The Australian Cyber Collaboration Centre (Aus3C), in partnership with CSIRO’s Data61 and the Australian Department of Home Affairs, continues its call for the Australian business community to participate in the consultation process for the Voluntary Data Classification Framework (VDCF).
The VDCF is being developed as a key part of the 2023-2030 Australian Cyber Security Strategy and aims to establish a unified, common approach to assessing data risk and protecting data in organisations across multiple sectors. This will empower every organisation in Australia to navigate the digital world confidently.
As part of the consultation process, Aus3C calls on Australian businesses across various industries to participate in nationwide workshops and contribute to shaping this vital framework. These workshops, scheduled for late February, will enable businesses to provide insights, voice their unique challenges and concerns regarding data security and offer their thoughts on potential solutions.
The VDCF, set to be launched by late 2025, seeks to address long-standing industry challenges in classifying data. It will enable companies to identify better and assess and mitigate data risks, ultimately enhancing Australia’s cyber resilience.
Tyler Key, Aus3C’s Program Lead, emphasised the importance of collaboration: “Industries often struggle with effectively identifying and assessing the value and sensitivity of their data, which varies significantly across sectors. This lack of a consistent framework leads to challenges in communicating data risk internally and with external partners and prevents them from implementing appropriate security measures, ultimately increasing enterprise risk.”
Aus3C envisions a future where strong data protection is accessible and achievable across the Australian economy. The workshops will allow organisations to express how this might be best achieved for them and their business partners, primarily through consistent, risk-aligned data assessment and protection approaches.
Tyler highlighted the broader implications of strengthening Australia’s cyber protection: “Enhancing our nation’s cyber defences is critical and all Australian businesses need to play their part in protecting our collective data security. Our goal is to enable an ecosystem where education and resources empower Australian organisations to take control of their data security.”
How to Get Involved
Australian businesses across various sectors are encouraged to participate in the workshops, network with their peers and provide their views on how a VDCF might help their organisation and the organisations they interact with. Their contributions will help shape the VDCF and influence the nation’s cybersecurity landscape. Register here to participate in one of the workshops or to complete the survey.
Workshop Dates and Times (local times)
Sydney: Tuesday 18th February – 9:30 am – 12:30 pm
Hosted at UTS, 15 Broadway, Ultimo, NSW 2000
Brisbane: Wednesday 19th February – 9:30 am – 12:30 pm
Hosted at UQ, CBD Campus – The Atrium, 308 Queen St, Brisbane, QLD 4000
Melbourne – Wednesday 26th February – 9:30 am – 12:30 pm
Hosted at NBN, Tower 5, 727 Collins St, Docklands, VIC 3008
About the Australian Cyber Collaboration Centre
The Australian Cyber Collaboration Centre (Aus3C) is an independent, not-for-profit, member-based organisation that utilises its knowledge, networks and expertise to make cyberspace a better and safer place for organisations, corporations, agencies and institutions to conduct business. It brings together education, industry and business sectors, fostering collaboration and synergy to build sovereign capability. Aus3C is a national leader forging partnerships with industry, researchers and government to collaborate more effectively to improve our cybersecurity posture. See www.cybercollaboration.org.au.
