So, what can cablers do to improve security?

Firstly, be a registered cabler. Whilst it is a legal requirement, it’s also good for business. How so? Because it’s effectively a badge-of-honour that says you’re trustworthy to give your clients precisely what they’re looking for – reliable connectivity.

One reason for this is that the current AS/CA S009 regulations include a “fitness-for-intended-purpose” requirement, which basically means the connectivity/cabling you’re providing must deliver on its promises, otherwise the client doesn’t have to pay you for it.

Quite simply, if you’re an honest person, you’re going to ensure your client gets what they’re expecting, whereas a cowboy who isn’t professional hates these clauses because they’re legally held accountable for the provision of reliable services, putting payment at risk if not done properly. They have to spend the time and money to get it right, generally, things they don’t factor in their bids.

Why do we know this? Because we hear this all the time. BRCA is a registrar that administers cabling registration on behalf of the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) and like the other four registrars, we talk to cablers all the time about what happens in the real world. We learn much from these conversations, including the strategy of registered cablers using this real world situation to their advantage.

Here’s some Marketing 101 – cabling registration is a great differentiator that identifies you as a professional who’s been trained on and adheres to the ACMA’s Cabling Provider Rules (CPRs), as distinct from the cowboys who aren’t professional like you and wouldn’t commit to ensuring reliable performance.

So, don’t compete on price. It’s the only thing cowboys can offer, and if you drop your price to match them, they just drop their prices again to undercut the market and win the business. In these circumstances, nobody wins. Marketers call this a race to the bottom.

Think about it: it costs you money to provide a service – products, tools, time, vehicle, fuel, taxes, etc. Sadly, many tradies – regardless of industry – have lost money to be price-competitive with the cowboys.

In those cases, you’re better off leaving your money in the bank and doing nothing. As bad as that sounds, it’s better than working to lose money.

Secondly, in these situations, you’ll also be pressured to cut corners to minimise losses, which typically compromises the integrity of the network and the equipment attached to it.

The Internet of Things (IoT) is the killer app that makes this crucial nowadays because so many life-safety, medical and security services are online and any compromises to the cabling typically result in compromises to the services connected to the cabling.

And legally, if something goes wrong, you’re amalgamated into the accountable parties who potentially contributed to the compromise and therefore potentially liable. Regardless of what you’ve done right or wrong, you get dragged into the issue and have a burden of proof to declare your innocence. Regardless of the outcome, you’ll have to invest a lot of time and money to defend yourself, which is not good for you or your business.

Connectivity is integral to getting people onto the internet. So, anyone involved in facilitating access to the internet, including cablers, simply can’t step away from the accountabilities associated with online risks – you simply can’t just deny responsibility when your client experiences a breach. With that accountability firmly in mind and knowing they have an inescapable duty of care, end users and consultants commonly avoid engaging contractors they don’t trust or at least fear may be a bit of a cowboy.

Lastly – but equally important – you’re seen by many as the most important person in the supply chain.

“Who me? But I’m just a cabler.”

You’re right. But think of the overall supply chain as the reverse of the money trail. The source of the cash – the end user – doesn’t specifically need cabling – they need a service, like access to data or security surveillance.

They typically don’t know nor care what infrastructure they need, so they hire a consultant to design it and put out a specification for them. The specification generally doesn’t list products but typically has lots of technical and legal items in it to ensure the client is provided with what they need. A cabling contractor generally then responds to the specification in a tender and has to make decisions on what products to use to ensure what’s installed is fit for the intended purpose (i.e. delivers on what the end users want).

Everyone in the supply chain clips the ticket – makes money on the project – and as such, is held accountable for their fees (that’s fair and reasonable from commercial and legal perspectives). The cabler, who often decides on what products to use, therefore has a huge bearing on the success or failure of the project, and as such, can be held accountable for those choices.

So, to win the contract, or at least be given a shot at it, you have to be seen as trustworthy – your credentials that not only convey your installation skills, but also your business knowledge, your technical expertise, your integrity to correctly interpret and cover the end users needs – your reputation as a trustworthy cog in the supply chain.

This article is not intended to be a comprehensive guide to risk mitigation. Rather, it’s only the tip of the iceberg to spark discussion amongst cabling industry professionals and to evoke self-reflection as cablers, businesses and industry in light of the trends towards zero-trust, due to cyber-security threats.

This threat is very real, and end users are very sceptical about who to trust and who not to trust. This is your opportunity to use this situation to your advantage in positioning yourself as a trustworthy good guy – and differentiate yourself from the cowboys and their practices, which ultimately prove toxic to their clients, the community and ultimately our industry.