NSW to spend $20m to boost cybersecurity
The NSW Government will spend $20 million to implement its first Cyber Security Strategy, a new whole-of-government approach to minimising and managing cyber risks while responding to threats.
As part of the strategy, the government has published a strengthened cybersecurity policy and is introducing new standardised reporting and incident response arrangements across government.
The new policy will introduce non-negotiable minimum security standards that must be met across government, taking a risk-based approach by emphasising securing high-impact information and services.
It lays out guidelines for all government departments to follow, based on four principles — secure, integrated, responsive and holistic.
These principles stipulate that security must not be an afterthought, but be integrated into all ICT assurance processes.
They also stipulate that agency capability should be lifted through training and support programs, and that deep collaborations should be encouraged in recognition of the fact that security is everybody’s responsibility.
NSW Government CIO Dr Maria Milosavljevic said cybersecurity is one of the most high-profile and rapidly evolving security risks facing governments everywhere.
“Investing in strong cyber capabilities will provide confidence to citizens and business who trust us with their data,” she said.
“The suite of initiatives will ensure that the government is equipped to prevent, prepare for and respond to incidents and that each agency and all staff have a clear understanding of their role. To ensure this, we have introduced whole-of-government advisories that are already improving the ability of agencies to quickly and effectively respond to emerging threats.”
She said the government plans to continue collaborating with industry and academia as well as federal and state law enforcement to foster a holistic approach to cybersecurity.
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