Martin Quinn

Australia’s latest #cybersecurity consultation signals a deeper regulatory push toward accountability and risk management across critical infrastructure sectors. Alongside expanded government intervention powers, the proposed reforms include measures to direct operators to remediate weaknesses in their risk management programs and consolidate security obligations, particularly across telecommunications. The intent is to close regulatory gaps and ensure operators can respond more effectively under pressure.  The consultation also highlights the evolving threat landscape, where critical infrastructure entities remain high-value targets for cybercriminals and state-backed actors due to their role in delivering essential services across #energy, #transport, #healthcare, and #communications.  Full article: https://lnkd.in/dpkbGvud ♻️ Repost to help strengthen industrial cyber resilience 👥 Follow Industrial Cyber for expert insight and reporting

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The ASD's Australian Cybersecurity report is out and - surprising no one - the situation is still risky, especially if you're in the eastern states from whence 78% of reported incidents originate. Read our analysis here: https://lnkd.in/dEqFYhSM

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ACDA - (Active Cyber Defence Alliance Inc) ACDA Response to Consultation on Horizon 2 of the 2023-2030 Australian Cyber Security Strategy Thanks Home Affairs for preparing a consultation paper that asked hard questions. If adopted the ACDA proposals will drive a material uplift in Australia's cyber resilience. Here's a highlight: Our research highlights legal ambiguities and questionable legal definitions which obstruct active cyber defence. Experienced practitioners know that tools such as honeypots and trackers provide a decisive advantage to defenders: taking away the initiative from, and increasing risk and expense for, cyber-attackers. Unfortunately, practitioners are often blocked from using these tools due to uncertainty on the legal boundaries of these practices. Recommendation 6  The Australian Government should consider amending the Criminal Code (Cth) to provide a defence to computer-based offences for private sector actors who, acting appropriately and in good faith, inadvertently commit a computer-related criminal offence in the protection of their lawful rights or property (or the lawful rights or property that it is their responsibility to defend, i.e., as a condition of their employment as a cybersecurity practitioner). Recommendation 7  The Australian Government should consider amending the Criminal Code (Cth) or the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) to explicitly include computer data, information or assets as ‘property’, thereby allowing the doctrine of self-defence to apply to potential criminal offences that might arise in the conduct of ACD. This a great opportunity to have the long delayed open debate on the appropriate lawful guidelines for civilian cyber defence in Australia. What do you think about it? #activecyberdefence #cyberdeception #cyberintelligence https://lnkd.in/gvxbdwhr

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📣 As the recent ManageMyHealth incident and NCSC announcements show, New Zealand cannot afford to get complacent about cybersecurity...   ► The ransom hack on New Zealand's largest health portal is being billed as one of the country's biggest cybersecurity incidents - hackers threatening to release more than 400,000 documents stolen from about 126,000 Manage My Health patients if the private company fails to pay $60,000.   ► It's also been a massive period for the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC). Recently, they took an unprecedented step - proactively reaching out to 26,000 New Zealanders to warn them their devices may be compromised by Lumma Stealer malware. This is the first time they've conducted public outreach at this scale, signalling a fundamental shift toward a more active protective stance.   ► They also released the New Zealand Cyber Threat Report for 2025, and frankly, it makes for sobering reading. A few key findings explain exactly why the NCSC is ramping up their activity: → State-sponsored actors are now actively targeting New Zealand organisations → Cybercriminals have access to increasingly sophisticated tools → Supply chains have become prime attack vectors → Unpatched vulnerabilities continue to provide easy entry points   ► And there's more - they just published new guidance on Secure Integration of #AI in #OperationalTechnology, recognising how rapidly our threat surface is expanding with emerging technologies.   For business leaders, this should be a clear signal. It reminds us that cybersecurity is a strategic business risk that demands board-level attention and investment as the threat environment has escalated to the point where government agencies are moving from reactive to proactive mode.   Examine these in detail (and more) at the National Cyber Security Summit this March 17-18 in Wellington: https://lnkd.in/gWqqzF7h #cyber #cybersecurity #cybersummit2026 #wellingtonnz Brightstar

