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AUSTRALIA’S CYBERSECURITY LAWS: What You Should Know

Cybersecurity has grown from a niche development within the tech world into an international concern. The shift towards the digital realm shows no signs of stopping, which means that the amount of data going across international borders is going to increase from here on out.

It’s clear that cybersecurity protection has real international ramifications, and the problem is that many governments are finding it hard to keep up with the thousands of hackers churning out sophisticated attacks day in, day out. To that end, let’s go through a brief overview of Australia’s current cybersecurity protocol to date.

The current state of affairs

The unfortunate truth is that, similar to our previous post on Australia’s lack of stringent artificial intelligence laws, the government is still ill-prepared when it comes to cybersecurity laws. A report by ZDNet shows that although the government has promised an increase of about $201.5 million to the nation’s cybersecurity budget, performance criteria such as “effective cybersecurity strategies, policies, and advice” remains too vague to appease the Australian public.

What’s more, officials are adamant that it’s too early to place a time frame on these developments, which makes businesses even warier about whether this law will actually go anywhere. Indeed, the article goes on to state that despite promises made by the Office of the eSafety Commissioner to release a new “adult cyber abuse takedown scheme,” there has been nothing released yet.

However, it’s worth noting that Australia has been partnering with international allies to create global cybersecurity standards. The Australian Cyber Security Centre has partnered with officials from the U.S., New Zealand, the UK, and Canada to release a joint advisory on approaching potentially malicious threats. These directives are what the national government needs to implement within our own borders.

The pressing need for safer business

If the Australian government doesn’t increase its cybersecurity efforts soon, that means it will be up to businesses to develop their own protocol for now. This is all the more important considering that many tech solutions will ensure greater worker safety post-COVID.

You only need to look at the logistics industry to see how important these changes are. An article on trailer tracking benefits by Verizon Connect points to the continued development of GPS tracking and fleet management solutions as a way to protect against theft and ensure worker safety. As fleets become more connected, stricter cybersecurity laws help companies protect data across their IoT networks. And as logistics companies continue to operate on an international scale, stringent cybersecurity protocols, therefore, ensure that all transactions are well accounted for.

The trilateral supply chain resilience program between Australia, India, and Japan makes cybersecurity protection even more of a pressing issue. Since the trilateral agreement was started to reduce these three countries’ reliance on China for trade, safe networks are necessary to ensure clear communication across all the routes and ports that will be involved.

With these business developments in mind, it is clear that the Australian government is lagging behind in creating safe cybersecurity protocols that protect organizations and allow businesses to flourish. It’s not a stretch of the imagination to argue that without stringent cybersecurity protocols in place, Australia will have a hard time recovering economically from the pandemic.

Author:  Razia Mae

Razia is an accomplished author with a passion for Tech and Business topics. Synergy Consulting Australia appreciates her excellent research and writing style. If you wish to get in touch with Razia, please use our contact page.