ECU cyber security student Donna Wilson-Adams, Associate Professor Paul Haskell-Dowland and Chancellor Kerry Sanderson in the new security operations centre.
Camera IconECU cyber security student Donna Wilson-Adams, Associate Professor Paul Haskell-Dowland and Chancellor Kerry Sanderson in the new security operations centre. Credit: Supplied/David Baylis, David Baylis www.communitypix.com.au d497794

ECU launches cyber security operations centre

Staff WriterJoondalup Times

EDITH Cowan University has launched a $3 million cyber security training centre at its Joondalup campus to help address a skills shortage.

The security operations centre is said to be the biggest within a university in the souther hemisphere and will give students firsthand experience in cyber operations and technology and responding to cyber security threats.

“The (centre) will give students unique training in monitoring, detecting and responding to cyber security incidents,” School of Science executive dean Andrew Woodward said.

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“There are only a handful of universities in the world that offer this capability.”

The centre includes a 24-seat training lab that could function as an open source intelligence centre.

With the soaring costs of cybercrime threatening Australian and global businesses, the cyber security industry is set to replace the mining sector as the next jobs boom in Australia.

It is expected the global cyber security workface shortage will reach more than 1.8 million cyber security professionals by 2022.

“ECU is committed to addressing the massive skills shortage facing the government and industry in this area,” Vice-Chancellor Steve Chapman said.

“Our investment in this (centre) ensures that ECU will give our students to access the necessary skills to be work-ready graduates.”

ECU students Adam Brickhill of Ellenbrook, Janae Weiss of Heathridge, Matt Giovinazzo of Joondalup and Connor Shannon of Tapping. David Baylis
Camera IconECU students Adam Brickhill of Ellenbrook, Janae Weiss of Heathridge, Matt Giovinazzo of Joondalup and Connor Shannon of Tapping. David Baylis Credit: Supplied/David Baylis

Department Home Affairs Deputy Secretary Marc Ablong officially opened the centre on January 29 at a launch coinciding with the Cyber 2020 Forum.

“We need to encourage more students to undertake studies in cyber security and related courses,” Mr Ablong said.

About 60 of Australia’s thought leaders in the cyber security space attended the forum and Department of Home Affairs Secretary Michael Pezzullo delivered the keynote address.

“The magnitude of the digital threats faced by Australians has increased,” he said.

“They will become more acute as our society and economy become increasingly connected.

“As the threat evolves, so too must our response.

“Cybercrime is a growing cost to the Australian economy, with the overall impact on businesses estimated to be in the billions of dollars every year.”

Australia’s Cyber Security Cooperative Research Centre head Rachael Falk said the Cyber 2020 Forum was critical to ensuring the government could meet the challenges of the digital age.

“It is essential that we take this opportunity have robust debate with the best and brightest around how best to predict, protect and detect threats against individuals, businesses and critical infrastructure,” Ms Falk said.

“This requires close collaboration between industry, government and the research sector.”

Cyber security hub based at ECU Joondalup

ECU Executive Dean of School of Science Professor Andrew Woodward and Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Steve Chapman. David Baylis
Camera IconECU Executive Dean of School of Science Professor Andrew Woodward and Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Steve Chapman. David Baylis Credit: Supplied/David Baylis