Australian healthcare system gets extra cyber security boost

The Australian government has invested $6.4 million to launch an Information Sharing and Analysis Centre (ISAC) for the Australian healthcare system. 

There are already mature ISACs operating in banking and finance in Australia, but government intervention to kick-start networks in other high-risk sectors is long overdue.

This pilot will pave the way for additional ISACs to be established in other industries — applications to receive this grant are open until 23 July 2024.

In Australia and around the world, these networks connect businesses and organisations across industries to help share information about cyber threats, said Clare O’Neil, minister for home affairs and cyber security.

“The last two years has been the beginning of a big, overdue national journey to lift up cybersecurity across the country to better protect our citizens,” she said. “Healthcare faces a vulnerability trifecta. Cyber criminals know that every Australian depends on these essential services – and that they cannot afford to be offline over extended periods.

Healthcare providers tend to hold highly sensitive data and often struggle with building and funding strong cyber protections.

“That’s why healthcare providers are one of the most common and most damaging targets of cyber-attack. This is a pattern we see all over the world.”

Towards the end of 2023, the federal government launched its $587 million cyber security strategy after a year of consultation with industry heavyweights. 

This is designed to fund an “action plan” that will sit on top of $2.3 billion for existing initiatives until 2030, according to multiple news outlets.