Government releases $230m cybersecurity strategy

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has officially launched the federal government’s national cybersecurity strategy, which he said sets out the big program for meeting the “dual challenges of the digital age — advancing and protecting our interests online”.

The Cyber Security Strategy will work on improving cybersecurity for the nation through 33 new initiatives floated by over $230 million in government funding, which will also see the creation of over 100 new specialised cybersecurity jobs.

Cybersecurity is no doubt big business, since the government said this latest investment will complement the $400 million already committed over next decade to Defence’s cyber and intelligence capabilities.

“There is no infrastructure more important to our future prosperity than an open, free and secure internet,” said the Prime Minister. “This strategy addresses how we can continue to protect ourselves and be more resilient to malicious cyber activity — as individuals, businesses, governments and as a nation.”

A key aspect of the strategy is the sharing of threat information between business and government, using the existing Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) and new portals in capital cities. The ACSC will be relocated from Australia’s spy building in Canberra to a more accessible venue, and the Prime Minister will convene annual meetings with business leaders.

“Australia and Australians are targets for malicious actors — including serious and organised criminal syndicates and foreign adversaries — who are all using cyberspace to further their aims and attack our interests,” said Turnbull.

“The scale and reach of malicious cyber activity affecting Australian public and private sector organisations and individuals is unprecedented.

“We must safeguard against criminality, espionage, sabotage and unfair competition online.”

In the announcement it was revealed Australia is also to get a newly created role of Cyber Ambassador, appointed by the Foreign Affairs Minister, to “champion a secure, open and free internet” and help bolster cybersecurity coordination with other countries in the region.

The Prime Minister said he will also be appointing a new minister to assist him on cybersecurity.

“This new structure will ensure cybersecurity is given the attention it demands in an age where cyber opportunities and threats must be considered together and must be addressed proactively, not simply as a reaction to the inevitability of future cyber events,” he said.

To read the strategy in full, go to cybersecuritystrategy.dpmc.gov.au.