A Sunshine Coast business has boosted the region’s cyber-security credentials, securing a multi-million-dollar Federal grant to help keep the nation’s health sector safe from online threats.
Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli said not-for-profit organisation Critical Infrastructure Information Sharing and Analysis Centre (CI-ISAC) secured $6.4 million to support the creation of the Health Cyber Sharing Network.
Mayor Natoli said the network would help healthcare providers share intelligence and strengthen their defences against cyber-attacks.
She said Maroochydore-based CI-ISAC, which was established on the Sunshine Coast in February 2023, provided cyber threat intelligence to organisations across Australia’s 11 critical infrastructure sectors, including healthcare.
“CI-ISAC’s decision to base itself on the Sunshine Coast while delivering national services shows the strength of our digital economy.
“With the fastest east coast fibre connection to the US, a fibre-enabled city centre and another international cable on the way, the Sunshine Coast is built for high-tech industries.
“Organisations like CI-ISAC strengthen our national security, create local jobs and attract leading tech talent to the region.”
CI-ISAC CEO David Sandell said the new Health Cyber Sharing Network would significantly strengthen the cyber resilience of Australia’s health and medical sector.
Mr Sandell said the health and medical sector held a large amount of private and personal medical and financial information.
“The new network can help members reduce their cyber risks and prevent disruptions to essential health services, ensuring the wellbeing of patients.”
