Australian Information Security Certification

In "Could the Government's cybercrime focus be a catalyst for change?" Tony Campbell (IT News, Dec 19, 2014) suggests the Australian Computer Society could "act as the certification authority for information security exams". This would follow the practice of the British Computer Society (BCS) for the UK.

The UK Cyber Security Strategy: Protecting and promoting the UK in a digital world, was released 25 November 2011. A GCHQ Joint Cyber Unit has the central role. Also the UK expanded its Centre for Protection of the National Infrastructure.

As Campbell points out, a review of Australia’s cyber security strategy was announced in November. The ACS assisted with public consultationson cyber-security around  Australia in October 2011. As a member of the ACS Cyber Task Force I assisted in preparing the ACS Submission for the Australian Cyber Policy White Paper and "Response to The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet's Discussion Paper". PM&C was planning to issue a "CyberWhitePaper" in early 2012, but this did not occur.

The ACS Virtual College already includes Information Security as an elective. It could be expanded to cover the  Australian National Plan to Combat Cybercrime, and working with the Australian Cybercrime Online Reporting Network (ACORN).