Exploring the Cybersecurity Landscape of Tomorrow - Perspectives from AISA Conference, Canberra 2024
In the realm of cybersecurity, staying updated and adhering to the latest policies is crucial for maintaining a robust defense against potential threats. This is particularly true in Australia, where the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) has been emphasising the importance of aligning cybersecurity strategies with ASD policies to enhance defense capability, risk mitigation, and industry standards compliance.
Recently, the AISA Canberra 2024 event saw a significant gathering of professionals from various backgrounds, including government or defence organisations, students, vendors, resellers, service integrators, enterprise professionals, and risk and compliance professionals. The event was marked by a notable interest in AI-related topics, with many attendees queuing for sessions with AI in the title.
One of the key figures at the event was OPSWAT's Solutions Engineering Manager for APJ, Eoin O'Carroll, who discussed cybersecurity trends and challenges. OPSWAT Chief Product Officer Yiyi Miao also delivered a key session, sharing insights on building a holistic perimeter defense strategy for IT and OT networks.
Their discussions were undoubtedly influenced by the Australian Signals Directorate's Information Security Manual (ISM), which is currently under consideration by the OPSWAT team. The ISM is a comprehensive guide that outlines various cybersecurity requirements and best practices.
For instance, ISM-1234; Revision 5 requires email content filtering to filter potentially harmful content in email bodies and attachments. Similarly, ISM-0659 and ISM-1288 mandate that files imported or exported via gateways or Cross Domain Solutions undergo content filtering checks and antivirus scanning using multiple different scanning engines, respectively.
Moreover, ISM-0626; Revision 6 mandates Cross Domain Solutions for Secret or Top-Secret networks and other networks, and ISM-1521; Revision 3 requires protocol breaks at each network layer in Cross Domain Solutions. These revisions aim to enhance the security of information exchange between different networks.
In addition, ISM-0643 and ISM-1157 require evaluated diodes for controlling the data flow of unidirectional gateways between networks, while ISM-0645 mandates a high assurance evaluation for evaluated diodes used for controlling the data flow of unidirectional gateways between SECRET or TOP SECRET networks and public network infrastructure.
Furthermore, ISM-0271; Revision 3 prohibits protective marking tools from automatically inserting protective markings into emails, and ISM-0272; Revision 4 prohibits users from selecting protective markings that a system has not been authorised to process, store, or communicate.
ISM-1187; Revision 3 requires data to be checked for unsuitable protective markings during manual export, and ISM-0669; Revision 6 requires keyword checks within all textual data during manual export. These measures aim to ensure the appropriate handling and protection of sensitive information.
Lastly, ISM-1600; Revision 1 requires media to be sanitised before first use, and ISM-1642; Revision 0 requires media to be sanitised before reuse in a different security domain. These requirements highlight the importance of cleaning media to prevent the spread of potential threats.
In conclusion, the latest revisions to the ISM provide a comprehensive approach to enhancing cybersecurity, addressing various aspects such as email content filtering, Cross Domain Solutions, protective markings, and media sanitisation. By adhering to these revisions, organisations can strengthen their defense against potential threats and ensure compliance with industry standards.
