WA to open whole-of-government SOC

The Western Australian Government has allocated $1.8 million in funding in its latest Budget for the establishment of the state’s first whole-of-government Cyber Security Operations Centre.

The new SOC will seek to improve visibility of the cyber threats against agencies’ networks and the government’s capability to detect and respond to cyber incidents.

It will also expand and complement the existing dedicated cybersecurity team within the Department of the Premier and Cabinet’s Office of Digital Government.

The government will recruit trained cybersecurity professionals to staff the new centre, which will also be supported by cybersecurity TAFE and university students participating in the Office of Digital Government’s work integrated learning program.

WA ICT Minister Dave Kelly said the facility will be the first of its kind in Australia.

“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 cybersecurity capability within the state government, the community and industry,” he said.

“The new operations centre will provide unprecedented visibility of threats against agencies’ networks, as well as improve the state government’s ability to coordinate and respond to cybersecurity threats against our systems.”

The Office of Digital Government has opened applications for the recruitment of a pool of cybersecurity experts. Successful candidates will be placed either at the SOC, within another team at the Office’s Cyber Security Unit or in other public sector agencies.

“The Cyber Security Operations Centre will create further jobs and opportunities for cybersecurity professionals in WA,” Kelly said.

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/Adam