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In the increasing digitisation of essential services, governments worldwide have been enacting legislation to ensure the protection of vital systems. Australia is like no other, and as we in cybersecurity are all aware, the Security of Critical Infrastructure Act 2018 (SOCI Act) stands as a crucial piece of legislation aimed at safeguarding our nation.
The SOCI Act mandates that certain entities, including large enterprise organisations, adhere to stringent security measures to protect critical infrastructure sectors such as communications, energy, finance, healthcare, transportation, and more. Compliance with the SOCI Act is a legal requirement with stringent reporting protocols—and large penalties if compliance is not met.
One key aspect of achieving compliance with the SOCI Act is leveraging advanced security technologies that can address the unique needs and challenges faced by different industry verticals. One such option is to deploy secure access service edge (SASE) and security service edge (SSE), offered by leading providers like Netskope. Let’s explore how these industries have unique requirements to comply with the SOCI Act and how a SASE and SSE solution can provide assistance:
1. Communications:
The communications sector thrives on secure and resilient infrastructure due to its interconnected 24x7x365 nature. Netskope’s SASE-based technology ensures resilient and secure digital services that help maintain business continuity in the event of disruption, external threat, and internal take-over.
2. Data Storage or Processing:
For industries emphasising secure data storage and processing like government and healthcare, Netskope provides cloud security solutions. Their data loss prevention (DLP) policies prevent data leakage of top-tier confidential sources, such as national security data, and enforce the principle of least privilege, supporting compliance and operational continuity.
3. Defence:
In the defence sector, national security considerations demand protection against cyber threats and