SENATOR JOHN FAULKNER
Minister for Defence
Friday, 15 January 2010
001/2010
CYBER SECURITY OPERATIONS CENTRE OFFICIALLY OPENED
The Minister for Defence, Senator John Faulkner, today officially opened Defence’s
new Cyber Security Operations Centre in Canberra.
“The establishment of the Cyber Security Operations Centre within the Defence
Signals Directorate (DSD) is a major step in meeting the Government’s 2009
Defence White Paper commitment to provide comprehensive understanding of the
cyber threat,” Senator Faulkner said.
“Cyber security is one of the Government’s top national security priorities and the
Cyber Security Operations Centre is a key part of a national cyber security initiative
set by Government. Cyber attacks on Government and critical infrastructure
constitute a real threat to Australia’s national interest.”
Two other cyber security measures were announced in the 2009-10 Budget - the
creation of the new national computer emergency response team, CERT Australia
and a study for the reduction in the number of Australian Government internet
gateways.
The Cyber Security Operations Centre will develop capabilities to gain an edge in the
cyber space domain and provide critical understanding of the cyber threat from
sophisticated cyber attack.
Senator Faulkner said: “The Cyber Security Operations Centre is well placed in the
Defence Signals Directorate. It fits naturally with the DSD’s important role as the
Commonwealth national authority on information security, providing government with
protective security advice and assistance.”
The Cyber Security Operations Centre will have at its disposal the DSD’s high
powered computing resources and advanced analytic techniques.
“The Cyber Security Operations Centre will employ around 130 highly-skilled
information technology experts, engineers and analysts drawn from the DSD. There
will also be representatives from the Defence Intelligence Organisation and the ADF
and scientists from the Defence Science and Technology Organisation as well as
representation from the Attorney-General’s Department, ASIO and the AFP,” Senator
Faulkner said.
Media Note:
Further information about the DSD and the Cyber Security Operations Centre is
Supporting vision will be fed to networks at Parliament House this afternoon.
Media contacts:
Colin Campbell (John Faulkner):
02 6277 7800 or 0407 787 181
Defence Media Liaison:
02 6127 1999 or 0408 498 664
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