State-sponsored actors intensify threat landscape
The security environment is further complicated by state-sponsored attackers operating alongside profit-motivated cybercriminals.
These adversaries are typically well-resourced and strategic, concentrating on intelligence collection, service disruption and probing systemic vulnerabilities.
Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles explains: “We are worryingly seeing an increased focus by both cyber criminals and state actors on our critical infrastructure.”
Business imperatives: partnership and regulatory compliance
Addressing these risks demands robust cooperation between government and industry.
Today, cybersecurity has become a fundamental component of infrastructure operations, with ongoing risk assessments, staff training, network segmentation and incident response planning now considered essential practice.
The Australian Government has responded with the 2023-2030 Cyber Security Strategy, a multi-layered defence framework designed to enhance protection at every level and enforce stricter compliance obligations.
“This is our fastest-growing threat and we need to use all the tools available to government and business to confront it,” says Tony Burke, Minister for Home Affairs and Cyber Security.
