West Australian government launches Cyber Security Operations Centre

West Australian Minister for Innovation and ICT Dave Kelly has announced the creation of a $1.8 million whole-of-government Cyber Security Operations Centre.

Innovation and ICT Minister Dave Kelly announced the $1.8 million of funding in the upcoming state budget for the establishment of the state government's new Cyber Security Operations Centre.

The new whole-of-government Cyber Security Operations Centre will significantly improve visibility of the cyber threats against agencies' networks and the government's capability to detect and respond to cyber security incidents.

Minister Kelly said, "During COVID-19 we've seen a rise in malicious cyber activity in terms of frequency, scale and sophistication. The McGowan government is committed to building the cyber security capability within the state government, the community and industry."

The new operations centre will support existing complementary efforts to improve cyber security resilience across government. It will also expand and complement the existing dedicated cyber security team within the Department of the Premier and Cabinet's Office of Digital Government.

"The new operations centre will provide unprecedented visibility of threats against agencies' networks, as well as improve the state government's ability to co-ordinate and respond to cyber security threats against our systems," Minister Kelly added.

Staff in the new operations centre will be trained cyber security professionals, with the centre also offering further avenues of work and training for cyber security TAFE and university students participating in the Office of Digital Government's work integrated learning program.

The Office of Digital Government will open applications for the recruitment of a whole‑of‑government pool of cyber security experts.

Successful applicants will be placed in the Cyber Security Operations Centre team, another team within the Office of Digital Government's Cyber Security Unit or in other public sector agencies.