The Australian Cyber Network (ACN), a brand-new non-profit organization, has formally formed with the goal of addressing the nation’s mounting cybersecurity issues.
The ACN, formerly known as AustCyber, expands upon the achievements of its forerunner, which the organization claims assisted in the establishment of over 300 businesses and increased the number of cyber experts to over 120,000.
With over 94,000 cybercrime events reported in the most recent fiscal year, Australia is facing an alarming incidence of cybercrime incidents at the time of ACN’s inception.
According to Jason Murrell, co-founder and chair of ACN, there is more to the name change from AustCyber to ACN.
In order to make sure that Australia takes the lead in establishing global cyber standards and solutions, Murrell sees the ACN serving as a conduit between Australian business and international cyber security initiatives.
“We’re not just shaping policy; we’re helping shape careers and the future of the cyber security workforce in Australia,” Murrell said.
With the Australian Signals Directorate government agency contacting businesses 620 times in the last financial year, this translates to one incident every six minutes, underscoring the critical need for enhanced cybersecurity safeguards.
Cybercrime has become “the most significant shift in criminal activity since the handgun,” according to Dr Andrew Charlton MP, who emphasized the importance of digital security.
The ACN wants to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMBs) protect themselves from cyberattacks by developing the industry, influencing policy, and providing support.
The CEO and co-founder of ACN, Linda Cavanagh, emphasized the need for “a voice for industry, by industry” to steer the direction of cybersecurity in Australia going forward.
The four strategic pillars of maturity, advocacy, outreach, and insight centre the organization’s mission.
Supporting small and medium-sized enterprises, which account for over 90% of Australia’s economy and are especially susceptible to cyber threats, is one of ACN’s main priorities.
The goal of ACN is supported by four strategic pillars:
- Maturity: fostering the sustainable growth of Australia’s cyber security capabilities.
- Advocacy: providing an independent voice to influence cyber security policy.
- Outreach: engaging with vulnerable sectors and SMBs to improve their cyber resilience.
- Insight: driving evidence-based research to shape policy and workforce development.
In order to maintain transparency, ACN will publish an annual “State of the Industry” report that will assess the Australian Cyber Security Strategy’s success and paint a complete picture of the industry’s growth.
Parliament House in Canberra served as the venue for the launch.
It brought together influential people from academia, business, and government, such as National Cyber Security Coordinator Lieutenant General Michelle McGuinness CSC and Dr. Andrew Charlton MP.
The significance of sovereign competence in creating a resilient country less susceptible to “unexpected global surprises” was highlighted by Lieutenant General McGuinness.
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