The Federal Government has added a further 46 private assets to a critical infrastructure list over which it has increased powers.
The secret Systems of National Significance register, which now totals more than 200, includes assets across the energy, communications, transport, financial services and markets, food and grocery and data storage and processing sectors.
Federal Home Affairs and Cyber Security Minister Tony Burke said being declared a System of National Significance meant the Government could apply a robust set of enhanced cyber security obligations on the owners and operators of those assets.
Minister Burke said these obligations included developing incident response plans to prepare for a cyber attack, undertaking cyber security exercises to build cyber preparedness, undertaking assessments to identify and fix vulnerabilities and providing system information to the Australian Signals Directorate to develop and maintain a near-real time threat picture.
“The list of Systems of National Significance is not released publicly to protect our national security,” he said.
“These declarations will ensure industry has the plans in place to protect Australia’s most essential critical infrastructure.”
Minister Burke said critical infrastructure networks globally were being targeted by malicious actors and Australia was not immune.
“The Government appreciates the owners and operators of Systems of National Significance for joining us in the fight against malicious actors and protection our national security.”
