IIA to launch national online security council

The Internet Industry Association is preparing to launch its new online security council, an opportunity for industry to lobby the Government on IT security issues and potentially avoid duplication in security efforts within Government agencies.

IIA CEO Peter Lee

The National Online Security Council (NOSC) will run as a twice-yearly, single full-day forum allowing industry to communicate its concerns and perspectives around online security directly to Government.

IIA industry members felt there was a gap in coordination of issues surrounding internet and online security as a result of duplicated cyber security efforts within the likes of the Broadband department, the ACMA, the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, CERT Australia and others, IIA CEO Peter Lee told iTnews.

“What we have seen is there is a bit of a disparate way of doing things at the moment," he said.

"What we want to do is utilise some of the work the Government has done and represent the industry’s view so we can align what industry is focused on with what the Government is doing".

Lee said that Government had been looking for a mechanism to get feedback from industry.

Issues to be discussed at the forum would include trans-jurisdictional data, data retention, outcomes of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security, and telecommunications sector reforms, Lee said.

The NOSC will be free to join and open for all IIA members. The industry body is currently working on a membership package to allow smaller businesses to join the NOSC without having to become an IIA member, which would be based around a membership fee. 

The IIA expects to have around 30 to 40 organisations involved in the initial stages. It is currently sending out invitations to industry members as well as specific Government agencies.

IIA members and ISPs iiNet, Optus and AAPT had already indicated their enthusiasm, as had members in the security space such as Sophos and Enex TestLab, Lee said.

Lee anticipates Government involvement from the likes of the PMC, the Attorney-General’s Department, the DBCDE, and the ACMA, based on preliminary discussions. 

Alongside the twice-yearly forum, the IIA will facilitate an ongoing collaboration process as well as ad-hoc council meetings to discuss issues of critical and timely importance. 

The first forum will be held on October 31 at a yet-to-be-confirmed Sydney location, provided by an IIA member. The IIA will look at holding future NOSC meetings in Melbourne and Canberra as well. 

The cost of the event would be born by sponsorship packages from IIA members. Lee expects the cost to the IIA would be minimal, with an IIA member providing the location and a sponsorship covering most of the event cost.