Underscored by private sector partnerships the strategy aims to create an environment for digital trade to generate economic growth and opportunities for Australia and Australians while mitigating the risks. It also charts a path to use digital technologies to drive sustainable and inclusive development in the Indo-Pacific region.
The government will allocate an additional A$10 million to the Cyber Cooperation Program to support implementation of the strategy. A$4 million was provided last year.
According to the government, most cybercrime affecting Australians originates overseas, driving Australia to engage internationally to shut down cybercrime safe havens. The strategy aims to foster good cyber security practices in the region and improve regional capacity to respond to global cyber incidents.
"We encourage all Australians to read the International Cyber Engagement Strategy and to recognise the breadth of benefits a stable and secure cyberspace can bring to personal, business, community and international wellbeing," said the Honourable Julie Bishop MP, Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Honourable Dan Tehan MP, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Cyber Security, in a joint statement.
The strategy outlines an approach across seven key themes: digital trade, cybersecurity, cybercrime, international security, Internet governance & cooperation, human rights & democracy online, and technology for development, plus coordinated cyber affairs. A Foreign Policy White Paper, currently under development, will reiterate how cyber issues affect Australia's foreign policy. Specifically:
 |
| Source: Australia International Cyber Engagement Strategy website. The key themes for the International Cyber Engagement Strategy. |
Digital trade
Australia aims to maximise the opportunity for economic growth and prosperity through digital trade. The country will:
- Shape an enabling environment for digital trade, including through trade agreements, harmonisation of standards, and implementation of trade facilitation measures
- Promote trade and investment opportunities for Australian digital goods and services
Cybersecurity
Here, Australia is aiming for a strong and resilient cyber security posture not only for Australia but also for the Indo-Pacific and the global community. The country will:
- Maintain strong cybersecurity relationships with international partners
- Encourage innovative cybersecurity solutions and deliver world leading cybersecurity advice
- Develop regional cybersecurity capability
- Promote Australia's cybersecurity industry
Cybercrime
Australia wants to achieve stronger cybercrime prevention, prosecution and cooperation, with a particular focus on the Indo-Pacific. The country will:
- Raise cybercrime awareness in the Indo-Pacific
- Assist Indo-Pacific countries to strengthen their cybercrime legislation
- Deliver cybercrime law enforcement and prosecution capacity building in the Indo-Pacific
- Enhance diplomatic dialogue and international information sharing on cybercrime
International security
The goal is for a stable, peaceful online environment. The country will:
- Set clear expectations for state behaviour in cyberspace
- Implement practical confidence building measures to prevent conflict
- Deter and respond to unacceptable behaviour in cyberspace
Internet governance & cooperation
Australia will work towards an open, free and secure Internet, achieved through a multi-stakeholder approach to Internet governance and cooperation. The country will:
- Advocate for a multi-stakeholder approach to Internet governance that is inclusive, consensus-based, transparent and accountable
- Oppose efforts to bring the management of the Internet under government control
- Raise awareness across the Indo-Pacific of Internet governance issues and encourage engagement of regional partners in Internet governance and cooperation discussions
Human rights & democracy online
Australia states that human rights apply online, as they do offline. The country will:
- Advocate for the protection of human rights and democratic principles online
- Support international efforts to promote and protect human rights online
- Ensure respect for and protection of human rights and democratic principles online in all Australian aid projects with digital technology components
Technology for development
The priority will be to use digital technologies to achieve sustainable development and inclusive economic growth in the Indo-Pacific. The country will:
- Improve connectivity and access to the Internet across the Indo-Pacific, in collaboration with international organisations, regional governments and the private sector
- Encourage the use of resilient development-enabling technologies for e‑governance and the digital delivery of services
- Support entrepreneurship, digital skills and integration into the global marketplace
Comprehensive & coordinated cyber affairs
To keep to this agenda Australia will:
- Enhance understanding of Australia's comprehensive cyber affairs agenda
- Increase funding for Australia's international cyber engagement activities
- Coordinate and prioritise Australia's international cyber engagement activities
"Our international cyber engagement protects Australians and promotes our interests. It positions us to harness opportunities and increase our cyber resilience. An open, free and secure Internet drives economic growth, enhances our national security and fosters international stability," said Bishop in a foreword to the strategy.
Palo Alto Networks, the security company, announced that it will support the capacity-building efforts of Australia’s International Cyber Engagement Strategy with new business engagement initiatives businesses in the region. The project aims to raise the understanding of cybersecurity as a business risk within C-suites in ASEAN countries.
"You will note throughout this strategy that partnership is the watchword. The Australian government appreciates that, to deliver on our ambition to increase regional cyber capacity, we need innovative partnerships with the private sector.
"Palo Alto Networks will conduct technical and other cybersecurity training for ASEAN businesses in partnership with industry and this will complement the initiative to translate our very own Australian Signals Directorate’s world-leading, ‘Essential Eight mitigation strategies’," said Bishop.
"In order for the market to reach its full potential, we must combat cybercrime and help close digital divides in the region. This is a joint effort, requiring businesses and governments to share information and collaborate. That’s why Australia’s new international Cyber Engagement Strategy emphasises partnering with the private sector, and companies like Palo Alto Networks, who are at the frontline of helping businesses understand and mitigate the cyberthreats they face," said Dr Tobias Feakin, the first Australian Ambassador for Cyber Affairs.
"Cybersecurity is a culture that every organisation needs to build, strengthen and foster across all levels of the business. It is essential that leaders ensure cyber risk is considered among their organisation’s overall risk management strategy. Palo Alto Networks aims to educate and empower business leaders to make informed decisions on managing cyber risks so that they can run their organisations securely while preventing material impact to them from successful cyberattacks," added Sean Duca, VP and Chief Security Officer, APAC, Palo Alto Networks.
