The Government of New South Wales has announced that it will open a new Cyber Security Vulnerability Management Centre in Bathurst. The move builds on its recent record $240 million cybersecurity investment.
Operated by Cyber Security NSW, the centre will provide ongoing and automated vulnerability scanning across departments and agencies, introducing new services over time as its capability develops.
An Australian cybersecurity start-up will assist the organisations with detecting and managing internet-facing vulnerabilities and data breaches.
The Minister for Customer Service stated that the centre — due to open in July — is a crucial step towards strengthening the government’s capabilities in this space.
The Cyber Security Vulnerability Management Centre will provide the NSW Government with an increased awareness of vulnerabilities in internet-facing services and assets. It will deliver a vital, sector-wide risk management capability and is critical to ensuring enhanced monitoring of at-risk government systems, as well as early identification and remediation of known vulnerabilities.
Early detection of vulnerabilities and the ability to report them to the relevant agencies and departments is essential to improving the nation’s cybersecurity.
The Member for Bathurst stated that the initiative would also open up much-needed regional jobs for the sector.
The new centre is the first of its kind in the state, and not only will it create eight local jobs straight away, but it will also bring skilled workers to the region to further promote cyber employment opportunities in regional NSW.
The NSW Government is committed to expanding cybersecurity knowledge and capability across regional areas that simultaneously provides increased assurance for NSW’s digital services.
With many people working remotely or in isolation during the evolving coronavirus situation, there’s never been a more important time to prioritise cybersecurity, and this new centre in “our backyard is only just the start,” the Member added.
Boosting Australia’s cybersecurity
In March 2020, OpenGov Asia reported that improving Australia’s cyber preparedness and resilience is a pressing issue that requires a whole-of-society response.
The Department of Home Affairs Secretary called for closer collaboration between government, industry and academia on managing Australia’s cyber risks.
He noted that governments cannot do this on their own. Yes, in days past a lot of security threats were managed in great secrecy and by governments taking the lead, the official stated in a video message.
Developing a strong cybersecurity strategy will require improving cyber resilience. This will, in turn, require partnerships between governments and industry, between state and federal agencies, and with “society at large”.
One area where such partnerships can play a role is in cyber preparedness. Such a vital area cannot be left to CIOs of organisations or to government agencies to manage alone.
Preparedness is something that has to be thought about on that whole-of-society basis. The nation’s universities play a great role in adding to the country’s store of knowledge, research and thinking, as do cooperative bodies such as the CRCs, as do large corporations, as does the business sector at large, as do citizens themselves.
But at the same time, the government needs to lead these efforts, particularly in aspects to do with standards, trusted marketplaces and cyber awareness.
