Page 41 - Australian Defence Magazine May 2019
P. 41

CYBER
ECOSYSTEM
The cyber environment keeps expanding
With so many systems both in Defence and wider Australian society depending
on internet connection for basic functionality, the protection of these systems
is key to everyday life.
KATHERINE ZIESING | CANBERRA
When the Information Warfare Division was stood up almost two years ago, there was some confusion outside Russell about how they would fit into the cyber landscape. Major General Marcus Thompson, Head of Information Warfare Division in the Joint Capabilities Group has spent some time clearing that up.
YOU would be hard pressed not to pick up on any kind of media coverage about the cyber threat to our nation. From privacy and data security at the individual level all the way through to existential threats to critical infra- structure, the cyber bogeyman lurks behind every screen. The Internet of Things (IoT) has become ubiquitous to the point where it’s vir- tually impossible to live a modern existence without some level of connectivity.
“It’s a big job that we’ve been given and the breadth of the portfolio is not getting any narrower as we move forward and so as the threat continues to evolve and adapt in cy- berspace,” MAJGEN Thompson explained to ADM. “As the role of information in contemporary conflict continues to grow in importance, as the exponential growth
of IP technology in both civilian and mili- tary capabilities continues to expand, the insatiable thirst for intelligence also refused to abate. We’re getting after that as quickly and as constructively as we can.”
Major General Thompson is very much aware this is a ‘team effort’.
“To achieve the war fighting effects that the ADF needs I need help; I need help from across the national security commu- nity which is normal for Defence. I need help from industry with understanding the art of the possible with technology. I need help from academia with concepts, with technology development, working with the Defence Science and Technology Group to continue to develop high technology capa- bilities and continue to give the ADF the
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