Gillard launches cyber security hub

The Federal Government has launched Australia's first national cyber security strategy highlighting the need for better collaboration between state and private sectors to boost cyber security efforts.

A new coordination hub will be launched by years' end under the strategy, which will be staffed by the Department of Defence, the Attorney-General's Department, the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and the Australian Crime Commission.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard said the co-location facility would be "world class".

“It will provide Australia with an expanded and more agile response capability to deal with all cyber issues related to government or industry, crime or security,” Gillard told reporters in Canberra today.

“It will also create a hub for greater collaboration with the private sector, state and territory governments, and international partners to combat the full breadth of cyber threats."

Gillard did not detail how the centre would differ from the existing Cyber Security Operations Centre (CSOC) within the Department of Defence, which aims to assist businesses under attack and take down botnet control servers.

The CSOC is permanently staffed by a handful of members of the Defence Signals Directorate, the AFP's technical crime wing, ASIO and the Computer Emergency Response Team Australia.

The strategy states the Australian Cyber Security Centre will be responsible for:

• developing sophisticated capabilities to maximise Australia’s strategic capacity and reach in cyberspace, giving the Government the ability to detect, deter and deny offshore malicious cyber actors targeting Australia;
• developing a comprehensive understanding of the threat to Australian Government networks and systems of national interest;
• responding to and assisting in the mitigation of cyber incidents affecting both government and private sector networks;
• working with critical infrastructure sectors and key industry partners to limit the threat to our nation’s most valuable networks and systems; and
• providing key policy agencies, including the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Attorney General’s Department, Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, DFAT and Department of Defence, with advice and support for their efforts to develop proactive strategies to counter cyber threats.

Gillard said Australia must be prepared for a "long, persistent fight" against cyber security threats. The government has committed $1.46 billion until 2020 to bolster the security of Australia's "most sensitive networks", and has established a cyber security office within the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

The document, available as a PDF, will be refreshed every five years. 

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