ANU to run 'cyber bootcamp' for ASEAN officials

The Australian National University is set to offer government officials from ASEAN and Pacific nations a cyber bootcamp, providing expert advice and skills training.

The Cyber Bootcamp Project was recently awarded just under $6 million in funding by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and will be delivered through ANU’s Cyber Institute and National Security College.

As part of Australia’s Cyber Cooperation Program, the bootcamp will be run up to three times a year over the next four years, building on participants’ knowledge and awareness of cyber issues.

Each bootcamp will include a two-week intensive program based in Australia, where participants undertake interactive workshops, exercise scenarios, industry site visits, and dialogue with Australian government agencies.

The university was awarded the contract for the bootcamp project through an open tender process, presumably an indication that DFAT believes ANU has recovered sufficiently from its recent high-profile cyber incidents, the most recent of which resulted in years of sensitive data being accessed by as-yet unknown hackers.

ANU Cyber Institute chief executive, Dr Lesley Seebeck, said in a statement the project extends beyond “simply developing cyber security specialists”.

“Instead the bootcamp will focus on developing skills in good people to conceive, construct and care for good, adaptable, human-centred, secure, resilient systems which account for the people who use or are supported by them.”

Australia’s cyber affairs ambassador, Dr Tobias Feakin, officially launched the bootcamp at ANU on Monday.

“Australia’s vision for an open, free and secure cyberspace is impossible to achieve alone,” Feakin said.

“We are pleased to be partnering with ANU and our regional neighbours to deliver this initiative.

“The Cyber Bootcamp Project has been designed to bring together complementary skills and expertise from across government, academia and the private sector to deliver a comprehensive, holistic and innovative training program to our regional partners.”