A new national organisation aimed at protecting the nation against cyber-criminals has started operations on the Sunshine Coast.
The not-for-profit organisation Critical Infrastructure – Information Sharing and Analysis Centre (CI-ISAC) provides “threat intelligence” to its members to help the digital defence of their ICT networks.
It started operations from Maroochydore this month.
The new organisation is being led by some of Australia’s best, brightest and most experienced in the field of threat intelligence and response.
Chair of the CI-ISAC Board is Brigadier (retired) Steve Beaumont, who previously served as director-general of intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, electronic warfare and cyber with the Australian Department of Defence.
Also playing a key role in the organisation is Dr Gary Waters, who has worked in the defence and national security space for more than five decades.
Chief executive officer David Sandell said the Sunshine Coast had been steadily building its credentials in the cyber and tech space.
“No one else in regional Australia has the assets we need, including the fastest fibre cable to Asia, diversity of data path to Sydney, a fully fibre-enabled city centre and a new international runway with rapidly growing regional aviation connections,” he said.
“The local university and TAFE are doing some great things to develop the skilled workforce we need and the future on the Sunshine Coast looks bright.”
Sunshine Coast Council Deputy Mayor Rick Baberowski welcomed CI-ISAC and its decision to be based on the Coast.
“A significant part of Australia’s critical infrastructure is owned or managed by local government, and I encourage all 537 Australian local governments to consider the considerable value in becoming a community of cyber-defenders,” Cr Baberowski said.
“The concept is clear-cut. If we act together and share cyber-threat intelligence, we can only get better at pre-empting attacks, while contributing to defending Australia’s data highway and all of the sensitive and personal data public services and businesses collect.
“We are proud that the Sunshine Coast will host and participate in an important new sector to develop solutions that can benefit all Australians.”
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