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Some key highlights from Australian Signals Directorate (ASD)'s Cyber Threat Report 2024–2025: 1. There is a significant rise in cyber incidents and reports: The Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) reported that in during 2024-2025 they have responded to over 1,200 major cybersecurity incidents which is a 11% increase from the previous year. 2. There is a steep rise in the financial impact due to cybercrimes: For businesses, the average loss due to cybercrimes is on the rise, Small businesses lost up to $56,571 a 14% increase from last year, Medium business lost up to $97,166 a 55% increase, and Large businesses lost up to $202,691 a 221% increase. It was also reported that an individual average self reported loss was $36,633 3. Critical infrastructure under increasing threat: Critical infrastructures have received notifications of 190 potential malicious cyber activity impacting their network which is a 111$ increase from last year. The Top 3 most common types of activity which led to infrastructure related incidents were: Scanning or Reconnaissance making up 41% DoS/DDoS making up 31% Phishing making up 20% 4. Credential compromise, email attacks and phishing remain the main methods of attack: It was reported that email compromise with no direct financial loss accounted for ~19% of business reports, Business email compromise with financial loss ~15%, identity fraud ~ 11% and phishing emails remains one of the most common attack methods. 5. New technologies are amplifying the risk like AI The report also warns the rise in the use of Generative AI by cybercriminals as they use these tools to automate the analysis of extensive datasets which allows them to find vulnerabilities, they also use generative AI to create content like videos, text, fake voices, websites etc. to help them trick their target easier. 💡 The big moves organisations must take: a. Implement Effective event logging - You can't defend what you can't see b. Manage legacy IT risks - Legacy technology lets threats thrive c. Effective Third-Party Risk Management (TPRM) - Shut the back door, choose sercure and verifable technologies d. Start preparing for Post Quantum Cryptography (PQC) more details: https://lnkd.in/gCVf9fSq

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The Cyber Threat Landscape for Australian SMBs: Insights from ASD’s 2024–25 Report The latest ASD Annual Cyber Threat Report paints a clear picture that the cyber threat landscape for Australian businesses is escalating. - 1 cybercrime report every 6 minutes. - Average cost per business incident up 50% to $80,850. For small businesses, that’s now $56,600 per incident (a 14% rise), and $97,200 for medium businesses (up 55%). What are the most common attacks? -Business email compromise (BEC) -Identity fraud -Email compromise attempts without financial loss These aren’t isolated events; they’re now everyday risks. The ACSC responded to over 1,200 incidents last year, an 11% increase, with ransomware and data theft continuing to disrupt operations across Australia. What’s more, the lines between state-sponsored and criminal activity are blurring. Small and medium enterprises, often part of larger supply chain,s are becoming prime entry points for attackers. 🔐 What SMBs Should Do ASD’s key actions for businesses are simple but critical: -Implement best-practice logging and monitoring. -Retire legacy tech or isolate it properly. -Choose products that are secure by design. -Start planning for post-quantum cryptography, the next frontier in security. Cyber resilience isn’t optional anymore. It’s a business survival skill. At Secure Link Solutions, we help SMBs take a practical, affordable approach to protecting their networks before incidents become headlines. Stay Connected! Stay Secure! Links: https://lnkd.in/gSKkHJG2 https://lnkd.in/gCVf9fSq #CyberSecurity #ASD #SMB #Australia #CyberResilience #DataProtection #SecureLinkSolutions

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ASD Releases Annual Cyber Threat Report 2024-25 Highlighting Rising State-Sponsored and Cybercrime Risks 📅 Date: 14 October 2025 📍 Source: Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) 🛡 Subject: Cybersecurity – Key Highlights: 🔧 Case Overview: The Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) has published its sixth Annual Cyber Threat Report (ACTR), covering the financial year 2024–25. The report underscores the growing risks posed by state-sponsored actors targeting Australian government networks, critical infrastructure, and businesses. Cybercriminal activity, including ransomware attacks and data breaches, has also increased, threatening economic and social prosperity. 🔍 Findings: State-sponsored cyber actors remain a serious and evolving threat, driven by strategic objectives. Cybercriminals continue to exploit vulnerabilities for financial gain, emphasizing the need for robust cyber defenses. Key focus areas recommended by ASD for organizations and network owners: Implement best-practice logging. Replace legacy technology. Manage third-party risk. Prepare for post-quantum cryptography. 💼 Regulatory Implications: The report signals the importance of proactive cybersecurity measures for all sectors, from government to private businesses. Organizations are encouraged to strengthen resilience, comply with guidance, and mitigate potential impacts of cyber threats on critical operations. 📌 Strategic Insight: Cybersecurity is no longer optional—state-sponsored and financially motivated cyber threats are increasingly sophisticated and pervasive. Staying ahead requires continuous investment in technology, staff awareness, risk management, and alignment with national cybersecurity frameworks. Link: https://lnkd.in/giRsY3hX 🔔 Follow RegLex for updates on global cyber threats, risk mitigation strategies, and regulatory guidance shaping cybersecurity practices in Australia and beyond. #CyberSecurity #ASD #RegLexUpdates #StateSponsoredThreats #Ransomware #CriticalInfrastructure #RiskManagement #CyberResilience #DataProtection #AustraliaCybersecurity

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Fortian's November 2025 cyber environment update is now available on the website! November saw steady activity across Australia’s cyber landscape, including new government sanctions on North Korea and Russia, emerging AI-enabled threats and several notable breaches affecting local organisations. Check out this month’s update written by SOC analyst Allan Grant on our website: https://lnkd.in/gnbwGb6Z

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