NT Cyber Invest Business Program – Round 2

Funding: Up to $20,000 per business each financial year
Co-contribution: The grant covers 50% of eligible costs. The business pays the rest, plus any ineligible costs
Who can apply: Territory businesses with an ABN and annual turnover under $10 million
Closes: 11:30 pm ACST, 14 January 2027, or earlier if funding runs out
How it’s assessed: First come, first served
Administered by: NT Department of Corporate and Digital Development

The Cyber Invest Business Program gives small and medium Northern Territory businesses up to $20,000, covering half the cost, to improve their cyber security with a Territory-based ICT or cyber security provider. Round 2 closes on 14 January 2027, and applications are funded in the order they're received.

The program is run by the NT Government to help businesses protect their systems and data, avoid disruption from cyber attacks, and support local providers.

Key Requirements

Projects must fit one or more of four support categories:

Cyber Foundations: basic protections from the Australian Cyber Security Centre’s Small Business Cyber Security Guide, for businesses that aren’t sure where to start
Cloud Security: securely setting up Microsoft 365 or ChromeOS, following the Australian Cyber Security Centre’s cloud security guides
Essential Eight Uplift: putting in place or improving controls from the Essential Eight framework, for businesses that already have the basics in place
Managed Cyber Security Service: starting a managed security service where specialist staff actively monitor and respond to threats, funded once for up to 24 months

Provider requirement
All professional and managed services must be supplied by a Territory Enterprise that provides ICT or cyber security services. The NT Government doesn’t approve or endorse providers, so businesses must check their chosen provider themselves.

Ongoing costs
Businesses must be able to keep paying for any subscriptions, licences or managed services after the grant ends. Each subscription or managed service can only be funded once.

Businesses are encouraged to complete the free Australian Cyber Security Centre Cyber Health Check before designing their project. The Cyber Invest Business Program guidelines list what’s eligible in each support category.

What is eligible for funding?

Cyber Foundations

Multi-factor authentication, password managers and strong passphrases
Replacing shared accounts and setting up role-based access
Automatic updates, antivirus scans and automatic device locking
Backup plans, automatic backups and external backup devices
Securing existing servers, routers, internet-facing services and websites
Basic cyber awareness training and an incident response plan

Cloud Security

Turning on security defaults and setting up Microsoft 365 or ChromeOS security controls
Enrolling devices in mobile device management
Microsoft 365 Business Premium licences, or upgrades to them
An optional managed cloud service, for up to 24 months

Essential Eight Uplift

A baseline review, then putting in place or improving Essential Eight controls
Testing that the controls work, plus the policies, procedures and training to run them

Managed Cyber Security Service

Onboarding and setup for a new managed service
Up to 24 months of active monitoring, human review of alerts, incident response and reporting

What isn’t funded
Renewals of existing subscriptions or services, general ICT support, website work, standalone audits or penetration tests, certification fees, cyber insurance, responding to a current cyber attack, and hardware such as computers, phones and servers. Costs incurred before approval aren’t covered.

What companies are eligible for funding?

Small and medium Territory businesses, for-profit or not-for-profit, that are a legal entity with an active ABN and an annual turnover under $10 million.

Schools and other education institutions, government agencies and government-owned bodies, local councils, publicly listed companies, and businesses that have already received $20,000 this financial year can’t apply.

Is this grant competitive or entitlement based?

Non-competitive. Applications are assessed against the eligibility criteria in the order they are received, until funding is exhausted.

How can I increase my chances of winning this grant?

By engaging a professional government grant writer consultant. Avant Group is Australia’s largest independent grants advisory firm. Because this program is first come, first served, having a complete, well-scoped application ready to lodge early matters.

Find out more about our government grant writing and consulting service here.

View other NT grants.

How can I get help understanding if I’m eligible for this grant? Or know if I’m likely to win funding?

Avant Group offers a no-obligation assessment of your eligibility for funding and will assess your likelihood of a successful grant application.

This grant is open

Apply for this grant below:

OR