Government to patrol cyber-beat

By PETER GRIFFIN technology writer

Online businesses can soon sleep better at night knowing that the Government is helping to safeguard our cyber-security.

From next April, the Centre for Critical Infrastructure will warn Government departments and the private sector of "cyber threats" - the broadening range of virus and hacking attacks proliferating across the web.

The centre will run on a modest $850,000 a year and require $269,000 for equipment.

State Services Minister Trevor Mallard said the centre would be run as a unit within the Wellington-based Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB), the Government's foreign intelligence bureau.

"Owners of infrastructure - whether they are in the state sector or the private sector - will remain responsible for the security of their systems. But the new centre will provide coordination, support and advice on the ways in which we can maintain and improve our security."

The centre will replicate on a smaller scale the role of the FBI's National Infrastructure Protection Centre, which was set up in 1998 as a response to the explosion in cyber-crime.

"It will work closely with infrastructure providers and Government departments, including police," said Mr Mallard.

The centre would not have any law enforcement functions or powers - "its role will be the protection of infrastructure and assisting with recovery from cyber-attack," he told the Herald.

The main components of critical infrastructure to be protected would include energy and telecommunications systems, transport, finance and law and order.

Last night, industry leaders from those key sectors were unaware of the creation of the centre, but welcomed the Government's first step in boosting security for vital infrastructure.

Otago University computer security expert Dr Hank Wolfe said various Government agencies had asked him to draw up a proposal two years ago for an independent early-warning system along the lines of the US-based Computer Emergency Response Team, which offered help to set it up.

"That idea sort of died on the vine, but I'm glad to see [this project] going ahead. It's important to protect our nation's infrastructure."

Dr Wolfe said a cyber-security unit should be independent of the Government to ease fears that "Big Brother" was watching.

Links


Computer Emergency Response Team

National Infrastructure Protection Center