Building a global centre for cybersecurity
Sunshine Coast, Australia is now a serious player in the tech world and is attracting major players such as cyber threat intelligence operator.
CI-ISAC (Critical Infrastructure Information Sharing and Analysis Centre is a nationally recognised commercially focussed not-for-profit organisation has its head office in Maroochydore and is protecting Australia’s most vital industry sectors from cyber threats, helping to put the Sunshine Coast on the map for tech and business investment.
A regional hub for national security
CI-ISAC provides a vital cyber threat intelligence service by coordinating information for organisations across 11 key critical infrastructure sectors. Think of CI-ISAC as a cyber “neighbourhood watch” for the country’s most critical industries, from healthcare and finance to energy and telecommunications.
CI-ISAC collates cyber threat intelligence and instances, and its technology provides timely and actionable advice to thousands of businesses and government bodies, helping them defend against an ever-changing landscape of online dangers. The more members CI-ISAC has, the stronger and more resilient the entire system becomes.
An important milestone for CI-ISAC’s came in early 2023 when they were awarded a $6.4 million Australian Government grant to create the Health Cyber Sharing Network (HCSN); a dedicated information-sharing and analysis centre for the nation’s healthcare sector.
This initiative was a direct response to a series of high-profile cyber-attacks on Australian health organisations. As the first sector to receive funding under the new 2023-2030 Australian Cybersecurity Strategy, the funding was a major vote of confidence in CI-ISAC’s model.
The goal of the Health Cyber Sharing Network is to break down the information silos that often leave healthcare providers isolated and vulnerable. By sharing knowledge and resources, they can collaboratively defend against threats.
To get the network up and running, CI-ISAC offered a complimentary 12-month membership to eligible health organisations. The grant has also funded new staff and platform upgrades to improve intelligence delivery and provide essential training including managing an incident response and spotting vulnerabilities.
Partnering for success
CI-ISAC’s work is collaborative in nature and they have teamed up with global security giant Cloudflare on an initiative called Project Secure Health. This partnership offers free Zero Trust Security to Australian GP clinics, which are often under-resourced and at high risk for attacks.
Combining Cloudflare’s security tools with CI-ISAC’s specialised threat intelligence, they’re helping protect these clinics from data breaches, ransomware and phishing scams.
In just 18 months, CI-ISAC has grown its membership base to more than 110. This rapid growth proves how effective their collaborative model is and highlights its potential to strengthen the cyber resilience of both the private and public sectors, not just in Australia but around the world.
Why Sunshine Coast is the perfect base
So why base such a critical organisation on the Sunshine Coast?
The Sunshine Coast is a business destination that offers the ideal strategic foundation for tech businesses with both national and global remits.
The region has undertaken significant investment in world-class digital infrastructure, including the SUnshine Coast International Broadband Network, providing the fastest east coast fibre optic cable connection to the Asia Pacific region and the USA.
Australia’s largest greenfield CBD development is also emerging on the Sunshine Coast, not far from the beach in Maroochydore. The city centre precinct is well underway and in time will have acres of master-planned parks and gardens, as well as commercial and residential precincts.
An athlete village, cultural precinct and mass transit project connecting to the Sunshine Coast Airport are also planned for construction ahead of the 2032 Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The region’s robust infrastructure is attracting top-tier talent in tech, including cybersecurity and geospatial intelligence, creating a booming tech ecosystem.
CI-ISAC’s presence on the Sunshine Coast creates high-quality local jobs and also significantly raises the Sunshine Coast’s profile as a major innovation hub for technology and cybersecurity.
A community of collaboration
Led by a team of highly experienced intelligence and cybersecurity experts, including CEO David Sandell and Board Chair Stephen Beaumont AM, CI-ISAC has built a diverse and active membership.
The membership base includes everything from large national corporations to local government bodies like the Sunshine Coast Council. An inclusive approach means organisations of all sizes, regardless of their cybersecurity maturity, can benefit from and contribute to the collective defence effort.
Member organisations have access to a secure, trusted online environment for real-time threat sharing. This collaborative framework is designed to help members shift from simply reacting to incidents to proactively hunting for threats.
CI-ISAC facilitates their process through regular briefings analyst calls and industry forums where peers can discuss best practices and shared challenges.
The benefits go beyond intelligence alone: CI-ISAC also focuses on social uplift, which is best described as a unique approach where more mature organisations lend a hand to smaller, less-resourced members.
This communal effort not only reduces the overall cyber risk but also strengthens the entire security ecosystem for everyone.
CI-ISAC is also forming strategic partnerships to expand its offering, such as a collaboration with Cybermindz.org providing mental resilience training for cyber professionals.
These partnerships show a holistic commitment to building a robust and resilient cybersecurity community.
If you’d like to learn more about why Sunshine Coast, Australia is a leading location for innovation through its resilient digital infrastructure, connect with the Invest Sunshine Coast team.
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