Securing the Future: A Recap of 2023 Cyber Security Initiatives

As we wrap up 2023, we wanted to reflect on the efforts the Australian Government has made towards in fortifying its digital landscape. The cyber security initiatives undertaken throughout the year have played a pivotal role in safeguarding our nation against the ever-evolving threats lurking in cyberspace.

Essential Eight Maturity Model

The Essential Eight Maturity Model (E8MM) is an annually updated framework by the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) aimed at providing contemporary, purposeful, and practical cyber security advice. It assists businesses in safeguarding their internet-connected IT networks against common cyber threats. The updates are influenced by cyber threat intelligence, feedback from government and industry, insights from penetration tests, Essential Eight implementation assessments, and responses to ASD's annual cyber survey. The latest update emphasises areas such as balancing patching timeframes, promoting the use of phishing-resistant multifactor authentication, managing cloud services, and enhancing incident detection and response for internet-facing infrastructure.

Australian Signals Directorate Releases 2023 ASD Cyber Threat Report

The Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) has released its fourth ASD Cyber Threat Report, detailing the escalating frequency, cost, and severity of cyber threats in Australia. The report highlights a 30% increase in reported cyber security incidents affecting critical infrastructure during the 2022-23 financial year, with compromised accounts, assets, and denial of service attacks being major contributors. The same period saw a 23% rise in cybercrime reports, averaging one every 6 minutes and businesses experienced a 14% increase in cybercrime costs. The report includes comprehensive insights into the current cyber threat landscape and provides guidance, services, and uplift programs to enhance cyber security across Australia. 

2023-2030 Australian Cyber Security Strategy

In November the Australian Government launched the 2023-2030 Australian Cyber Security Strategy, envisioning Australia as a global cyber security leader by 2030. The strategy introduces six cyber shields to fortify national defence, emphasising the protection of citizens and businesses. These shields include strengthening businesses and citizens, ensuring safe technology, fostering world-class threat sharing, safeguarding critical infrastructure, promoting sovereign capabilities, and cultivating a resilient region with global leadership. The strategy shifts the focus from a technical perspective to a holistic national effort, fostering public-private partnerships. The accompanying 2023-2030 Australian Cyber Security Action Plan details initiatives for the next two years, starting with Horizon 1, concentrating on strengthening cyber security foundations through collaboration between government and industry, ultimately aiming to enhance cyber resilience for a swift recovery post-cyber attacks.

The collaborative efforts between the public and private sectors, investments in education and training, protection of critical infrastructure, and the embrace of emerging technologies collectively position Australia as a resilient and proactive player in the global cyber security landscape. However, the ever-evolving nature of cyber threats necessitates a continuous commitment to innovation, adaptation, and international cooperation to ensure a secure digital future for the nation.

Ready to secure the skills to protect and defend your business? Or looking for your next exciting cyber role? Whether it's for long or short-term contracts or a permanent role, we are Australia's top Cyber Security recruitment agency, committed to providing the best talent and expertise to meet your needs.