The Australian Government has published the 2023-2030 Australian Cyber Security Strategy, a roadmap to transform Australia into a world leader in cyber security.

The strategy outlines ways to improve Australia’s cyber security, manage cyber risks, and enhance support for individuals and businesses through six “cyber shields.”

Each shield provides a layer of defence against cyber threats and puts individuals and businesses at the centre:

• helping citizens and businesses become more resilient to cyber threats;
• making technology safer;
• implementing world-class threat blocking;
• protecting critical infrastructure;
• strengthening sovereign capabilities; and
• global leadership.

The Australian Government also published the 2023-2030 Australian Cyber Security Action Plan, which outlines key initiatives that will commence over the next two years.

Expert welcomes new cyber security strategy

Professor Matthew Warren, director of the RMIT Centre for Cyber Security Research and Innovation, said the new cyber security strategy will help protect Australia from a wide range of cyber threats.

“The strategy demonstrates the government recognises the importance of protecting all of Australia from critical infrastructure to small businesses and citizens,” Warren said. “It’s great they have acknowledged the key role that universities have in contributing to sovereign capability development and innovation, especially through research.

“Unlike previous national cyber security strategies, this strategy clearly defines what success looks like and the three phases of implementation needed to get to a successful outcome.”

Feedback on strategy and action plan

The Australian Government will release a consultation paper on the strategy and action plan to work with the industry on its proposed legislative reform on:

• new initiatives to address gaps in existing laws; and
• amendments to the Security of Critical Infrastructure Act 2018 to boost protections for critical infrastructure.

The consultation period will end in March 2024.

In other news, the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) warned that cyber threats impacting individuals, businesses, and organisations across Australia have increased.