Australia’s RMIT University recently announced the launch of its Cyber Ready Cloud Innovation Centre (CIC), powered by Amazon Web Services (AWS).
About the Initiative
According to a recent press release, the new CIC will focus on cloud-based cybersecurity solutions.
This will enable students to tackle cyber issues in the real world through innovative cloud computing approaches and emerging technology.
The dedicated CIC team will connect students, researchers, government, and subject matter experts to solve cybersecurity challenges.
Additionally, they will also collaborate with experts across various fields including RMIT’s Blockchain Innovation Hub, Health Transformation Lab, and RMIT Online.
Students will be faced with challenges that will serve as opportunities to build prototypes that address cyber threats.
The focus will be directed on enhancing awareness, literacy, and enablement across three information security pillars: confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
The government, industry and the community will define challenges ranging from cyber policies and training programmes, to security protection and control systems.
The prototypes built will be made publicly available for the global community to access.
The University’s Vice-Chancellor and President Martin Bean CBE explained that RMIT is focused on closing skills gaps and making a positive contribution to the communities in a time of constant change.
The Cloud Innovation Centre will develop in-demand skills to tackle real problems, and most importantly, deliver proactive solutions to protect Australians and the global community.
Background
The Australian Government’s 2020 Cyber Security Strategy discussion paper reported that cybercrime affected one in three Australian adults in 2019, with cybersecurity incidents costing Australian businesses up to AU$ 29 billion every year.
The Australian Cyber Security Growth Network’s Cyber Security Sector Competitiveness Plan also highlighted Australia’s skills shortage, with an additional 17,600 skilled cybersecurity professionals required by 2026.
Moreover, the report highlighted that the cybersecurity skills gap in Australia is currently costing the nation more than AU$ 400 million in annual revenue.
The company’s Country Director for Public Sector in Australia and New Zealand explained that their experience in accelerating digital innovation through the global AWS Cloud Innovation Centre program will help the community deliver innovative projects to tackle cybersecurity challenges in Australia and around the world.
The Cyber Ready CIC is scheduled to launch by mid-2020.
It will join a global network of Cloud Innovation Centres dedicated to accelerating public sector innovation.
CICs are designed to address public sector challenges through digital innovation.
Other Cybersecurity Initiatives
Cybersecurity is a growing need and nations are responding to that need by developing their own initiatives.
Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) is funding a new boot camp, to be delivered by The Australian National University (ANU), to help better equip practitioners at the frontline of the region’s cybersecurity challenges.
The Cyber Bootcamp Project provides practical expert advice and skills training to government officials from ASEAN and Pacific countries.
The Cyber Security Agency of Singapore and industry partners have jointly developed the Operational Technology Cybersecurity Plan aimed at providing a strategic route for Singapore to strengthen its current defence systems and protect data from cyberattacks.
It is structured towards developing the talent pool and allowing the exchange of information between the public and private sectors.
It also serves to protect operational technology (OT) systems from cyberattacks that are detrimental to Singapore’s water supply, transport and other critical sectors.
New Zealand’s University of Waikato, meanwhile, held its 2019 Cyber Challenge that had participants hack devices such as cars, drones, and home security as well as everyday appliances like the refrigerator, smart lights and even toothbrushes.
The Challenge recognises that there is a definite shortage of cybersecurity professionals in the industry. They aimed to produce a more aware and cyber-ready generation in the face of the growing cybersecurity threats.
