Cyber Security Operations Centre officially opened.

SENATOR JOHN FAULKNER Minister for Defence

www.defence.gov.au

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 available at: www.dsd.gov.au Supporting imagery will be available from www.defence.gov.au/media/download. 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