Tackling cybercrime starts at UNSW

Cybercrime is costing Australians billions of dollars every year – not to mention the stress and disruption to our lives. The cyber security sector needs skilled professionals to not only investigate and prevent cybercrimes before they occur but to design holistic solutions that protect individuals, businesses and governments from future threats.

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) defines cybercrime as “any crime directed at computers or other information communications technologies (ICTs), such as computer intrusions and denial of service attacks”. It also considers any crime where computers or ICTs are an integral part of the offence, including online fraud. 

Some common forms of cybercrime include hacking, identity theft, cyberstalking and planting malware. What motivates cyber criminals to commit these acts differs from case to case. Often they’re driven by money – they might extort individuals or companies for ransom payments or steal their banking information to obtain funds directly from their accounts. Whatever their motivations, these crimes are extremely disruptive and can have a detrimental impact on individuals, businesses and governments.

Cybercrime is one of the most serious security threats we face in Australia. It’s likely that you or someone you know has been targeted or impacted by some kind of cyber attack – whether it’s a phishing email or a data breach containing your personal information. 

A recent AIC report estimates that cybercrime is costing Australians anywhere between $3.1 to $3.5 billion annually. Unfortunately, the true figure is likely to be much higher as most cybercrimes go unreported. In many cases, victims may not even be aware that a crime has been committed. 

Cybercrime has grown in line with our increasing reliance on digital technologies. We share our data for access to social media, online banking and even to do our weekly grocery shop. Entire industries operate purely online – even brick-and-mortar businesses use internet banking for payroll. This reliance on digital technology leaves us vulnerable to attack. But as cybercriminals grow more sophisticated, so do the professionals fighting to stop them. 

Tom Townsend, Senior Lecturer at UNSW School of Professional Studies reflects on the increasing prevalence of cyber crime: “It is pretty hard nowadays to turn on the news without hearing about the next big cyber incident. The events that are big enough to break into mainstream news barely represent the very tip of the iceberg.”

Cyber security is a rapidly growing sector in Australia and globally. It serves to protect internet-connected systems from cyber attacks. It’s an interdisciplinary field that spans IT, law, policy and education. Because of this, the sector calls for a wide range of roles and responsibilities. 

The typical cyber security professional you might imagine works to assess risks, implement safeguards and respond to incidents. This might involve developing software to ensure systems and infrastructure are secure or working in real-time to lock a hacker out of the system. But that’s just one part of this broad and fascinating sector.

Cyber security education is vital for preventing cyber attacks. This could include developing compliance training courses for organisations or going into schools to teach young people about safe internet usage. There are also plenty of opportunities in policy development in both government and advisory roles. Or perhaps you might join a business that develops cyber security software as a sales rep, marketer, operations manager or system developer. 

“Through necessity, every organisation, regardless the size, are sitting up and beginning to take cyber seriously,” explains Townsend. “Increased visibility of cyber security coupled with high profile cases that impact the vast majority of Australians, drive changes to our regulatory environment, again shining a light on the increasing need for organisations to manage their readiness for cyber security more proactively.”

Cyber Security professionals are in high demand with the industry requiring an estimated 16,600 additional professionals in both technical and non-technical cyber security positions. This growth industry is full of opportunity. Those with strong formal training and hands-on experience will command competitive salaries and make a real impact in the effort to prevent cybercrime.

“Despite this growing profile and increasing urgency for organisations to be prepared for a cyber incident, the cyber security community in Australia is still relatively small,” says Townsend. “There is a desperate need for more cyber professionals, and not just in technical areas. Technical expertise is extremely valuable, but so are the governance and leadership dimensions. Australia needs the full gambit of trained and competent cyber savvy individuals both behind the keyboard and in the board room.”

Here are some jobs and industries you might pursue.

Private sector jobs in cyber security

• Chief Information Security Officer (CISO)
• Security Architect
• Data Protection Officer
• Penetration Tester
• Sales or Marketing Executive for a software company

Government roles in cyber security

• Information Security Analyst
• Cyber Crime Investigator with the AFP
• IT Auditor
• Incident Responder
• Cybercrime Policy Advisor

Research and education jobs in cyber security

• Cyber Safety Trainer
• Cyber Security Researcher
• Malware Analyst
• Cryptographer
• Professor or Curriculum Developer.

A successful career in cyber security begins with a solid foundational education. At UNSW, there are multiple pathways to study and join the field of cyber security. We offer undergraduate and postgraduate programs, ranging from short courses to master’s degrees.

UNSW is a leader in cyber security research. The UNSW Institute for Cyber Security is dedicated to conducting multidisciplinary cyber security research, education, innovation and commercialisation. Working with academia, industry and government, the 100+ member institute is committed to protecting Australian citizens and residents, as well as our collective national security and economic prosperity. Our research has led to groundbreaking discoveries in machine learning, energy trading frameworks and the Internet of Things (IoT). 

All our cyber security programs are co-designed with industry professionals. We craft each course around real-world cyber security challenges, focusing on skills and competencies that are highly valued by industry, government and defence. 

We also ensure students have access to the latest tools and technology so they can graduate with the hands-on skills to make an impact from day one. Our facilities include a digital forensics lab and virtual learning environments where our students learn how to identify and manage cyber threats. 

“Here at UNSW, we’re investing in providing a broad range of educational offerings that will meet you wherever you are at. We have a well-rounded and industry-informed place for you to learn if you are a school leaver looking to start your first career, looking to transition to a new career in cyber, or simply double down and round out your skills as an existing cyber professional.”

 – Tom Townsend, Senior Lecturer at UNSW School of Professional Studies

For a cyber security career that drives impact and progress, it all begins at UNSW.