Adelaide opens new cybersecurity centre

The Commonwealth Government’s Joint Cyber Security Centre (JCSC) has now opened in Adelaide.

The JCSC will help to better protect Australians from malicious cyber incidents.

Minister for Defence Christopher Pyne officially opened the centre and welcomed representatives from federal and state governments, the academic community and business, including critical defence and energy industries.

“South Australia hosts some of the nation’s most important energy, infrastructure and defence assets,” Pyne said.

“This centre is crucial to protecting our national assets including the wider defence industry we depend on.”

The new facility expands the footprint of the government’s $47 million national Joint Cyber Security Program and Australia’s Cyber Security Strategy. It is part of Australia’s lead cybersecurity agency, the Australian Signals Directorate, and its Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC).

Minister for Home Affairs Peter Dutton reiterated the importance of government and industry working together to protect Australian businesses and the community from the increasing threat of cybercrime, including interference from malicious actors and criminal groups.

“The ACSC’s continuing expansion supports this government’s national security agenda by giving Australians, be it small business owners and operators or large corporate and critical infrastructure companies, access to a broad range of services from cybersecurity experts around the country,” Dutton said.

The centre will support bilateral partnerships with state and territory governments through an Australian Cyber Security Growth Network (AustCyber) Cyber Security Innovation Node located on the premises.

Minister for Industry, Science and Technology Karen Andrews said the partnership enhanced AustCyber’s goal of giving state and territory governments the remit and tools they needed to partner together and innovate in their own jurisdictions.

“AustCyber’s partnership with the Marshall government will help improve cyber defences, develop skills, grow jobs and increase Australia’s export opportunities in the booming global cybersecurity market,” Andrews said.

“The Coalition Government is determined to realise the industry growth opportunity of the rapidly growing global cybersecurity market, expected to be worth US$250 billion by 2026.”

Since its establishment in June this year, the centre has gone from strength to strength, attracting a large number of partners taking advantage of the unique collaboration between all levels of government and industry.

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/ArtemSam

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