$2m for cyber security

The state government has signalled it will develop a new cybersecurity operations centre to improve the detection of, and response to, cyber threats.

That centre will receive $2 million in funding in the upcoming state budget, according to Innovation and ICT Minister Dave Kelly, and will be managed by the Department of the Premier and Cabinet's office of digital government.

It comes after it was reported in May that the state government had been the victim of a foreign national-led cybersecurity breach in January of this year.

The new centre will complement existing cybersecurity centres in Western Australia, including Edith Cowan University’s Security Research Institute.

The department has now opened applications for the recruitment of cybersecurity experts, with teams placed throughout several public sector agencies.

Mr Kelly said today's launch of the cybersecurity operations centre was the first of its kind in Australia.

“During COVID-19 we've seen a rise in malicious cyber activity in terms of frequency, scale and sophistication,” he said.

“The [state] government is committed to building the cyber security capability within the state government, the community and industry.

“The new operations centre will provide unprecedented visibility of threats against agencies' networks, as well as improve the state government's ability to co-ordinate and respond to cyber security threats against our systems.

“The cyber security operations centre will create further jobs and opportunities for cyber security professionals in WA.”