The NSW government plans to quadruple its size of its cyber army by injecting funds of AU$60 million over the next 3 years. New South Wales plans to do so as a part of its AU$240 million commitment related to cyber security. Victor Dominello, Minister for Customer Service said the creation of the team of cyber experts would see the scope of Cyber Security NSW expanded to incorporate small councils and agencies.

The funds were made available through a AU$240 million commitment which was made in June to enhance New South Wales’ cybersecurity capabilities. This includes investments towards deploying new technologies, protecting existing systems and expanding the cybersecurity team.

More on the announcement

Cyber Security NSW for consolidation and lifting the cyber capabilities of state entities stood up in 2019. Mr Dominello said the AU$60 million is not just a 4-fold increase in cybersecurity spending but enables Cyber Security NSW to quadruple the workforce size in the battle against cyber crime. It will train the next generation of cybersecurity specialists and make sure there’is a cross-government coordinated response, including advance capability development, threat intelligence sharing and cybersecurity training, he adds.

The AU$240 million commitment also includes standing up a cybersecurity vulnerability management center in Bathurst. The centre will oversee scanning, detecting, and managing cybervulnerabilities and data across departments and agencies. It will be operated by Cyber Security NSW.

SEE ALSO: Australian security specialist firm CyberCX expands to New Zealand

NSW’s cybersecurity plans

 

In June 2020, Mr Dominello called for submissions aimed at shaping the state government’s 2020 NSW Cyber Security Strategy. The plan will be focused on developing a sector-wide, comprehensive cybersecurity strategy that supersedes the existing 20-page strategy published in 2018.

Earlier in August, the Federal Government published its own cybersecurity strategy which vowed to develop legislations to be imposed on critical infrastructure operators, consider the laws to be amended to have a minimum cyber-baseline across the country, create powers that enable the Federal Government to get on the offensive and proactively defend critical infrastructure and networks.

The Cyber Enhanced Situational Awareness and Response package (CESAR) was also announced that will see the Federal Government spend over AU$1.35 billion over the next 10 years on Australia’s security agencies. 

SEE ALSO: Australian cyber startup Kasada raises $10 million to expand in the US

For more updates and latest tech news, keep reading iTMunch

Image Courtesy: NSWC Crane Corporate Communications