Cyber security – it’s not just training staff to detect phishing scams! Back
By: Pia Duxbury
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Cyber security is front of mind for LGIS members across the state. It was a topic of conversation with many CEOs and executives at the recent WA Local Government Convention and remains the number two concern for sector CEOs nationally.

Discussion with members shows that many are taking action in one particular area – staff training. This is an important area for the sector to improve their defences against cyber criminals. Recent cyber incidents experienced by WA local governments have, in the main, arisen from human error and failure to apply robust policies and procedures.

However, it's important to remember that staff training, policies such as the finance team checking new account details are but a small part of your organisations cyber security defences.

Clyde & Co's Cyber incident trends snapshot for quarter 3 outlines the incident types that have been occurring.   Business email compromise continues to be the most dominant breach, however, the key takeaway for 2024 is supply chain breaches (or multi-party data breaches) involving MSPs, SAAS providers, cloud service providers, and third parties that access systems and/or process jointly held personal information. 

LGIS' Cyber Security workshop roadshow aims to support our members with two areas:

  1. DEFEND: Improving your cyber security defences by reducing vulnerabilities and opportunities for criminals by applying the Australian Signal Directorates Essential Eight Framework.
  2. RESPOND: Improving, or developing, a cyber incident response management plan so that when a cyber incident happens your organisation has already planned how to respond and made key decisions.

Successive OAG Audits have demonstrated that the sector is vulnerable and the potential exposure significant. Our members provide vital community services and collect high value personal information making them appealing targets for cyber criminals

Now is the time for members to review their cyber controls and update, or start developing, your cyber incident response plan.

The issue of cyber security is a significant one for LGIS – the sector's mutual indemnity scheme, that's why we've made significant investment to develop resources and deliver this series of workshops. Taken together these resources and sessions aim to support members in uplifting their cyber security capacity and capability.

About the workshops

LGIS' new cyber workshops are practical, hands-on sessions developed in conjunction with members and designed to target the specific issues of local government. They'll be delivered by a cyber security specialist with expertise in local government and nearly a decade's worth of experience supporting organisations in uplifting their cyber security.

Session 1: Essential Eight controls

A practical approach to improving your local government's cyber security by using the Essential Eight mitigation strategies. In this hands-on session you will review your current controls and identify what needs to be done to improve.

Session 2: Cyber incident response planning

Don't wait for a cyber incident to happen, get your plan in place. In this practical workshop we'll explore who's responsible? how to develop and implement a plan, legislative and regulatory environment plus how your LGIS Cyber protection assists if there's an incident.

Send the team - cyber security is everyone's responsibility

Depending on the size of your organisation these workshops could be good for CEOs and managers, plus risk and compliance, or procurement professionals. Elected members may also benefit from the cyber incident response management workshop.  It's an opportunity for IT and cyber professionals, alongside other cyber risk stakeholders to share knowledge and connect with each other. 

These sessions will also provide attendees with an understanding of cyber security and the language used, equipping local government staff to better ask for and evaluate proposals to provide cyber security services.

More information

Check out the Events page of the LGIS website for more dates or contact your LGIS Account Manager.

Event dates:

  • Tuesday, 12 November 2024 - Geraldton (Midwest/Northern Country) 
  • Wednesday, 13 November - Wanneroo (North metro) 
  • Thursday, 14 November - Kellerberrin (Great eastern) 
  • Friday, 15  November - Cockburn (South metro) 
  • Monday, 25 November - Bunbury (South west
  • Wednesday 27 November - Tom Price (Pilbara)
  • Thursday 28 November - York (Avon)
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