Cyber Security Stakeholder Group key messages 25 June 2020

Updates

The Prime Minister's address to the nation was acknowledged noting the increased surge in malicious cyber activity over recent times. The briefing warned of a sophisticated state-based cyber actor targeting Australian organisations.

The Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) provided an update on their response to a sustained targeting of Australian government and companies by sophisticated state-based actors. It was noted that during its investigations, the ACSC identified no intent by the actor to carry out any disruptive or destructive activities within victim environments rather, the intent appears to be information harvesting.

The ATO provided an intelligence brief highlighting vulnerabilities and mitigations specific to the current COVID-19 pandemic and extensive working from home arrangements. Organisations are encouraged to implement the Australian Signals Directorate Essential Eight mitigations to protect their systems and to educate staff on cyber safety practices.

A verbal update was provided to the group on the progress of the myGovIDExternal Link noting the journey has far exceeded expectations and that AUSkey has now been decommissioned.

It was also noted that the NSW government in association with Standards Australia and AustCyber are forming a task forceExternal Link to formulate what cyber standards would look like nationally.