Network organisations improving Australia IT infrastructure protection
Network organisations improving Australia IT infrastructure protection
A NEW research network of universities and private sector organisations has been charged with improving protection of Australia's critical infrastructure.Launched by Attorney General Philip Ruddock in Canberra, the Research Network for a Secure Australia (RNSA) will create collaborate research projects in the areas of IT security, physical infrastructure security, and surveillance and intelligent systems.
The creation of the research network is being funded through a five-year, $2 million Australian Research Council grant and aims to draw together existing expertise from Australian universities.
Mr Ruddock said the network would seek to align Australian research into critical infrastructure protection with the needs of local law enforcement, intelligence agencies and the private sector.
In addition to meeting the needs of local critical infrastructure protection, Mr Ruddock said the RNSA would also create potential products and expertise that could resent an export opportunity.
"It's in this field of critical infrastructure protection that it's essential for our research meets the needs of those who own the key assets and are responsible for their protection," Mr Ruddock said.
The RNSA brings together three universities.
The University of Melbourne will manage the administrative operation of the network, and spearhead research into physical security in areas like blast modelling, protective materials and smart buildings and infrastructure.
The Australia Defence Force Academy (ADFA) at the University of New South Wales in Sydney will oversee all surveillance and intelligence systems research.
The Queensland University of Technology will provide co-ordination to the IT infrastructure security, including intrusion detection, computer forensics and the design of cryptographic algorithms.
Mr Ruddock said the primary goal of the new system would be in sharing research to create a better environment for innovating in the "fight against terrorism".
"It will facilitate the exchange of information and knowledge. It will stimulate debate. It will generate new ideas. It will encourage innovation.
"And it will encourage them to think laterally about how to best protect our national security, and critical infrastructure in particular.
