11 October 2018

A live demonstration of how a skilled hacker can penetrate an entire enterprise will be part of a series of workshops co-hosted by The University of Queensland.

World-leading experts will present at four workshops designed to identify the most significant and widespread threats facing information technology today.

UQ Innovation Partnerships Manager in Cybersecurity, Dr John Williams, said any organisation with an online presence was potentially at risk. 

“Organisations need to be constantly vigilant against threats, where hackers only need to be successful once,” he said.

US National Security Agency Ethical Hacking Team former head Colonel Jeff Arsenault will join ICANN internet security corporation former CEO Dr Paul Twomey and US Air Force Network Defense Team former lead Kris Merrit to share knowledge and experience around online security.

The series is designed to equip businesses and IT professionals with the techniques to protect themselves.

It is hosted in conjunction with Argo Pacific, and comprises one-day and three-day workshops in Brisbane and Canberra,.

Dr Twomey said the one-day Australian Leadership Cybersecurity Workshop would show board members and senior executives what a real cyberattack looks like.

“Many board members and senior executives have a vague idea about cyber threats,”he said.

“They know they need to do something about them, but don't have a good knowledge base and model to frame their response.

“This workshop brings processes followed by fast-growing and Fortune 500 companies to help leaders respond strategically,  and gives participants real expert experience of how hackers actually attack and damage companies."

The three-day Threat Hunting Cybersecurity Workshop will aim to upskill IT professionals working in cybersecurity environments.

“Exercising on an advanced cyber range with the world’s leading experts on threat hunting, participants will work through realistic scenarios and develop a new level of skills and awareness,” Dr Twomey said.

Workshop registration and details:

Media: UQ Communications, Paige Ashby, 0430 511 615, p.ashby@uq.edu.au.