Companies and governments trying to bolster their defences against cyberattacks will soon be able to hire cybersecurity specialists who have undergone a “rigorous” industry assessment.
The Australian Computer Society (ACS) will create two new optional trade certificates, following a request from the prime minister’s cyber security adviser Allistaire McGibbon to investigate ways to professionalise the industry.
They certifications will come under the Certified Professional and Certified Technologist banners.
It comes as Australian businesses look to prevent future cyberattacks similar to the recent WannaCry and Petya ransomware, which locked computer systems and demanded a ransom.
The ACS estimates the average cyberattack costs an Australian business more than $400,000.
Cabinet minister Dan Tehan, who advises Malcolm Turnbull on cybersecurity, told an ACS event on Wednesday morning many businesses were struggling to hire enough qualified specialists.
Mr Tehan said the government was working on fixing a “backlog with security clearances” that was hamstringing the industry’s ability to hire new talent, especially in Canberra.
He said it was good to see the industry self-regulating, which would prevent the need for a heavy-handed government response to a cybersecurity “crisis”.
Applicants will also need to sign a code of ethics and commit to ongoing professional development.
