Australia is facing a ‘new level of normal’ for cyber attacks.
That was the message from Australia’s Cyber Security Coordinator, Lieutenant General Michelle McGuinness, visiting NAB in Melbourne for Cyber Security Awareness Month.
Research shows most Australians have had their personal information exposed in the last 12 months, further highlighting the escalating threat of cyber-crime in the country.
“We’re seeing new levels of ‘normal’ in targeting. We see, from international companies, that Australia is disproportionally targeted,” LTGEN McGuinness said.
“We’re seeing industrial sized business parks designed to scam our citizens.”
Threat landscape constantly increasing for major companies
Reflecting on recent visits to the US and Canberra, NAB’s Executive for Technology and Enterprise Operations Patrick Wright said supply chain risk was front of mind for Governments and businesses everywhere.
“It [cyber security] is a very difficult space, and it’s got the attention of every CEO and executive. I think anyone who’s involved in cyber security is deeply worried about not only direct threats but also supply chain risks,” Mr Wright said.
“We know cyber risk has a global impact, yet international cyber security standards remain inconsistent.
“While Australia enforces stringent protections, other countries may have less rigorous standards, creating vulnerabilities that allow threats to spread across borders. This disparity underscores the need for unified international standard to safeguard shared digital infrastructure.”
Australia hasn’t adopted a security culture yet; there’s more work to do
Discussing the importance of adopting a robust security culture, LTGEN McGuinness explained Australia needed to do more.
“We have a safety culture around locking our doors. We have a safety culture around locking our cars. We know when to cross the road, where to cross the road, we train our children,” LTGEN McGuinness said.
“We haven’t adopted that in this current era [of cyber security threats].
“This is why I’m enlisting every Australian, particularly this month, Cyber Security Awareness Month. I’m hoping that [this is] the conversation at every dinner table, within every community, every family.”
Mr Wright wants to make Australia as unattractive to cyber criminals as possible.
“Every business owner, every shop owner, every citizen of this country – I, we, you, all of us – need to take the necessary steps to keep each other safe,” Mr Wright said.
“If we do that better than any other nation, the bad guys will go somewhere else.”
Trust and exercise – key to building a strong cyber security community
LTGEN McGuinness said preparation and building trust and awareness was critical to our success as a nation going forward.
“If you don’t plan, then you’re really planning to fail. And whilst no plan ever survives first contact with the enemy, if you haven’t spent that time thinking about ‘what you will do’, then you’re absolutely nowhere. You’re behind the eight ball as soon as you start,” LTGEN McGuinness said.
“We have to be extending our imagination to what might happen to make us ready and resilient, because, in reality, we cannot remove the threat.”
NAB’s role in keeping customers safe
NAB CEO Andrew Irvine, reflecting on the Cyber Month panel event with LTGEN McGuinnes, said to be the most customer-centric company in the country, NAB must maintain its strong focus on protecting its customers.
“Australia needs to be the best alarm system on the street,” Mr Irvine said.
Mr Irvine reiterated that government, banks and telcos have done a good job rallying around the cause to protect Australians.
“Most Australians have become more scam aware, and that’s a good thing”.
For more information about cyber security and the tools to help you keep safe and protect your family, friends and business, visit nab.com.au/security
