Federal agencies are going backwards on basic cybersecurity, with just 15 per cent of entities meeting a minimum level of overall maturity last year, and more than two-thirds failing on individual protections like multifactor authentication and privileged access. The drop follows a tightening of the way that controls are assessed and a rise in legacy…
Gender biases, stereotypes and inequities are limiting women’s participation in the Australian cybersecurity sector, according to new research that recommends changes to the current “24/7 culture”. A report by RMIT cyber and social researchers released on Wednesday found the barriers are making it harder to address gender equity in an Australian sector where less than…
A consortium of government and industry bodies have begun developing a standardised approach for businesses to assess the value of their data and protect against risks across the economy. The Voluntary Data Classification Framework is an initiative under the national cybersecurity strategy’s ‘safe technology’ shield and is intended to help “support data governance and security…
Australia’s first standalone Cybersecurity Bill has passed into law, introducing a mandatory ransomware reporting regime and protections for businesses that cooperate with authorities in the aftermath of a cyber-attack. The Cyber Security Bill, which also introduces mandatory security standards for IoT devices, passed the Senate after a short debate on Monday with the support of…
Reports of cybercrime to national authorities fell for the first time last year, ending a half decade of surging known incidents as the Albanese government ploughs $20 billion into domain capabilities. Despite the drop the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) is urging Australians to remain vigilant, warning cybersecurity can’t be ‘set and forget’ as criminals and…
Australia’s first standalone Cybersecurity Bill has been given the green light by the powerful intelligence and security committee, paving the way for its debate in Parliament later this week. The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS) on Monday recommended only minor changes the “urgent” bill, which forms part of a broader cybersecurity legislative…
Australia’s cyber intelligence agency has witnessed a falloff in businesses proactively reporting cyber incidents in recent months, delaying their ability to respond as firms increasingly lawyer up. As Parliament considers new ‘Limited Use’ protections to shield companies from immediate regulation action, officials from the Australian Signals Directorate on Friday revealed growing caution by businesses. “We…
Envision a world where your sensitive enterprise data flows freely into artificial intelligence systems without friction. Large Language Model (LLM) firewalls may emerge as essential for Australian businesses, unlocking generative AI’s power while reducing the risks of data leaks and compliance failures. An LLM firewall works like a security checkpoint for AI, filtering data flowing…
Australia’s telco sector has only basic measures in place to respond and recover from disruptions like cyber incidents and natural disasters, a new report from the ANU Tech Policy Design Centre reveals. The report, to be released on Thursday, marks the first time the resilience of the sector has been profiled at the sector-level and…
The Australian Signals Directorate is now paying Australian-run data breach index Have I Been Pwned for threat intelligence, after six years of utilising its free government service. Have I Been Pwned (HIBP) is an online service that allows anybody to check if their email address has been caught up in a data breach, with paying…
The Australian Signals Directorate is now paying Australian-run data breach index Have I Been Pwned for threat intelligence, after six years of utilising its free government service. Have I Been Pwned (HIBP) is an online service that allows anybody to check if their email address has been caught up in a data breach, with paying…
Australia’s first ever Cybersecurity Act was among a landmark legislative package introduced by the Albanese government on Wednesday with promises of protections for businesses that cooperate with authorities on incident responses. Years in the making, the package reveals crucial limits for where the information sharing protections end, when businesses will have to declare ransomware payments,…
AustCyber, the former government-funded cybersecurity Industry Growth Centre, has shed its ties with startup incubator Stone and Chalk and been reborn as the Australian Cyber Network. Launched on Wednesday, the new not-for-profit will be led by former AustCyber executives Linda Cavanagh and Jason Murrell, who devised the Australian Cyber Network (ACN) together over the last…
More than 50 data breaches have been reported in the first seven months of the new mandatory data breach notification scheme in New South Wales, with state government agencies making up 65 per cent of the notifications. Of the 52 notifications revealed in the first report by the state’s Information and Privacy Commission, local governments…
Upcoming cybersecurity laws will offer businesses that share private details with cyber agencies in the aftermath of an attack a limited use protection from regulatory action. But to balance public interest, the government won’t include the stronger legal shield of a safe harbour that industry was seeking this year. The limited use obligation will mean…
Serious data breaches are occurring at the highest rate in the last three and a half years, according to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner, as it awaits new enforcement powers proposed in a Privacy Act amendment bill. The latest notifiable data breaches report, released on Monday, reveals 527 data breach notifications between January…
The Albanese government will seek to pass legislation by the end of the year to force companies to disclose ransomware payments after ramping up its own efforts to go after foreign cyber criminals. The legislation, which is yet to be publicly circulated but could arrive as early as next week, aims to uncover the scale…
A cybersecurity industry advisory board will be appointed in the coming months to support the delivery of the Commonwealth Cyber Uplift Plan, according to the National Cybersecurity Coordinator. Lieutenant General Michelle McGuiness on Tuesday said the advisory board will be made up of “large providers” that already support the government’s cybersecurity operations and uplift plan,…
