Episode description

In this episode of Cyber Focus, host Frank Cilluffo speaks with Ambassador Toby Feakin, Australia’s first Ambassador for Cyber Affairs and Critical Technologies. Feakin reflects on the evolving cyber threat landscape in the Asia-Pacific region, Australia's cybersecurity strategy, and its growing focus on balancing economic ties with China while addressing critical security risks. The conversation delves into Australia’s international partnerships, public attribution of cyber threats, and critical infrastructure protection. Feakin also shares insights into his role in spearheading Australia's cyber policy and the future of technological leadership in quantum computing, AI, and supply chain security.

Main Topics Covered:

• Australia’s evolving cybersecurity strategy and public attribution of threats like the Cloud Hopper incident
• The balance between economic ties with China and cybersecurity risks
• International partnerships with Five Eyes and regional players like South Korea and Japan
• Critical infrastructure protection, including undersea cables and cyber-kinetic threats
• The significance of China's pre-positioning cyberattacks
• Emerging technologies, including AI, quantum computing, and their impact on geopolitics
• Feakin’s role in shaping Australia’s cyber diplomacy and international engagement

Key Quotes:

"Something that Australia continually has to balance is this kind of multifaceted relationship with China... it's balancing the economic ties that you have with such a behemoth in the Asia-Pacific and globally, economically, alongside a growing understanding of security risk." - Toby Feakin

"[China's pre-positioning] absolutely should concern not just other governments, but it should concern industry because they are the guys... who own and operate a majority of infrastructure and they need to know clearly that's the level of threat they're dealing with." - Toby Feakin

"If you look at that tech convergence, you cannot afford to sit still for one second because it's all moving such a fast rate that even the developers themselves have no idea where this journey is ending up." - Toby Feakin

"[To safeguard supply chains] Australia in making much more rigorous assessments of not only where does the equipment come from, but where does the money flow from." - Toby Feakin

"Businesses need to feel comfortable in the chaos of trying out new technologies and creating right pockets of environments and business cases so that they can trial new tech and not be frightened of it." - Toby Feakin

Related Links:
 

• https://insights.sei.cmu.edu/blog/operation-cloud-hopper-case-study/
• https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security/blog/2023/05/24/volt-typhoon-targets-us-critical-infrastructure-with-living-off-the-land-techniques/
• https://www.iiss.org/publications/strategic-comments/2019/australia-huawei-and-5g/

Guest Bio:
Ambassador Tobias (Toby) Feakin served as Australia's inaugural Ambassador for Cyber Affairs and Critical Technologies. He was responsible for shaping Australia's international cyber engagement strategy and has been instrumental in fostering partnerships across the Asia-Pacific. Feakin has played a crucial role in Australia's public attribution of cyber threats and has been a key advocate for balancing technological innovation with security risks.