The New South Wales government has engaged the nation’s cybersecurity industry advocacy group – the Australian Information Security Association (AISA) – to build a new Industry Partnership Program through the state’s cyber hub.
Initially running until the middle of next year, the program will facilitate collaboration between businesses, academia, and government. The program aims to enhance local cyber capability and create new commercial opportunities for NSW cyber businesses.
NSW Enterprise, Investment, and Trade Minister Stuart Ayres said the 18-month program would stimulate innovation and opportunity, and build stronger cyber capability and resilience across the state.
“AISA is a nationally recognised authority on cyber security and an industry group with over 7,500 members. Coupled with its event delivery experience, it is the perfect partner to help us strengthen and grow capacity across NSW cyber security businesses,” Mr Ayres said.
AISA chairperson Damien Manuel welcomed the partnership with the NSW government, which would help expand the local cyber sector.
“Through AISA’s broad membership base, initiatives and network, we are well positioned to assist the NSW Government on delivering its 2021 NSW Cyber Security Strategy via the NSW Cyber Hub,” Mr Manuel said.
“The NSW Cyber Hub will help to stimulate business innovation, boost the NSW economy, create further opportunities for NSW students and help create new jobs in the sector.”
AISA was founded in 1999 to support the cyber security sector through training programs, events, and industry reports.
A number of other initiatives are also hosted at the cyber hub including the NSW Cyber Security Workforce and Skills Development Program, focused on improving the labour talent pool, and the Accelerator in Residence (AR) program. The AR organisation will be announced this month and receive $975,000 over three years to operate a cybersecurity startup accelerator.
The NSW cyber hub is run through Investment NSW and serves as the first point of contact for businesses seeking government support.
The hub and partnership program are part of the state’s wider Cyber Security Strategy released in May 2021, which builds on the preceding version from 2018. It focuses on reducing barriers to entries in the workforce, commercialisation, supporting business growth, and improving government cybersecurity practices across its agencies.
During the launch of the strategy, Minister Ayres said that the support would bolster the state’s already strong digital economy.
“NSW already has an incredible depth of talent however we need to continue to foster, cultivate and grow this pipeline to ensure our industry thrives. This strategy builds on our strengths whilst seeking to grow new ones and will help the NSW digital economy thrive,” Minister Ayres said.
“The export opportunities for cybersecurity industry are enormous. From Bondi to Broken Hill, cybersecurity businesses can export to any location around the world from any city or town in NSW.”
According to the Australian Cyber Security Growth Network, around 40 per cent of the 26,500 people employed in the Australian cyber security workforce is based in NSW.
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