Andrew Colarik: We need to shield our data, capacity

So much of our livelihoods are now linked to the digital space.

Our primary industries compete globally using information and communications technologies (ICT).

Buying, selling and distribution of goods and services are enabled with the ones and zeros of the global information infrastructure, supply chains are fulfilled and relationships maintained.

The immense growth of the internet has given us access to new information and markets.

It's easy to see the advantages of this new reality. But, all too often, we don't see the consequences until it's too late.

Our small country has created a $200 billion economy with a population of around 4.5 million.

That is the size of Apple Inc. In today's competitive marketplace, they face fierce global competition, and so do we.

Imagine what the rest of the world sees: A small group of people with a large, yummy pie.

Can they come and take it away? Could we stop them if they tried?

This is the new reality: there is a direct correlation between gross domestic product (GDP) and internet use.

Those countries that have invested heavily in this space have yielded significant transformations in their economies.

Will this new infrastructure allow countries like Vietnam to compete directly with our primary industries?

Vietnam has already eroded Colombia's dominance of world coffee and severely damaged its economy.

Huge amounts of information are being scooped up by government, businesses and individuals.

These databases are also being integrated, creating unforeseen effects harming people's lives.

Coupled with this is an emerging awareness that our critical infrastructure - like telecommunications and power grids - is vulnerable to attack.

We need to consider the cost of not expanding our capacities. We must also consider what would happen if our own information is used against us.

- Dr Andrew Colarik is a senior lecturer with Massey University's Centre for Defence and Security Studies.