The Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry has officially launched a first-of-its-kind Cyber Security and Scams Policy Position. The document outlines the steps Australia must take to achieve the Government’s ambition of becoming the most cyber secure nation by 2030.
Cybersecurity is a pressing issue for businesses in Hume, Whittlesea, and across the country. A recent member survey revealed that 74 per cent of businesses are confident in their cyber defences, however this conflicts with cyber industry knowledge that businesses are unaware of the high probability that they will, at some point, suffer a cyberattack. When asked, 73 per cent would also be more inclined to strengthen their data security with government support.
Biggest policy positions include Cyber Health Clinics which would establish industry-led cyber health clinics to provide local, face-to-face solutions to uplift business cyber security with trust, a Cyber Safe Score which would rate the level of cyber security maturity of businesses and any of their commercial products and services to boost competitiveness and secure supply chains and an apprenticeship training model for cyber security to give students the practical work experience they need to directly enter the workforce.
The policy position advocates for the Government to implement bold cyber policies, educational institutions to develop cyber security apprenticeships with extensive practical work experience, financial institutions to invest in more secure technologies, and digital devices and software to be secure by default.
The chamber’s policy details 24 recommendations which have been developed using in-house cyber and policy expertise, through extensive consultation with small, medium and family businesses, telcos, tech giants, social media platforms, health providers, education institutions, banks and other critical infrastructure.
Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chief Executive Paul Guerra said in today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, it is imperative that governments and businesses prioritise cyber security.
“As we navigate an increasingly technology-driven world, our reliance on interconnected systems and data sharing has reached unprecedented levels,” he said.
“Our policy position is not just a set of guidelines; it’s a first-of-its-kind, comprehensive and strategic framework that underscores the significance of safeguarding our digital landscape and the very foundation of our economy. Supply chain cyber risk is increasing, and a breach in one business – however small – can have significant ripple effects.
“It is incumbent upon governments and businesses to not only adopt but champion these cyber security principles. The vision is clear – Australia must aspire to become the most cyber secure nation in the world by 2030. To achieve this ambitious goal, collaboration between the government and the business community is paramount.
“We stand ready to work with governments, businesses, and all stakeholders to ensure that our policy position translates into concrete actions.
“Our objective is to make it easy for small, medium and family businesses to increase their cyber security.”
