Secure Your Health and Fitness Business:
A Guide to Cyber Security for Gyms and Studios Cyber Safe Digital Security
Discover essential cyber security strategies for gyms, Pilates and yoga studios, leisure centres, and sole traders. Learn how to protect your members, business, and reputation through digital safety today.
Understanding Cyber Security in the Fitness Industry
The exercise and active health industry in Australia has embraced technology at a rapid pace. From online bookings and member management platforms to Wi-Fi-enabled cardio machines, wearable integrations, and contactless payments. Gyms and studios now operate in a highly digitised environment. While this digital shift delivers convenience and operational efficiency, it also brings risk.
Cyber security for health and fitness businesses, also referred to as cyber safe digital security, is now critical to protecting sensitive member data, payment information, and business systems (ControlAudits, 2024).
Research shows that health and fitness applications and connected devices often suffer from vulnerabilities such as weak encryption, over-permissive access requests, and insecure coding practices (Forsberg & Iwaya, 2024). For Australian operators handling sensitive health and financial information, these risks can lead to data theft, financial loss, and reputational damage.
The Importance of Digital Safety
Digital safety is crucial in today’s tech-driven world, protecting gyms and fitness businesses, from scams and data breaches. Staying safe online safeguards personal information, finances and reputation building trust and loyalty among members. Understanding digital risks and practising secure habits helps everyone navigate the digital world with confidence and peace of mind.
The Business Case for Cyber Security
Investing in cyber security not only protects sensitive member data, payment information, and business operations from cyber threats and costly breaches, but builds trust, ensures compliance, and safeguards reputation, helping attract and retain clients in a competitive, technology-driven industry. This is not just a smart move; it is absolutely essential for all gyms and fitness businesses operating today.
Financial Impact of Cyber Attacks
Cyber-attacks cost Australian businesses billions each year. According to the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC), small to medium enterprises (SMEs) are frequently targeted. The average cost of a cyber-attack $49,600 for small businesses (ACSC Cyber Threat Report 23/24). For gyms and studios, a ransomware attack could halt operations, block booking systems, and even disable connected equipment until resolved.
Protecting Member Trust and Reputation
Trust is the foundation of any fitness business. Members expect that personal and payment data will be stored securely. A single breach can damage a business’s reputation, leading to cancellations and difficulty attracting new clients. In addition, a single breach can also result in significant government fines for breaching the Privacy Act 1988 – see next section. Restoring that trust is time-consuming and costly.
Legal and Compliance Implications
Australian businesses must comply with the Privacy Act 1988 and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs)when handling personal information. If payment card details are processed, compliance with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) is also required. Health and fitness businesses handle health-related information, which is classified as “sensitive information” under the Act, requiring stronger protections (Office of the Australian Information Commissioner).
Common Cyber Threats in the Industry
- Phishing attacks – fraudulent emails or texts tricking staff into revealing credentials.
- Ransomware – malicious software that locks systems until a ransom is paid.
- Data breaches – unauthorised access to membership databases or cloud-stored personal data.
- IoT exploitation – attacks on internet-enabled gym equipment or wearables.
- Poor Cyber Hygiene – such as weak passwords, no multi-factor authentication, and out-of-date software.
As Australian gyms and studios increasingly adopt digital systems, the risk of these attacks grows (SentryTech Solutions, 2025; Trend Micro, 2021).
Key Cyber Security Challenges for Fitness Businesses
Access to Personal and Payment Information
Every membership profile contains personal details, payment records, and in some cases medical notes. This information is highly valuable to cybercriminals, making gyms attractive targets (Partners&, n.d.).
Integration of Technology and Equipment
Connected fitness machines and mobile applications increase operational efficiency but also broaden the attack surface. Many devices have weak security settings by default, such as unchanged factory passwords.
Employee Awareness and Cyber Hygiene
Staff are often the weakest link. Simple mistakes — like clicking a phishing link or using weak passwords — can open the door to attackers.
Essential Cyber Security Strategies for Fitness Centres
Implementing Strong Access Controls
- Enforce multi-factor authentication (MFA) for admin and payment systems.
- Apply the principle of least privilege so staff only access the data they require.
- Remove or deactivate inactive accounts immediately.
- Individual logins for staff – avoid sharing logins and passwords
Data Encryption Techniques
- Use encryption at rest and in transit to safeguard sensitive data.
