Government launches ‘overdue’ cybersecurity network for health sector – Security

The Federal Government has committed $6.4 million to enhance cybersecurity in Australia’s healthcare sector through the Information Sharing Network.

Following a model already in use in the financial and critical infrastructure sectors, the pilot Information Sharing and Analysis Center (ISAC) will focus on “cyber threats, responses and preventive measures” among healthcare organizations.

Home Office and Cyber ​​Security Minister Clare O’Neil said healthcare organisations’ “access to sensitive data” and their “difficulty in building and funding robust cyber defences” made them targets for attacks.

“The last two years have been the beginning of a major, overdue national journey to enhance cybersecurity across the country to better protect our citizens,” she said in a statement.

“Healthcare faces three challenges. Cybercriminals know that every Australian depends on these essential services and that they cannot afford to be offline for long.”

O’Neil added that “government intervention to launch networks (like ISAC) in other high-risk sectors is overdue.”

This year, the healthcare sector once again topped the list of personal data breaches, according to a report by the Australian Information Commissioner.

Notable examples of targets in the past year include electronic prescription provider MediSecure and Monash Health.