Reference no: EM133468456

Assignment:

A number of Australian research institutions, think tanks and companies, some with ties with the Department of Defence, were on a long list of international victims of a large cyber theft campaign. The cyber operation that targeted universities has been attributed to an Iranian threat actor by the US and one European country (that also counted some of its universities among the victims). It appears that some of the accounts that have been compromised were then used as part of relatively sophisticated social engineering efforts targeting defence contractors in the US and this European country.

Looking at the scenario.

• How does this situation impact Australian sovereignty?
• How does the situation impact Australian security interests?
• What should be Australia's priorities?
• How can Australia protect its security interests?
• What is feasible considering Australia's position and capabilities?
• How can the situation be related to experience? (What lessons can be learnt from this experience? What worked? What did not? What made things worse?)

A possible structure for the team's course of action/recommendation.

• What is your recommended course of action: what do you recommend the NSC should do?
• From experience, what works? What does not?
• What is the assessment of the situation: this assessment serves as the basis for your recommendation.