ABOUT AusCERT Activity Reports from APCERT Members

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III. Activity Reports from APCERT Members

Full Members 1. AusCERT Activity Report Australian Computer Emergency Response Team - Australia The following information contains information about AusCERT’s activities during 2009.

1. ABOUT AusCERT

1.1 Introduction Until 2010, AusCERT was the national CERT of Australia and operated in this role on a self-funded basis for many years. This role is now taken over by the Australian government-funded CERT Australia. AusCERT will provide services to CERT Australia, under contract. As the national CERT, AusCERT served Australia’s national interest by improving Internet security for Australian Internet users. AusCERT does this by: • collecting, analysing and providing advice about computer network threats and vulnerabilities; • helping to mitigate Internet attacks directed at Australian Internet users and networks; and • providing education and advice about issues affecting Internet security in Australia and globally. 1.2 Establishment AusCERT was officially established on 8 March 1993 through the collaboration of three Brisbane based universities, including the University of Queensland. Over time, as the Internet grew and government, business and ordinary users began to use the Internet for daily communications and 17 business, AusCERT’s focus changed from being university centric to include the interests of all sectors. AusCERT is an independent, non-government, self-funded not-for-profit team of information and technical security professionals based at the University of Queensland. The University of Queensland is one of Australias premier learning and research institutions. 1.3 Staffing AusCERT employs 17 staff. Constituency During 2009, AusCERT’s constituents were Australian Internet users in the public and private sector, home and business. AusCERT works closely with Australian government agencies, industry and technology vendors and provides computer security and incident handling advice to a range of subscribers throughout Australia, New Zealand and the Asia-Pacific region. All Australian universities and the majority of New Zealand universities are members of AusCERT and there is a strong relationship with the Council of Australian University Directors of Information Technology CAUDIT.

2. ACTIVITIES AND OPERATIONS