An emergency response group that will be a first port of call for organisations that have had computer security concerns will be set up after the Government pledged $22 million.
New Zealand is dealing with cyberattacks that have been sponsored by foreign countries and terror groups, Prime Minister John Key said today.
"We're attacked by extremists and terrorists, and issue-motivated activists. Others include lone cyber hackers and disgruntled insiders. There are multiple kinds of threats and cyber harms.
"Victims can include anyone - from individuals or small businesses that lack the capability to address these issues, right up to large corporations."
The Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) will be an organisation that receives cyber incident reports, tracks such incidents and cyberattacks, and provides advice and alerts on how to respond and prevent attacks.
The establishment of the team was announced in December last year as part of the Government's refreshed cybersecurity strategy.
This morning, Communications Minister Amy Adams confirmed this month's Budget will include $20 million over four years to establish the CERT. An additional $2.2 million of capital funding will be made available.
"It will be the central place for businesses and organisations to go to for help and information when they're experiencing cyberattacks," Ms Adams said.
"Establishing a national CERT means New Zealand joins an international network of CERTs, improving our access to information on potential or real-time cyberattacks."
The centre will initially be established as a unit in the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, and is expected to be up and running by next year.
In a speech to a cybersecurity summit in Auckland, Mr Key said more than 856,000 New Zealanders are affected by cybercrime each year, with cybercrime estimated to cost New Zealand $257 million last year.
"These are small-time attacks in the form of computer viruses and malware, credit card fraud, online scams, phishing and identity theft. And while we are yet to experience a full-scale cyber incident like we've seen offshore, New Zealand is not immune to them," he said.
"Overseas these have included the likes of the cyberattack on Sony Pictures, where company information was stolen and leaked online. Or the hacker who stole credit card details from more than 110 million customers of the US-based Target department store."
Mr Key said attacks dealt with in New Zealand included state-sponsored espionage by foreign countries and organised criminal groups and CERT would play an important role in repelling attacks.
"It's a concrete step towards better protecting New Zealand against cyberattacks. But none of this will work if it's left up to the Government alone. As I said earlier, businesses need to accept cybersecurity poses an enormous and immediate threat."
- By Nicholas Jones of the New Zealand Herald
