Australian Government announces Six Cyber Shields

The Australian government is in the process of crafting its Cyber Security Strategy, which will involve the establishment of six cyber shields. This announcement was made by Minister for Home Affairs Clare O’Neil during the AFR Cyber Summit on 18th September, with more specific details set to be disclosed later in the year. The primary goal of these shields is to bolster the protection of businesses, organisations, and citizens, ultimately fostering a unified and well-planned national response.

At Com-X we applaud efforts to further define guidance to organisations in Australia whose Executives  are looking for clarity on how to navigate risk and reach a minimum compliance standard where their responsibilities and requirement for cyber awareness becomes a requirement. Where Joe Longo, ASIC Chairman shared in the same summit that “ASIC will be looking for the right case where company director and boards who failed to take reasonable steps, or make reasonable investments proportionate to the risks that their business poses”.

What has been announced?

The initial shield will focus on empowering citizens and businesses to understand their capacity to safeguard themselves. By 2030, the aim is to have citizens and businesses well-versed in recognising cyber threats and knowing the steps they can take to protect themselves, as well as having appropriate support systems in place to assist them in the event of a cyber-attack.

The second shield will revolve around the concept of safe technology and the establishment of clear global standards for digital safety in products. This will encourage the integration of security measures into products right from their inception.

The third cyber shield will centre on the sharing of cyber threat intelligence and blocking potential threats. The goal is to enable the real-time exchange of threat intelligence between the government and the private sector, with the ability to proactively block threats before they can harm the Australian population.

The fourth shield will involve safeguarding access to critical infrastructure, which includes critical services and sensitive data about Australians. This will entail enhancing the government’s own cyber defenses to ensure the country’s security.

The fifth shield will focus on developing a sovereign capability in the cyber realm. The objective is to have a thriving cyber ecosystem in Australia with the necessary skills and expertise by 2030.

The final shield will involve coordinated global efforts to promote a more resilient region in terms of cybersecurity.

What happens next?

Minister O’Neil plans to implement these shields in two-year increments, with the first phase spanning from 2022 to 2025, concentrating on building strong foundational cybersecurity measures.

As the cyber landscape evolves, subsequent phases will be developed to further enhance the nation’s cyber protection, culminating in a robust framework of six cyber shields to safeguard Australian citizens.

The overarching objective from O’Neil’s announcement is to create a cyber-safe Australia, driven by a shared national imperative.

Claire O’Neil – Australian Minister for Home Affairs 

Joe Longo – ASIC Chairman