NSW govt strikes cybersecurity deal with Data61

Data61 and the NSW government have entered into an agreement to improve the state’s cybersecurity.

The three-year, $11.4 million agreement will provide the government with access to some of the country’s best data scientists.

“Cybersecurity has emerged as one of the most high-profile, borderless and rapidly evolving risks facing governments across the globe, so it is essential we are at the forefront of new ideas and thinking,” said Minister for Finance, Services and Property Victor Dominello.

“This agreement gives NSW access to world-leading data science that will strengthen our cybersecurity network and ensure our agencies are at the cutting edge of this evolving challenge.”

The agreement will also provide an opportunity to foster the creation of new industries and digitally transform existing ones.

“NSW is at the forefront of the start-up sector in the Southern Hemisphere and home to thriving FinTech and defence industries. It makes sense to capitalise on cybersecurity and its multibillion-dollar industry,” said Minister for Trade and Industry Niall Blair.

The global market for cyber protection is forecast to be worth $170 billion by 2020, and the investment by the government will help to ensure that NSW is a world leader in cybersecurity.

One project is trialling different artificial intelligence models to identify existing and emerging cybersecurity threats. Another project is assessing how blockchain and other technology can be used to share cybersecurity information across agencies.

Image credit: ©iStockphoto.com/mipan

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