‘Every day there’s an attack’: Inside Silverwater’s ‘cyber fortress’
With a tenfold increase in cyber attacks since the pandemic emerged, a secret cyber fortress in Sydney’s west protects the state’s critical assets, while training future ‘Top Guns’ to guard against daily attacks.
NSW
Don't miss out on the headlines from NSW. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Parliament cancelled: concern over Sydney cluster grows
- Winter warmers: Comfort food at its best in Sydney
In an industrial estate in Sydney’s west, a cyber fortress guards the state’s “crown jewels”.
Protected by 150 high-definition cameras, vibration detection fences and anti-terror bollards, the complex has no signage.
The number plates of vehicles driving down the street can be captured up to 200 metres away.
Locked away inside, behind multiple doors fitted with swipe key entry and fingerprint scanners, IT rooms store the state government’s critical data.
Cool air blasts down the halls, keeping temperatures between 22 and 24 degrees while large gas cylinders have been installed to suppress fires.
From hospital electronic medical records to public transport systems, the Government Data Centre at Silverwater is on the frontline as the state battles a surge in cybercrime.
“Every day there will be an attack,” NSW Customer Service Minister Victor Dominello said, “whether it’s a petty criminal trying to get cheap access to easy information or a more sophisticated actor essentially doing 21st century espionage.
“My job is to make sure that we invest in the best systems humanly possible to give our state a strong foothold against that attack,” he added as he toured the centre.
The state government announced last month $240 million will be spent bolstering cyber security to help position NSW as the digital capital of the southern hemisphere.
The Sunday Telegraph can reveal the funding will include prioritising and targeting local businesses, workers and products for cyber-related contracts.
“Cyber security is a multi-billion dollar industry and we want local businesses to build a world leading cyber industry right here in NSW,” Mr Dominello said of the new sovereign procurement policy.
“We are going to train future cyber warriors to ensure our systems and assets are safeguarded against emerging threats.
“These will be the government’s new Top Guns.”
COVID-19 has ramped up pressure on the state’s digital services with a tenfold increase in cyber attacks since the pandemic emerged.
“The obvious threat to us are hostile state players and that’s been arcing up, particularly in recent years,” Mr Dominello said, declining to name countries.
“Not since the Cold War has our state’s sovereignty been under such threat.
“The 20th century was dominated by the space race, and the 21st century will be dominated by the cyber race.”
Of the new $240 million, one-quarter will be spent boosting training for cyber specialists, strengthening intelligence between agencies and governments and responding to attacks faster. The remaining 75 per cent will help NSW agencies build world-class cyber capabilities to prevent attacks.
A new cyber security centre at Bathurst, in the state’s west, will also detect, scan and manage online vulnerabilities across departments with more planned for regional NSW.
Mr Dominello said the state had to balance the growth in digital services “with protecting the crown jewels to make sure that that doesn’t get into the wrong hands”.
“The moment we go to sleep, we’re letting the state down and that’s why the announcement of the $240 million is not just a great injection for the security of our state, it’s a great signal to the world,” Mr Dominello said.
“Go to places where they are not investing because that’s easier to kick that door down — you try to kick this door, we’re going to find you and fast.”
In April, customer information was accessed after the email accounts of 47 Service NSW staff were hacked.
Cyber Security NSW policy and awareness director Charlotte Wood said government employees were being trained to spot cyber attacks early.
“There’s lots of high risk staff that might have access to certain types of information but it’s also everyday staff that just log on to check their pay slip, for example,” she said.
Ms Wood said during coronavirus, cyber criminals have changed their strategy.
“Phishing emails, for example, they know people are hungry for information about COVID so they’ll change the themes of their email to be ‘click on this link to find out more about COVID.”
Cyber Security NSW was also working closely with IT staff in small agencies and local councils to stop attacks “at the fence before it gets to the person working inside”, Ms Wood said.
“The small agencies don’t have big budgets for cybersecurity so the more we can do, as a whole of government function, to reach out to all the small agencies so they’re not disadvantaged because of their size, is so important,” she said.
The Silverwater data centre, built in 2013 with another block opening about two years ago, also plays a vital role in protecting the state’s cyber secrets.
NSW Customer Service technology platforms service delivery lead Peter McMillan said: “Nearly every government agency has a footprint here”.
“It’s not only cybersecurity — the purpose is to keep systems going at all times.”
Originally published as ‘Every day there’s an attack’: Inside Silverwater’s ‘cyber fortress’