Boosting e-security
Canberra , 12 August 2004
More and more Australian businesses are becoming e-businesses and this rapid uptake of technology is enabling significant productivity gains and other benefits to the business community - especially to small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs).
It is helping to streamline business processes and open up new commercial opportunities.
The Australian Government has been actively encouraging SMEs to make the transition to e-business and to make the most of what that transition offers.
This is not what without its challenges.
E-security Challenges
And one of the significant challenges in moving your business online is e-security.
For businesses to make the most of new technologies, they need to protect themselves from the real and growing threats in the online environment.
And there is some evidence that this may already be having a serious impact on the use of the Internet by Australian small businesses.
The recent Sensis e-Business Report stated that the number one concern for SMEs, in relation to e-commerce, is security.
In this survey 43 per cent of small businesses ranked the prospect of people being able to hack into their systems as a major concern.
The Government is actively working with industry to meet this challenge and I'm pleased to be announcing some further e-security measures today.
These initiatives include: an information package that will assist small business to operate online more securely; further funding to support e-business security projects; and a review of the application of current laws dealing with invasive and malicious use of spyware.
E-security for small business
Firstly, I'd like to launch a very practical set of resources designed especially for small business.
The Internet Security Essentials for Small Business is a package of resources covering in a simple and easily digestible format, the main security issues for operating safely online.
It includes the top ten tips on security and a host of other information, like how to set up a firewall and how to stop the influx of spam e-mails.
The package includes a booklet that is available in hard copy and online, and an online tutorial, which is a hands on and interactive learning tool.
This tutorial, which you'll hear more about shortly, was developed by the Asia Oceania Electronic Marketplace Association and Info-Communications International as part of an APEC project.
These guides are meant to be easy to understand and user-friendly.
They are designed to cut through the often confusing techno-babble used when discussing internet security.
Small business owners should be able to use these resources to defend themselves from online threats without having to dramatically extend their vocabulary.
The booklet and the department's website also have links to more detailed information resources, such as the Internet Industry Association's e-security portal.
This portal is a comprehensive e-security resource and a great example of what industry can achieve with appropriate support from Government.
ITOL funding round 12
I'm also pleased to be able to launch Round 12 of the Information Technology Online (ITOL) program today.
This program aims to accelerate the take-up of e-business and the adoption of collaborative e-commerce solutions across all sectors of the business community.
For example in the last round of funding, we provided money to assist a community based project developed by a group of inner Sydney GPs.
This project is developing an online care management plan for cardiac patients - making sure that all the health care workers looking after that patient - doctors, nurses and home-based carers know each patient's needs and requirements.
This is a real example of how the Internet is improving essential services.
There will be around $1.2 million available for this round of ITOL and applications are invited for general e-business projects but also for projects specifically aimed at improving and promoting e-security.
I encourage industry to come forward with some innovative approaches that boost e-security for online commerce.
Applications for funding from this round will close in October and I expect to announce the successful applicants later this year.
Legislative review of spyware
The Government is committed to ensuring that Internet users are able to operate in a secure and trusted online environment.
Similar to the approach we adopted with spam, which has recently been lauded as a world-leading approach to the issue - the Government has turned its attention to the emergence of spyware as an issue for Australian Internet users.
When misused, this form of software can be installed without the knowledge or consent of the user and will then proceed to gather personal information or track your online activity.
Some spyware is particularly malicious and insidious, deliberately targeting people's personal and financial information.
However, there are software applications that use the same techniques and technologies in a legitimate and upfront way, such as to download regular security updates and software upgrades.
And many businesses rely on such applications to provide useful online services and to keep their systems up to date.
The Government has initiated a review of existing legislation to assess the extent to which it covers the misuse of spyware.
For example, many of these practices may already be covered by laws such as the Privacy Act 1988 and the Cybercrime Act 2001.
This legislative review is being undertaken by my Department in consultation with the Attorney-General's Department.
Spyware is a complex issue.
It is envisaged that the Department will prepare a discussion paper to be used in public consultations once the review has been finalised.
If there is a need for any further legislative or other action on spyware, the Government will engage with all affected stakeholders to develop an appropriate response to the problem.
Conclusion
The Government is serious about tackling the challenges of e-security.
And we want to ensure that small business have the tools to deal effectively with this challenging issue.
The threats to business from operating online are real but ultimately manageable.
And the benefits that can be realised through improved efficiency, productivity and access to customers far outweigh any risks.
With help from the resources that we've launched today and confidence that the Government is doing everything it can to make the Internet safer for all Australians - SMEs should be able to go forward into the realms of e-commerce with confidence.
Thank you.