As part of its $9.9 billion REDSPICE programme, Australia’s cyber espionage agency has established the position of chief information security officer to enable the expansion of offensive and defensive cyber security capabilities.
Over the weekend, the Australian Signals Directorate started hiring for the position of Canberra-based cyber security chief as well as many other senior executive service band one level positions, including a general counsel.
According to a spokeswoman, the “new standalone” CISO would “help ASD’s implementation of REDSPICE.” This position will also serve as the national communications security officer (COMSO), who is in charge of external engagement for the COMSO network.
The resilience, effects, defence, space, intelligence, cyber, and enablers initiative, often known as REDSPICE, received $9.9 billion in funding from the federal budget this year, with an additional $4.2 billion put aside for the following four years.
With the additional financing, the number of ASD employees will more than double over the next ten years, rising from about 2300 at the end of the 2020–21 fiscal year to almost 4200 in 2028–29. Over the course of the following two fiscal years, the majority of the personnel is anticipated to join.
At least a portion of the financing came from the Department of Defense’s now-cancelled SkyGuardian armed drone programme, which was axed as part of the launch of REDSPICE by the previous administration.
The job posting adds that “ASD recognises that its signals intelligence capabilities are uniquely intrusive, and its offensive cyber operations even more so.”
Because of this, “ASD places the utmost significance on upholding the trust of the Australian Government and the Australian people by demonstrating that ASD functions lawfully and properly.”
Additionally, ASD is seeking at least five additional SES band one assistant directors-general to serve as branch heads for data, technology, and capabilities, as well as cyber and ICT.
Technical threats and visibility, cyber uplift, technical guidance and research, data analytics and management, and data technology are among the roles that are available.