Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) 2017 Conference – time to shine
I had the privilege to address the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) 2017 Conference Gala Dinner in Canberra last week. The ACSC Conference is the largest gathering of Cyber Security Professionals in Australia.
In an environment where it is well understood that we all need to work together to improve and maintain an appropriate level of Cyber Security, gatherings of this size are critical if Australia is going to get it right. Overlay the international context where a spotlight has been put on the Cyber Security fraternity from so many directions, including from President Trump, there has never been a more important time to get together.
Aidan Tudehope from Macquarie Government talking about Australian cyber security at the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) 2017 Conference.
Seismic shift for Australian cyber security.
The way the media and the public view cyber security has under gone a seismic shift, from been seen as an arcane technology topic to, over a short period, people realise what it is really about – the daily defence of our way of life – as the stories about the incentives and potential for interference in elections, for example, make it much more real to the majority of the population.
We have woken up the nation as to the importance of what we do. The need for all of us to work together – public sector, private, citizens – has never been so important.
Time to shine.
We are all centre stage in ways we never have been, and that gives an historic opportunity to make this a time to shine. A time to make a difference. This is about the entire cyber security fraternity who attended the ACSC Conference stepping up as professionals and domain leaders, and securing not just their employer, but collectively Australia.
The question I posed was, “What are we, as Cyber Security professionals, going to do to make the most of this moment with the spotlight on us?
Ingrained in who I am, and the business I co-founded is the desire to make a difference, and to leave a lasting legacy. The Macquarie Government team is well aware of the need to shine, and as an Aussie public company (ASX-listed), we are investing and contributing well beyond our business needs –
- We’re hiring Australian Engineers and Cyber experts – over 180 NV1 Government cleared – in Australia and in Canberra;
- We’ve built a local Security Operations Centre (SOC);
- Invested in our own Australian Data Centres including in the security focused, Intellicentre 4 Bunker, located in Canberra;
- Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) has certified our Cloud Computing Environment for use by the Australian Government.
- Actively encouraging great talent to choose a Cyber Security career, including providing Western Sydney University Cyber Security Scholarships,
- Conducting & sharing the insights from our Cyber Security Research
- Contributing to Government policy and initiatives
I’m proud of what Macquarie Government has achieved, being trusted by 42% of Australian Government Agencies, and what we are feeding back into the community.
Thank you for continuing the fight for Australian cyber security improvements.
Thank you to those that continue to help us on this important front, and to those on the front line with Macquarie Government that we don’t hear enough from but whom it’s important to recognise their efforts and contribution – the ASD & ACSC crew – and every Cyber Security professional that has chosen to be the frontline not just for their employer, but in protecting what all Australians value and hold close.
Macquarie Government stand and the Macquarie Government brand prior to our presentation at the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) 2017 Conference.
About Macquarie Government: Macquarie Government is a division of the Macquarie Technology Group (ASX MAQ). It provides services to Federal and State Government agencies, including Secure Internet and Secure Cloud services.
