The AIPI National conference took place in Melbourne, on Thursday September 7. This year, the conference theme was technology enabled financial crime, which covered aspects such as prevention, detection, investigation, prosecution and reparation. A topic seemingly appropriate in light of the increasing threat technology continues to pose to Australian organisations.
Joined by a range of speakers with backgrounds in the area, it provided AIPI members and industry professionals the opportunity to gain insights into this landscape, and participate in topical discussion and Q&A sessions with industry experts.
Keynote speaker Alistair MacGibbon, first advisor to the Prime Minister in cyber security, presented an address on the Australian government’s cyber security strategy. Mr. MacGibbon identified Turnbull’s 2016 cyber scheme, the implementation of joint cyber security centres across the nation and an attitude shift from security to resilience as critical drivers of a successful cyber security campaign in Australia. He acknowledged the political importance of introducing a cyber ambassador, as well as the need for open and free, yet secure online networks. Drawing on recent global political controversies, Mr. MacGibbon emphasised the threats posed to democratic electoral systems, and the need for forward-thinking strategies in place to prevent these systems from being compromised. Finally, he discussed the growing demand for skilled labour in this space, praising the tertiary education schemes in place to promote employment in cyber security, and noting the potential to further develop such programs between organisations and education institutions.
The address was followed by a series of discussion sessions, primarily focused around the core topics of building resilient organisations and conducting successful investigations in the dynamic landscape of technology enabled crime, technology as both an enabler and solution for cyber-crime, and the legal obligations of prosecuting technology enabled crimes.
Areas of concern for Australia are the threat to large-scale public and private infrastructure networks, and the prevention of damage caused by new, unfamiliar technologies. The introduction of the real-time New Payment Program is expected to create further risks in both professional and personal financial fraud, by removing the lag time often used to identify and withdraw fraudulent payments. Speakers discussed methods of prevention to implement within the workplace, emphasising the importance of educating staff about the threat and detection of various phishing scams, as well as fostering internal security through screening processes at the time of recruitment.
The use of technology to resolve cyber-crime was widely discussed, with unanimous agreement among the panel that whilst technology is an integral part of the solution, it does not single-handedly solve the problem. Greater protection can be achieved through collaboration and trust between a human skill element in analytics and using technology to improve efficiency.
Sessions also addressed the legal requirements in conducting cybercrime investigations and using digital evidence, an area of significance ahead of the introduction of mandatory data breach legalisation in Australia. Crucial aspects to be weary of include changing legal landscapes across the jurisdictions that host data, contractual and legal obligations of an investigation, and the implications this could have on the investigation process. Further information regarding the legislation changes is detailed in ISO 27037:2012.
Finally, members of the Victorian and Australian police force discussed the difficulties often encountered at the prosecution stage of an investigation. Speakers emphasised the co-operation they require from organisations making claims, such as tech-savvy staff members as contact points, and identified the best ways to present technology based evidence in court.
The conference concluded with a networking session, and chance to mingle with the speakers and fellow AIPI members. We would like to extend our thanks once again to the speakers, sponsors, exhibitors and attendees, and look forward to seeing you at future AIPI events. For further information regarding the speakers and exhibitors, please visit our event page at https://www.aipi.asn.au/2017/04/17/annual-national-meeting-2017/.
