VTA sets cybersecurity high at conference

The Victorian Transport Association (VTA) says its March 17 to 19 State Conference line-up is quickly taking shape with cybersecurity set to be high on its agenda.

It notes it is looking forward to sharing the provisional conference program with members, and other transport industry stakeholders within the coming fortnight.

“In the interim I am pleased to confirm additional details and a keynote speaker to address conference delegates on the fast-emerging commercial threat of cyber security, which over the past 12 months has impacted dozens of public and private organisations, and government departments and agencies,” says VTA CEO Peter Anderson.

“Dr Derek Bopping is the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) First Assistant Director-General Cyber Engagement and Head of the Melbourne State Office, with a focus on establishing the ASD’s national presence under its Redspice Program, and we’re thrilled to have him present at the conference.”

Instances of data breaches have grown massively in Australia in recent years in both frequency and cost. The average cost of a data breach in Australia has grown 32 per cent in the last five years, reaching $4.03 million according to the 2023 Cost of a Data Breach Report.

“The transport industry forms an integral part of Australia’s national security infrastructure and is not immune from cyber threats and foreign ‘actors’ disrupting our systems and processes,” adds Peter.

“It is incumbent on every operator to take appropriate steps to ensure their business is suitably protected, and we are fortunate to have someone with Dr Bopping’s credentials and reputation to inform us on the latest cyber intelligence, best practice, and mitigation strategies and tactics.”

ASD is an Australian Government intelligence agency responsible for cyber security. Its operatives gather foreign signals intelligence through covert information acquisition, which includes intercepting and analysing communications related to national interest issues such as terrorism, weapons proliferation, and cyber threats.

A range of conference packages and price-points are available, and these can be viewed at www.vta.com.au.

State Conference 2024 is proudly sponsored by industry super fund TWUSUPER, who are very generous and long-standing supporters of this and other VTA events.

For more information on the VTA, click here.