Federal Government's first data security action plan

The Department of Home Affairs has released a discussion paper calling for views on the development of the new “whole-of-economy” action plan. The plan is expected to deliver a new approach to data security as the take-up of digital services continues, while closing the gaps in data settings likely with new reforms.

The discussion paper states: “The action plan will leverage existing legislative and policy mechanisms as a means to further strengthen and coordinate Australia’s data security policy settings”. According to the paper, the data security regulatory environment has become increasingly “complex and contested” as reforms targeting specific sections of the economy have been introduced.

In the space of two years, the government has introduced new requirements for businesses through critical infrastructure laws that also potentially give it a greater role when cyber incidents occur. Other changes include new expectations for data centre and managed services providers under the government’s hosting certification framework.

Home affairs minister Karen Andrews said the plan would ensure citizen’s data is “stored securely, so it can’t be stolen, hacked, or held to ransom” by foreign adversaries and criminals.
“In the 21st century, data is a strategic commodity,” she said, adding the government is “committed is building a national approach to ensure data protection, wherever it is stored or accessed”.

- CyberBeat