Adding a cyber incident coordinator function to the Australian Energy Market Operator’s remit has been given strong support from most energy market participants, who argue the benefits far outweigh the costs. All of the 17 submissions addressing proposed changes to the national electricity rules, which completed consultation in mid-July, give some level of support to…
The Home Affairs department has made “limited progress” towards cybersecurity strategy actions aimed at bringing the federal government into line with its expectations of the private sector. Six months after handing down the strategy, three of the five actions focused on uplifting public sector cybersecurity have made only “limited progress [or have] yet to be…
Australian cyber skills will be deployed in a two month blitz across Papua New Guinea and Fiji in the federal government’s latest effort to build resilience across the Pacific with university and global organisations. Cyber not-for-profit AUSCERT and the University of Queensland where it is based on Monday announced they will join international cyber-support service…
Australia’s energy and climate ministers are driving cybersecurity authentication standards to protect consumer energy resources such as household solar, batteries and electric vehicles from cyber threats. Working groups under the Energy and Climate Change Ministerial Council (ECMC) will establish a new national entity in charge of authenticating communication with internet connected energy technologies, such as…
The federal government is being urged to close a “gaping” hole in Australia’s antiquated privacy regime by removing the small business carve out, following the country’s largest data breach since 2018. Simon Bush, the chief executive of the Australian Information Industry Association (AIIA), made the appeal on Friday, ahead of long-awaited amendments to the Privacy…
The federal government has given agencies 12 months to link up with the national automated cyber threat sharing platform after struggling to get voluntary buy-in over the last two years. The platform, built by consulting giant Deloitte at a cost of nearly $50 million, was introduced by Australia’s cyber agency in 2021 after demands from…
The Department of Home Affairs has poached New South Wales’ chief cybersecurity officer Tony Chapman, appointing him as deputy national cyber security coordinator as part of a major public sector cybersecurity uplift. Mr Chapman started the role on Monday as deputy to Lieutenant General Michelle McGuiness also holds the title of first assistant secretary for…
Australia may need to develop its own cybersecurity standards for at home energy resources like solar panels and batteries, according to experts that mapped options in anticipation of millions of the devices being connected to electricity networks. It is anticipated that 50 per cent of consumers will be using some form of Consumer Energy Resource…
NSW universities overlooked federal laws designed to help protect critical infrastructure assets from cyber incidents in their first full year of operation by failing to identify critical systems and data assets. The finding is contained in an annual audit of the state’s tertiary sector, which also reveals that seven universities also have “cybersecurity risks above…
Services Australia would struggle to recover from a major cyber attack, according to an outside audit of the tech heavy agency that is responsible for welfare payments, myGov and other critical services. Missing or insufficient cyber policies and back up procedures are putting the agency’s operations at risk, triggering recommendations for new documentation, policies and…
Safety Net funding is for individual women human rights defenders (WHRDs) from or working in conflict and crisis affected countries, who, due to their commitments to human rights and peace, currently face – or have faced risks – with resulting impacts that continue to threaten their safety and work. SAFETY NET DOES NOT FUND CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS OR PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION.
The WPHF Window for WHRDs Safety Net aims to improve the security and protection of WHRDs by providing for, but not limited to:
Temporary relocation costs (e.g. accommodation, food and transportation)
Security and protection costs (e.g. secure transportation, digital or physical security training)
Equipment (e.g. mobile phone, computer, security system and cameras)
Self-care (e.g. physical or mental health support)
Legal assistance
Repatriation costs, to facilitate return and reintegration in home country
Safety Net grants are provided for amounts up to USD 10,000 (subject to revision by the NGO partners of the WPHF Window for WHRDs) to cover needs for a duration of up to six months.
Eligibility Criteria
Gender: women and those who identify as women. This includes lesbian, gay, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) human rights defenders.
Age: 18 years old and above.
Country of origin: from/working in conflict and crisis-affected contexts. *See for reference countries that might be eligible for support: List of matters of which the UN Security Council is seized: S/2023/10.
Human rights activities: provides details of peaceful engagement in the advancement of human rights, either individually or through a civil society organization.
Threats and risks:
Demonstrates current or past serious security risks for her and/or her dependents, because of her commitment to human rights and peace; AND/OR
Demonstrates that risks are – or have been such – that her ability to keep working on behalf of human rights and peace is threatened.
Grant and duration: the requested funding cannot exceed USD 10,000, or cover needs beyond an anticipated 6-month period.
Decision-making process
You can submit your application using one of the two below methods below
The Victorian government has launched an “Australian-first” state purchasing contract for cybersecurity goods and services which will “dramatically reduce” workloads for departments and save time and money. The new cybersecurity state purchase contract is a panel of mostly Victorian companies that have been vetted to provide specific cybersecurity products and services to state government entities….
