DP World Australia cyber incident: expert comment

Professor Matthew Warren, Director RMIT Centre for Cyber Security Research and Innovation

"The ongoing cyber incident at DP World Australia highlights the importance of maritime cyber security (in particular dock cyber security) and the disruption that a cyber incident causes the whole country across a number of states.

"The cyber incident is an ongoing investigation and not much is known at the moment, but we will find out more as the facts unfold.

"The incident is impacting operations in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Fremantle. Any disruption to docks could potentially disrupt Australia’s supply chain.

"The government’s new approach to cyber security incident handling and the key role that Australia's National Cyber Security Coordinator, will be key in dealing with a cyber incident of national significance such as this.

"What it shows is the new energy that the government has with dealing with a national cyber incident.

"Australia's new cyber security strategy will be launched in the next few weeks and again this will reinforce a new approach to handling cyber security from a whole of nation perspective.

"It must introduce more regulatory controls to allow the government and industry to work together when there is a cyber incident of national significance.

"In the meantime, the government with DP World Australia will be handling the current cyber situation to resolve it as soon as possible."