We want South Australia (SA) to be known as an ambitious and capable state that embraces technology and drives innovation. SA’s continued prosperity relies on us finding new and better ways of doing things.
The Australian Government’s 2023-2030 Australian Cyber Security Strategy acknowledges cyber security goes beyond just protecting against threats; it plays a vital role in accelerating the adoption of new technologies, driving productivity, and expanding our digital economy.
Where the national strategy seeks to position Australia as a world leader by 2030, this strategy seeks to ensure SA supports the national vision while also positioning itself as a leader in its own right.
The SA Government has laid a strong foundation as a leader in cyber security through a broad range of government strategies, programs, initiatives and projects. Key achievements include:
- Building a stronger, more innovative cyber security industry including within the Lot Fourteen innovation district, located in the Adelaide CBD, which is home to a number of cyber focused businesses and organisations including the Australian Cyber Collaboration Centre (Aus3C).
- Delivering a state-wide Innovation Places Leadership Framework to accelerate innovation through leveraged investment, research, skills and workforce development in the state’s capabilities including cyber.
- Integrating cyber security into state-wide crisis and emergency management arrangements.
- Developing comprehensive cyber security services to government, including central threat intelligence and incident response capabilities.
- Strengthening collaboration with industry, academia, and all levels of government, including the Local Government Information Technology South Australia, the Australian Government’s Australian Cyber Security Centre, and the National Office of Cyber Security.
- Investing tens of millions of dollars in secure platforms to support government service delivery.
- Boosting awareness and skills with free TAFE courses, government traineeships, training for ICT staff, and support for small businesses.
- Securing significant investments in cyber security via the Digital Investment Fund.
- Development of the SA Cyber Capability Matrix that catalogues the complete directory of the state’s cyber companies.
- Supporting, sponsoring, and participating in cyber industry events such as the AISA AdelaideSEC conference, InnovateSA and BSides Adelaide.
- Developing the initiatives of SA’s Small Business Strategy 2023-2030, which support small-to-medium enterprises in building their cyber resilience.
- Promoting the Careers Hub which includes specific information on cyber career pathways and training opportunities.
- Under AUKUS, we have an opportunity to strengthen our standing as a security partner of choice by positioning South Australia as lead technology partner for these capabilities. The national need for systems and cyber capability is increasing rapidly. South Australia is responding to this demand by fostering the nation’s hub for information warfare, with leading capabilities in intelligence, surveillance, electronic warfare and cyber.
These achievements represent a small fraction of the work across all agencies to improve their internal cyber security capabilities, protect our communities and grow the cyber ecosystem - and this is just the beginning. South Australians deserve a prosperous digital future with government services that are secure from threats, as well as a world-class cyber security sector that is responsive to both local and national challenges. This strategy charts our state’s course to get there.