Australia appoints cybersecurity Chief for health sector

TLDR:

• David Lang, former Services Australia cybersecurity manager, appointed as new Chief Information Security Officer for Department of Health and Aged Care.
• DOHAC is focusing on cybersecurity following recent data breaches in the healthcare industry.

Australia has named David Lang, a former Services Australia cybersecurity manager, as the new Chief Information Security Officer for the Department of Health and Aged Care. Lang, who has experience in leading cyber operations, will be responsible for the ongoing cybersecurity upgrade within the department. His appointment comes as the Health Department is prioritizing cybersecurity efforts following major data breaches in the healthcare industry. The DOHAC has announced plans to pilot an Information Sharing and Analysis Centre to enhance information sharing on cyber threats in the Australian healthcare system. This initiative is crucial following a large ransomware attack earlier in the year that affected millions of individuals and led to the administration of a national e-prescription service. Additionally, stricter cybersecurity rules were implemented for healthcare and medical sectors two years ago, mandating incident response plans and vulnerability assessments. Lang’s expertise and leadership will play a crucial role in strengthening cybersecurity measures in the Australian healthcare sector.