Former national cybersecurity adviser Alastair MacGibbon has hailed a new alliance between tech giant Microsoft and the Australian Signals Directorate as a pivotal moment in opening the door for the heavily funded private sector to help the government fight back against the growing threat of cyberattacks.

Mr MacGibbon, chief strategy officer at CyberCX, who was also special adviser to the prime minister on cybersecurity in Malcolm Turnbull’s tenure, said the announcement was a recognition that government could no longer fight off cyber threats on its own.