Australians are increasingly moving towards living part of their lives in the digital world, including socialising, learning, conducting financial transactions and storing and sharing personal data. There is a growing national and global dependence on cyber space for economic wealth and societal well-being, the control and monitoring of critical infrastructure, and the storage, processing and management of sensitive information.
Devices with embedded controllers are on the increase and we are at the dawn of the Internet of Things (IoT), with an estimated 20 billion devices expected to be connected by 2020. Smart cities with the vision of remotely monitoring and managing critical infrastructure, public buildings, transport, businesses and homes is gathering pace. Already there are smart energy meters in homes, home security systems linked to mobile phones, the promise of driverless cars, and the appearance of smart city plans.
The increased dependence on connected systems puts Australia at higher risk of cyber threats. Australia must develop strong cyber security systems and measures by playing a leading role in the development of cyber technology and its application in business, industry, government and society. Cyber security must be positioned as an enabler for our digital future.