CI-ISAC secures $6.4m government grant to enhance cyber resilience in healthcare

January 30, 2025

CI-ISAC Australia, a cyber intelligence organisation focused on critical infrastructure, has received a $6.4m grant from the Australian Government to establish a dedicated information-sharing and analysis centre for the healthcare sector.

The funding aims to bolster cyber resilience in Australia’s health industry, following a rise in cyber-attacks targeting health insurers, hospitals, and other medical institutions.

In 2023, the global healthcare industry reported the most expensive breaches for the 13th consecutive year, with an average cost of AUD$10.93m—nearly double that of the financial sector, which ranked second at $5.9m.

Australia’s health industry is vast, encompassing approximately 750 public hospitals, 650 private hospitals, 6,500 general practitioner clinics, and numerous health insurers and third-party vendors.

With this grant, CI-ISAC has established the Health Cyber Sharing Network (HCSN), designed to facilitate collaboration and reduce information silos within the healthcare industry. The network will provide a secure and confidential environment for the exchange of critical cyber threat intelligence, enabling organisations to detect and mitigate threats more efficiently. CI-ISAC operates as a cyber “neighbourhood watch,” allowing health providers to share real-time insights and benefit from intelligence gathered across other critical infrastructure sectors.

CI-ISAC Australia CEO David Sandell highlighted the importance of protecting sensitive medical and financial data, given the frequency of high-profile breaches in the health sector. Sandell said, “The health and medical sector holds a large amount of incredibly private and personal medical and financial information.

“We have already seen several high-profile data breaches in the health sector, and the new network can help members reduce their cyber risks. Cyberattacks can also greatly disrupt important health services, and this industry cannot afford interruptions with patients’ wellbeing at stake.”