Standards Australia and the Internet of Things Alliance Australia (IoTAA) commend the release today of the Australian Government’s 2023-2030 Cyber Security Strategy which aims to create a digital environment that is safe, trusted and secure for Australian communities, businesses and government agencies.

The Strategy recognises the critical role of standards in shaping the secure design and deployment of technology. Standards Australia will continue to work closely with industry and government to support Australia’s participation in international standard-setting for cyber security, and to strengthen uptake and harmonisation of cyber security standards in the Indo-Pacific region, in support of the Strategy’s objectives.

The Strategy details many initiatives including the adoption, development and curation of standards in Australia for cyber security of smart devices and software, and a voluntary labelling scheme for consumer-grade smart devices, which could help consumers make a more informed decisions when purchasing Internet of Things (IoT) devices.  

Standards Australia has been working with the IoTAA over several years, advocating for a sensible internationally aligned approach on several elements of the strategy, including labelling. CEO of the IoTAA, Frank Zeichner, welcomed the release of the strategy. “A mandatory cyber security standard for IoT devices and a voluntary labelling scheme for consumer-grade smart devices will help lift protection for consumers, weed out the bad players and improve our security overall.”

Adam Stingemore, General Manager of Communications and Engagement at Standards Australia said: “We look forward to working with the Australian Government to raise awareness and promote smart device cyber security for the widespread benefit of Australian consumers and businesses. This matters because it is estimated that by 2030, there will be at least 21 billion IoT devices connected to the internet globally. These devices must have robust cyber security provisions.”