Fergie's Tech Blog

Australia: Rudd Dumps AusCERT

Karen Dearne writes on Australian IT:

The nation's Computer Emergency Response Team, better known as AusCERT, has been dumped by the Rudd Government.

AusCERT will be replaced by the federal government’s newly established CERT Australia, which will take over the critical role of frontline protection against cyber-threats.

Federal Attorney-General Robert McClelland said CERT Australia "will now be the sole supplier of national CERT services to the community and the point of contact for international CERTs".

Last month, The Australian revealed AusCERT was yet to reach agreement on contracted services with the government after negotiations lasting almost a year.

AusCERT, based in the University of Queensland, is largely funded by its private sector members and received federal funding of around $250,000 per annum for government agencies subscriptions.

Jeremy Crowley, director of AusCERT and IT Services at UQ, said they were disappointed with the decision.

posted by Fergie @ 6/10/2010 12:24:00 AM