Western Parkland City Cyber Security Uplift Project

The Western Parkland City is the fastest growing region in NSW. It is being spurred on by delivery of the new Western Sydney International Airport and Bradfield, Sydney’s newest CBD. The Western Parkland City, and Bradfield at its heart, will be future-focused and digitally enabled. Smart technologies will make the region resilient, sustainable, economically vibrant, connected and inclusive. To ensure this can be done in a cyber-safe way, a city-wide approach to cyber risk management has been established.  

Challenge

Western Parkland City is transforming into a smart city, where technology and data solutions help to make the region a great place to live, work and visit. Advanced industries will also be based in Bradfield.

This will mean more internet-connected devices like sensors, actuators and CCTV will be used across the region.  

To do this safely, a vigilant approach to cyber security is needed for all 8 local councils, State Government and the partners who provide connectivity and data services.  

A common approach to cyber security is needed to protect the whole city. A disjointed, organisation-by-organisation approach may introduce vulnerabilities, exposing the region to increased cyber threat and impacting citizen trust and investment attraction.  

Solution

The Smart Places team and CyberNSW, in collaboration with Sydney's Parkland Councils, established the Western Parkland City Cyber Security Uplift Project to design and implement a unified defence against increasing cyber threats, boosting confidence in the Western Parkland City as a smart region.  

The Project is reshaping approaches to cyber security in the Western Parkland City by:

1. Providing essential tools to boost councils’ cyber defences, like:   

• Cyber Risk Management Framework
• Cyber Risk Library
• Controls Assurance Methodology  
• Cyber Risk Management Software. 

2. Upskilling and supporting a culture of cyber vigilance within councils. This includes:  

• a Virtual Chief Information Security Officer (V-CISO) to assist on Cyber Security within councils.
• facilitating Cyber Security Maturity Assessments as needed by councils, to identify areas for improvement or future focus. 

Outcomes  

Smart Places Outcomes area 

• Collaboration and connection
• Safety and security 
   

Resources

Want to implement a similar project? Visit our Smart Places Playbook for help.