- Work with a cyber security technical expert to deploy the strongest encryption standards within your digital environment for stored data and data transmission.
- Remove or replace direct identifiers of sensitive health or biometric information using software to anonymise or pseudonymise personal data. Recommend working with cyber security technical experts to implement this level of encryption within your environment to ensure its accurately managed and controlled. (ControlAudits, 2024).
Regular Security Audits and Updates
- Schedule quarterly vulnerability scans and annual penetration testing
- Update software, plugins, and device firmware consistently
- Subscribe to ACSC alerts to stay informed of emerging threats (ACSC)
Incident Response Planning
- Develop a written incident response plan that outlines steps to contain, investigate, and recover from a breach
- Maintain regular backups stored securely offline
- Test response plans with simulation exercises
Creating a Culture of Cyber Safety
Staff Training and Awareness
Employees need ongoing cyber awareness training, including:
- How to identify phishing emails and other social engineering threats such as text and voice scams
- Best practice password management, using password manager tools
- Safe Wi-Fi and device usage
Phishing simulations and refresher training should be built into business operations.
Engaging Members in Digital Safety
Members can also play a role in cyber hygiene:
- Encourage them to use strong passwords for member portals
- Regularly force password changes for staff and members for all logins
- Communicate openly about your business’s cyber security measures
- Provide guidance on safe use of your mobile apps
- Promote the Australian Government Act Now, Stay Secure campaign which educates Australians on the simple cyber safe actions that everyone can take every day to protect themselves onlinehttps://www.actnowstaysecure.gov.au
Partnering with Experts
- Collaborate with IT security firms or managed service providers.
- Use ACSC’s Small Business Cyber Security Guide (ACSC, 2023) for tailored advice.
- Seek support from industry associations, insurers, and legal advisers to strengthen protections.
Conclusion: Taking Action to Secure Your Fitness Business
Cyber security is not just an IT issue, it is a business continuity and reputation issue. For health clubs, gyms, Pilates and/or yoga studios, leisure centres, and sole traders across Australia, adopting cyber safe digital security practices is essential for protecting member trust, meeting compliance obligations, and ensuring long-term success.
By implementing strong access controls, encryption, regular audits, and comprehensive training, business owners can significantly reduce their exposure to cyber risks. Partnering with experts and leveraging government resources like the ACSC further strengthens resilience.
In a competitive industry built on community and trust, securing your digital environment is as important as maintaining physical safety in your facilities. Take proactive action today to safeguard your fitness business for the future.
References
Australian Cyber Security Centre. (2024) Annual cyber threat report 2023-24.
Retrieved from https://www.cyber.gov.au/about-us/view-all-content/reports-and-statistics/annual-cyber-threat-report-2023-2024
ACSC Small Business Cyber Security Guide –
https://www.cyber.gov.au/business-government/small-business-cyber-security/small-business-hub/small-business-cyber-security-guide
Australian Government. (2025). Act Now Stay Secure. Retrieved from https://www.actnowstaysecure.gov.au
Office of the Australian Information Commissioner. Privacy Act 1988. Retrieved from https://www.oaic.gov.au
ControlAudits. (2024). How to implement cybersecurity in the digital fitness industry? Retrieved from https://controlaudits.com/blog/how-to-implement-cybersecurity-in-the-digital-fitness-industry/
Forsberg, A., & Iwaya, L. H. (2024). Security analysis of top-ranked mHealth fitness apps: An empirical study. arXiv. https://arxiv.org/abs/2409.18528
Office of the Australian Information Commissioner. (n.d.). Privacy Act 1988. Retrieved from https://www.oaic.gov.au
Partners&. (n.d.). Cyber risk for gyms and health clubs. Retrieved from https://www.partnersand.com/resources/cyber-risk-for-gyms-and-health-clubs/
SentryTech Solutions. (2025). Protect your gym: Essential cybersecurity for fitness centres. Retrieved from https://sentrytechsolutions.com/industry-blog/protect-your-gym-essential-cybersecurity-for-fitness-centers
Trend Micro. (2021). Fitness cybersecurity: Risks and ways to stay cyber fit. Retrieved from https://news.trendmicro.com/2021/08/03/fitness-cybersecurity-risks-and-ways-to-stay-cyber-fit/
