Land down underAussies open new Cyber Security Operations Center
The Australian Strategic Policy Institute warned of the nation’s increasing vulnerability to cyber attacks, putting at risk not only its defense system but also its economy, businesses, food production, power and water supplies, transport, and telecommunications; the government is especially worried about sustained cyberattacks from China; the center, operated by the highly secret Defense Signals Directorate, is part of a series of moves launched last year under the government’s cyber security strategy
Australia has opened a new citadel to protect itself from attacks in what Defense Minister John Faulkner describes as the “battlefield” of cyberspace. The opening of the Cyber Security Operations Center follows a year in which defense computer networks were attacked by about 220 “security incidents” a month, with another 220 targeting other government systems. It also follows warnings from the Australian Strategic Policy Institute of the nation’s increasing vulnerability to cyber attacks, putting at risk not only its defense system but also its economy, businesses, food production, power and water supplies, transport, and telecommunications.
“Cyber intrusions on government, critical infrastructure and other information networks are a real threat to Australia’s national security and national interests,” Faulkner said at the opening of the new center.
NZHerald’s Greg Ansley writes that the center, operated by the highly secret Defense Signals Directorate, is part of a series of moves launched last year under the government’s cyber security strategy, and involves specialists from the DSD, the Defense Intelligence Organisation, the Defense Force, Federal Police and the domestic spy agency, the Australian Security Intelligence Organization. The specifics remain secret but the center will advise the government on how best to protect the nation from the cyber threat, linking expertise and intelligence in a coordinated response.
The center and other initiatives under the strategy are being watched closely by key allies, whose secrets could also be compromised by attacks on Australian networks.
The Strategic Policy Institute warned in a special report on cyber security that Australia’s close intelligence partnership with the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and New Zealand made the nation an obvious target for attack. The five nations are linked tightly through the UKUSA intelligence pact.
New Zealand’s High Commissioner in Canberra, John Larkindale, with U.S. ambassador Jeffrey Bleich and Canadian High Commissioner Michael Leir, were among the guests at the opening of the center.
An indication of the scale of the threat came with the figures of attacks on Australian defense and government systems provided by Faulkner, although no details were provided. He said the threat came from a wide range of sources, including individuals working alone, groups driven by specific issues, organized crime and “state -based adversaries.”
Faulkner would not be drawn on speculation that “state-based” hackers included China — identified as a cyber threat in international reports — but said there had been evidence of sophisticated intrusions into private and government networks in Australia.
