A $50 million four-year plan to address cyber security capability and tackle what the state government has described as ‘the growing threat of cybercrime’ was unveiled on Monday.
Government services minister Danny Pearson announced the strategy, saying it would support local businesses and help to develop a more ‘dynamic and competitive’ cyber sector in Victoria.
In its first year, he said the strategy would target improvements to the government’s online services and communications to give users of those services confidence about safety and security issues.
“This strategy re-focuses on protecting Victorian’s data and government systems while growing jobs and supporting cyber businesses,” Pearson said.
According to the Victorian government, more than $29 billion is lost to cybercrime attacks every year, affecting one in three Australians. For this reason, there is a genuine business case for the government to invest more in cyber security and its associated industries.
Pearson added that another aim of the four-year strategy was to grow and promote skills training for Victoria’s cyber industry, leading to innovation and jobs growth, as well as opportunities for the government to partner with industry and the community.
Via the government’s free TAFE initiative available at 19 different locations across the state, students will be able to pursue a certificate IV in cyber security, with 2,000 students having already enrolled in the course in 2021.
“Cyber security has never been more important to our economy – it’s why we’re backing our local cyber industry and securing the state’s services with this multimillion-dollar investment,” Pearson said.
Jaala Pulford, Victoria’s minister for innovation, medical research and the digital economy, said the cyber industry was ‘poised to thrive’.
“With a vision shared by government and industry we will launch even more local innovators and entrepreneurs on to the global stage as we future proof our economy,” she said.
The state government has also launched a $64 million digital jobs program in partnership with security firm CyberCX, local businesses and training providers to deliver a series of short courses and industry placements for those wanting to transition into a digital career.
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