Cyber and critical technology affect all aspects of international relations.

They underpin our national security, the protection and realisation of human rights and freedoms, global economic prosperity, sustainable development and international stability.

For Australia, cyber and critical technology are foreign policy priorities.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade leads Australia's international engagement on cyber and critical technology across the Australian Government. This work is coordinated by Australia's Ambassador for Cyber Affairs and Critical Technology, Brendan Dowling.

Follow the Ambassador for Cyber Affairs and Critical technology on X (formerly Twitter) @AusAmbCyberTech.

2023-2030 Cyber Security Strategy

On 22 November 2023, Australia launched its 2023-2030 Cyber Security Strategy. The Strategy sets out the Australian Government's vision to be a world leader in cyber security by 2030.

The Strategy takes a whole-of-nation approach to building cyber resilience, incorporating domestic and international elements. The Strategy is built around six cyber shields:

• Strong businesses and citizens
• Safe technology
• World-class threat sharing and blocking
• Protected critical infrastructure
• Sovereign capabilities
• Resilient region and global leadership.

As Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon Tim Watts MP, has said, “Building resilience to cyber threats is an urgent, global priority – both at home and in our region”. The resilient region and global leadership shield outlines Australia's commitment to strengthening the capacity of our region and shaping international efforts to meet the evolving challenges of cyberspace. This will include:

Cyber RAPID Teams (Rapid Assistance for Pacific Incidents and Disasters)

• Australia is investing $26.2 million to establish Cyber Rapid Assistance for Pacific Incidents and Disasters (Cyber RAPID) teams led by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade with highly trained representatives from a range of government agencies and the private sector, to assist overseas in response to digital disasters, when Pacific governments request assistance.
• The Cyber RAPID Teams will work alongside other, complementary initiatives in the region listed below.

Modernisation and Secure by Design Solutions

• Australia is investing $16.7 million to build long term resilience in the Pacific by working with partners to proactively identify vulnerabilities – such as end-of-life hardware and software – and trial secure by design solutions that reduce cyber incidents.
• Industry can help drive an uplift in cyber maturity and security throughout our region. The Australian Government will work with regional governments, the private sector, and technical community partners to pilot options to use technology to protect the region at scale. We will leverage industry solutions to protect more people, systems and data from cyber threats.

Partnerships with Southeast Asia

• Australia is investing $4.5 million to work with partners in Southeast Asia to hone responses to cyber incidents, support practical recommendations for uplift and better position regional governments to prevent cyber incidents.

Capacity Building for Cyber and Critical Technology (CCTCP)

• Since July 2016, CCTCP has funded 146 cyber cooperation and capacity building initiatives worth $68.4 million in 24 ODA-eligible countries across Southeast Asia and the Pacific to continue uplifting cyber resilience in the region.
• The Australian Government is refocusing the Cyber and Critical Technology Cooperation Program to provide more targeted, impactful and sustainable capacity building initiatives for enduring cyber resilience in Southeast Asia and the Pacific to ensure regional governments are better positioned to prevent cyber incidents.
• Under the redesigned program, the Australian Government will contribute a further $43.2 million to cyber capacity building in the region until 2028. The redesigned program is expected to bring together our capacity building with the new initiatives funded through the Strategy under one overarching, cohesive program. In parallel to redesigning the program, DFAT continues to delivery cyber capacity building in the Indo-Pacific.

The 2023-2030 Strategy also sets out the Australian Government's commitment to continue to join with international partners to uphold international law and norms of responsible state behaviour in cyberspace, and impose costs on malicious actors that make cyberspace less safe and secure. Australia will advocate for technologies that are safe and secure by design.

The Strategy also outlines how Australia will uphold a multistakeholder approach to Internet governance, ensuring it is kept open, free and secure, and continues to underwrite our stability, prosperity, independence and sovereignty.

The 2023-2030 Strategy's Action Plan sets out actions the Government will take over horizon one (2023‒25) to set Australia on a path to achieving the Strategy's vision.