Some cyber attacks on Govt from offshore: Faulkner

James Riley
Friday, 15 January 2010 11:22

Business IT - Security

The ultra-spooky Defence Signals Directorate responded to about 200 network security incidents a month last year, including some attacks that may have originated from overseas, Defence Minister John Faulkner has revealed.

Opening the DSD's new Cyber Security Operations Centre in Canberra, Senator Faulkner acknowledged recent speculation about cyber attacks being conducted by nation states, but said it was difficult to determine the precise source of electronic intrusions.

While acknowledging DSD investigated about 200 security incidents a month, he declined to discuss pecific incidents beyond saying none had caused any disruption to the Defence systems.

"There is some evidence that electronic intrusion of Australian Government sites has been conducted from overseas," Senator Faulkner said.

"But I stress that the nature of the internet makes it difficult, perhaps impossible, to attribute those attacks to exact sources and this comes back to again the importance and significance of the establishment of this centre."

"I want to reinforce that point that Defence did effectively respond to those activities and I can say to you that no operations to date have been disrupted due to network intrusion activities," he said.

The ultra-secretive DSD allowed journalists into the its most sensitive areas for the first time as the Senator Faulkner to open the Centre – joining Ambassadors from close allies the United States, Canada and New Zealand.

The Minister said the DSD operations centre would feed intelligence into the agencies securing broader private sector and Government critical ICT systems, and would include staff from other federal agencies – including the Attorney-General’s department, ASIO and the Federal Police.

"The internet is, by definition, about linkages and sharing. And because the problems in cyber space are shared, the response to them must also be shared across government and the community," Senator Faulkner said.

"The new Cyber Security Operations Centre, while located here in the Defence Signals Directorate, includes representatives from a number of government organisations.

“Each government agency represented in the Centre brings different expertise to respond to critical incidents. Each has responsibility for delivery of particular cyber security outcomes."

He said Cyber security was a top priority because Australia is increasingly dependent on information and communications technology (ICT).

"ICT underpins almost every function of government at all levels – federal, state and local – from our national infrastructure to transport services, health, education and emergency services."

The centre would provide advice on how to safeguard Australian critical infrastructure in the government and private sector from cyber threat, but the primary coordination role for Government would rest with the Attorney-General’s newly launched CERT Australia.