South Australia – The Innovation State is Ramping Up Its Cyber Capabilities

With a clear focus on innovation and creating the partnerships to increase the state’s influence both nationally and internationally, South Australia is giving its cyber capabilities a pick-me-up to parallel its fresh technology, collaborations, new talent and subsequent boost to their economy. Solid cyber defences aren’t just a technical necessity—they are fundamental to safeguarding public confidence in government services. 

A new Cyber Security Strategy will be released at the end of this year, which isn't just about strengthening cyber resilience in the state, it’s also focused on helping the community and small businesses become more cyber-savvy and prepared. It’s all about building South Australia’s cyber network by connecting start-ups, businesses, universities, and government while creating a pipeline of skilled experts to keep the momentum going.

Here Are the State’s Critical Areas of Responsibility Which Have Dictated the Need to Freshen up Cyber Security: 

The South Australian Government is key to running a huge range of IT systems and services that support both citizens and government work. This includes managing the networks and platforms behind essential services like healthcare, transport, education, and public safety. 

Critical State Infrastructure 

The government owns and operates numerous digital platforms that support essential services, making them integral to daily life in South Australia. These systems must be highly reliable to ensure uninterrupted access to services like online tax filing, licensing, and health records management. 

South Australia relies on key systems like energy grids, water management, and transport networks, which are becoming more digital and connected. While this boosts efficiency, it also makes them more vulnerable to cyber threats - 11% of cyber incidents handled by the Australian Signals Directorate involved critical infrastructure, showing just how important better protection is. 

Sensitive Data Storage 

The government holds vast amounts of sensitive data, including personal information like health records and financial details as well as state security data. This makes it an attractive target for cybercriminals and state-sponsored hackers aiming to exploit vulnerabilities for financial gain, espionage, or disruption. 

The Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) reported over 94,000 cybercrime incidents nationwide in the 2022-23 financial year, a 23% increase from the previous year. So with incidents like the Super SA data breach in October 2023 where approximately 14,000 public sector workers were impacted through unauthorized access to their personal information at the state's superannuation fund, and subsequent scrutiny by the public because of their late disclosure of the cyber-attack, the government has no choice but to make data security a top priority – and a successful one. 

Citizen Demand 

The South Australian public expects their government and industries to provide seamless, innovative, and efficient digital experiences. They want easy access to services so to meet these growing expectations, and naturally, the government is increasingly relying on digital tools and services to deliver high-quality, user-friendly experiences.  

And what does this shift to digital naturally bring? The number of entry points for potential cyberattacks expands and with that, the potential for data breaches, fraud, and identity theft has grown significantly - The Australian Signals Directorate’s (ASD) Annual Cyber Threat Report for 2023-24 has revealed that the threat landscape continues to evolve with a report of cybercrime every six minutes towards Australian governments, critical infrastructure, and adding increased costs for businesses and citizens. This just means that systems that are interconnected, such as payment platforms or identity verification tools, require extra layers of protection. 

In Comes the Updated Cyber Strategy: 

South Australian Cyber Security Framework (SACSF): This framework is a whole of government approach which sets a clear and consistent way for government agencies to set up, manage, and strengthen their cybersecurity. It helps keep critical infrastructure protected from growing cyber threats. It also emphasises transparency and accountability in handling sensitive data. 

Critical Infrastructure Resilience Strategy: The government has put together a strategy to boost the state’s critical infrastructure, making it more prepared and resilient. This includes figuring out which assets and supply chains are most important, assessing risks, focusing on key areas, and using resources wisely.  

Enhancing Online Services: Seeing the growing need for secure online services, the government has updated its ICT, Cyber Security and Digital Government Strategy with upgrades to its IT infrastructure. Part of this effort involves streamlining and merging data centres, which not only cuts down on energy use and lowers the carbon footprint but also boosts efficiency. These upgrades are about more than just going green—they’re designed to make government services more reliable, secure, and ready to meet the digital needs of citizens. By modernising these systems, the government is paving the way for smoother, safer, and more sustainable service delivery.