Speakers
Synopsis
In an era where the cyber intertwines with geopolitics, the Australian government faces a critical but under-appreciated challenge: understanding and improving the cyber capability of the Pacific region. The PRIF reports that the Pacific region is highly exposed to a range of cyber threats, from email fraud and ransomware to card skimming, cyber-bulling and child pornography.
What does Australia need to know and how can it help secure Pacific infrastructure, online defences and the region’s own identify and sovereignty? And importantly, what role can private cyber companies play in bolstering the cyber resilience of the Pacific region under the new Cyber Strategy? As the Australian government recognizes the strategic importance of this region, private enterprises have a unique opportunity to support these efforts, enhancing regional stability and security.
The region has been experiencing an increase in cyber and ransomware threats. In November 2022 a suspected ransomware attack knocked out Vanuatu’s emergency services, government emails, and phone lines. Hospitals resorted to paper-based communications for the rest of the month. The crippling attack revealed the deep vulnerability of the small island nation to cyber threats. Meanwhile, in October 2023, Fiji and Australia agreed to cooperate on cyber (along with providing budget and military support) but only after successive Fijian governments have been wooed by China with a range of sweet financial and security deals and Trend Micro warned in May that Fiji was vulnerable to a Chinese State sponsored cyber hack (the Earth Longzhi threat) because of its low level of cyber security maturity.
This presentation zooms in on two key and highly vulnerable countries—Vanuatu and Fiji—to dissect the current state of play, views on cyber challenges, and the profound impact of cybersecurity and disinformation on national priorities, and how private companies can help.
Beyond the algorithms and firewalls, we delve into the very heartbeat of these nations—the perspectives of local stakeholders. We explore real and perceived cybersecurity challenges, seen through the eyes of those most intimately connected to it, so that companies wanting to work in this pivotal region can tailor their strategies to meet the needs of local stakeholders.
We will explore the threats and opportunities that are unique to the Pacific region, from state-sponsored threats, denial of service attacks, reliance on vulnerable critical infrastructure, disinformation campaigns, and low levels of cyber maturity. Opportunities exist to foster collaboration and strategic partnerships, not just between nations, but between people united in a collective defence against shared threats.
In proposing approaches for strategic foresight and practical action, we call for greater collaboration between Australia and Pacific nations, underpinned by the private sector, focused on people to people links, information sharing, joint cybersecurity exercises, and capacity-building initiatives. This isn’t a mere to-do list; it's a call to action for regional resilience.
