New Defence Department White Paper says that work needs to be done to improve cyber defence networks.
Reducing vulnerability to cyber attacks is a high
priority for the Department of Defence and work needs to be done to
improve its networks according to a new white paper released today.
The Defence White Paper
(PDF) said that the potential impact of malicious cyber activity has
grown with Defence’s increasing reliance on networked operations.
“In
a future conflict or escalation to conflict, an adversary could use a
cyber attack against Australia to deter, delay or prevent Australia’s
response or the Australian Defence Force’s deployment of forces,” read
the report.
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“This would probably include the targeting of
information systems, networks and broader support infrastructure
perceived to be integral to the ADF’s decision making and war fighting
capabilities. Once deployed, our forces need to operate as a networked
force in a contested environment.”
The white
paper notes that in 2011, Australia and US acknowledged that the ANZUS
mutual defence treaty would apply to cyber attacks.
Australia’s security position will depend on integrating cyber power into its national defence strategy.
The
paper also acknowledged that it is important to protect information in
peacetime as any compromise of Australian government information could
allow an adversary to gain economic, diplomatic or political advantage
over the country.
“Compromise of commercial,
government or private citizens’ information would undermine public and
international confidence in Australia as a secure digital environment.”
Defence
admits that there is a “significant” body of work to be done to ensure
the security of defence systems against cyber attacks.
“Network
and system management, along with personnel and physical security need
to be strengthened as part of our response,” the white paper states
In January, Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced the establishment of the Australian Cyber Security Centre.
It
will bring together security capabilities from the Defence Signals
Directorate, Defence Intelligence Organisation, Australian Security
Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), the Attorney-General’s Department’s
Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) Australia, Australian Federal
Police (AFP) and the Australian Crime Commission (ACC).
The
new centre will “facilitate faster and more effective responses to
serious cyber incidents and provide a comprehensive understanding of the
threat to Australian government networks and systems of national
interest. Defence will play the principal role in the operation of the
Centre and will continue to dedicate significant expertise to this
important national capability,” the white paper states.
Drones
The white paper also called for the investigation of unmanned air, maritime and land platforms- also known as drones.
According
to Defence, the platforms, particularly unmanned aircraft, are
proliferating not only among national defence forces but also companies
and non-state actors.
“With stealth and the
ability to loiter for extended periods, these systems have advantages
for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, including in support
of Australia’s border security needs. Armed unmanned systems will be
available in greater variety and sophistication in years to come.”
According
to Defence, semi-autonomous unmanned systems able to engage in
self-protection and offensive operations are under development overseas
and may be deployed by defence forces in the mid-2020s.
“Domestic,
international legal and policy considerations will be important factors
associated with their employment. We will need to understand the
increasing opportunities and risks arising from the use of greater
autonomy in electronic attack, including in the early stages of strike
operations,” read the report.
In September 2012, Opposition leader Tony Abbott said that a Coalition government would purchase Global Hawke drones to upgrade Australia's surveillance capability.
“Global
Hawke unmanned aerial vehicles, which in a day can undertake detailed
surveillance of 40,000 square nautical miles, could help to protect the
oil and gas projects on the North West Shelf as well as allow much
earlier detection of illegal boat arrivals,” he said at the time.