In a huge win for the Sunshine Coast region, a local not-for-profit organisation has secured $6.4 million from the Australian Government to help safeguard the nation’s health sector from cyber threats.
Based in Maroochydore, the Critical Infrastructure Information Sharing and Analysis Centre (CI-ISAC) was established on the Sunshine Coast in February 2023.
It now provides cyber threat intelligence to organisations across Australia’s 11 critical infrastructure sectors, including healthcare.
This funding will support the creation of the Health Cyber Sharing Network, helping healthcare providers share intelligence and strengthen their defences against cyber-attacks.
Council’s Invest Sunshine Coast services promotes the region for business investment to organisations like CI-ISAC via the Investment & Growth Toolkit, resulting in more than $4.5 billion in new economic impact since 2013 and making investors like Youi, Country Chef and Genpact household names.
Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli congratulated CI-ISAC and acknowledged the centre’s contribution to the region.
“CI-ISAC’s decision to base itself on the Sunshine Coast while delivering national services shows the strength of our digital economy,” Mayor Natoli said.
“With the fastest east coast fibre connection to the US, a fibre-enabled city centre and another international cable on the way, the Sunshine Coast is built for high-tech industries.
“Organisations like CI-ISAC strengthen our national security, create local jobs and attract leading tech talent to the region.
“We are immensely proud that a nation-leading organisation like CI-ISAC has chosen to operate here, and we wish them great success in their critical work for our country.”
CI-ISAC effectively provides a cyber ‘neighbourhood watch’ for Australian health providers to share relevant information on cyber threats, while also benefiting from insights gained from other critical infrastructure sectors.
CI-ISAC CEO David Sandell said the new Health Cyber Sharing Network would significantly strengthen the cyber resilience of Australia’s health and medical sector.
“The health and medical sector holds a large amount of incredibly private and personal medical and financial information,” Mr Sandell said.
“The new network can help members reduce their cyber risks and prevent disruptions to essential health services, ensuring the wellbeing of patients.“
Sunshine Coast Tech Industry Alliance chair Jason Garland said he and the broader tech industry were very pleased for CI-ISAC.
“As a valued member of the Sunshine Coast business community, the national visibility that CI-ISAC is creating for our region’s achievements and capabilities is outstanding,” Mr Garland said.
“Senior members of Australia’s corporate sector and government at all levels are now learning where CI-ISAC is operating from and why this location has been chosen.
“That has enormous benefit for our wider tech community through increased visibility of what we can do and deliver from the Sunshine Coast.”
Healthcare organisations and suppliers can receive a 12-month complimentary CI-ISAC membership, gaining access to exclusive cyber intelligence and insights from industry leaders.
Find out more online at CI-ISAC Australia, Collective Cyber Defence for Critical Infrastructure.
To join the Sunshine Coast Tech Industry Alliance visit SCTechIA, Sunshine Coast Tech Industry Alliance.
