Feds back new security standards body

The Council of Registered Ethical Security Testers (CREST) has set up an Australian branch led by former Australian Federal Police High Tech Crime Centre director Alastair MacGibbon. 

eye probe through printed circuit

The not-for-profit, which offers penetration testing certification, received a one-off grant of $150,000 from the Federal Government.

MacGibbon has been named founding CEO of CREST Australia. "It's a part-time position," he told iTnews.

CREST Australia will have a seven-member interim board with representation from Telstra, StratSec, Datacom and Accenture among others.

Attorney-General Nicola Roxon said that government agencies would "work cooperatively with the board of CREST Australia, including sitting on various CREST sub-committees alongside business members.”

“CREST Australia will have the important role of establishing clear and agreed standards for cyber security testing," Roxon said.

“These standards will help the business sector be confident that the work conducted by IT professionals is completed with integrity, accountability and to agreed standards.”

CREST's move into Australia was welcomed by Enex Test Labs managing director Matt Tett.

Accreditation would be worthwhile because it would sort ot the companies serious about offering penetration testing services, he said.