What's in a word? Spooks move to resilience

as posted here

What's in a word? Spooks move to resilience

by James Riley

Wednesday, 09 December 2009

Attorney-General Robert McClelland says that nation's critical infrastructure protection programs are to be modified, with security agencies recommending greater emphasis on "resilience" rather than protection. Mr McClelland told a meeting of government's Critical Infrastructure Advisory Council said the critical infrastructure protection (CIP) programs were receiving on-going funding and that the Attorney-General's department – through ASIO and other agencies – would continue to provide security briefings. But the definitions of CIP engagement would be broadened. The ICT sector, through its telecommunications network infrastructure and its under-pinning of critical industries like banking and finance, forms a huge part of the CIP program. "To date, there has been an all hazards approach to protecting critical infrastructure, but the time has come for the 'protection' mindset to be broadened – to embrace the broader concept of resilience," Mr McClelland told the meeting. "A shift to resilience was supported by the recent review of national Critical Infrastructure Protection arrangements conducted by a working group under the auspices of COAG and the Homeland and Border Security Review," he said. "As part of the shift to resilience, the Attorney-General's Department has also restructured to create a National Security Resilience Policy Division, with a key focus on looking after critical infrastructure." The Government now plans to shift the existing Critical Infrastructure Protection program to Critical Infrastructure Resilience, with new branding to accompany the change. The Attorney-General's department will now conduct a consultation process to develop the details of the Critical Infrastructure Resilience Program, he said.

as posted here