Led by the Australian Cyber Collaboration Centre (Aus3C), the Accelerating Protective Security Capability for Defence and Critical Infrastructure Industries project has received $270,000 through the Defence Innovation Partnership's Collaborative Research Fund, with partner contributions bringing the total project value to almost $800,000. The initiative brings together expertise from government, industry, academia and Defence to develop a concept demonstrator designed to address increasingly complex security challenges. (Sources: Defence Innovation Partnership, Australian Defence Magazine)

The 12-month project will explore how organisations can better prepare for evolving threats by combining technology, policy, organisational practices and human-centred design into a more integrated approach to protective security.

Credit: Defence SA 

Project partners include Adelaide University, Flinders University, Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG), DTEX Systems, Fivecast, Willyama and Deloitte, reflecting a collaborative effort to strengthen resilience across Australia's defence and critical infrastructure sectors. (Source: Defence Innovation Partnership)

According to Defence Innovation Partnership Director Sumen Rai, protective security is becoming increasingly important as organisations navigate a more complex threat environment spanning cyber security, information security and workforce resilience.

The project will also produce Protective Security Capability Roadmaps, helping organisations identify priority areas for security uplift while supporting longer-term resilience planning.

Aus3C Chief Executive Officer Guy Roberts said the initiative recognises that future security challenges require collaboration across industry, universities, government and Defence to develop practical and scalable solutions.

The announcement comes as Australia continues to invest in strengthening sovereign capability and critical infrastructure resilience amid an evolving threat landscape. With cyber and physical security becoming increasingly interconnected, initiatives such as this highlight the growing importance of developing integrated approaches that can better protect essential services and national assets.

The project is expected to deliver practical frameworks and insights that can be applied across Australia's wider defence and security ecosystem, reinforcing the role of collaboration in preparing for future security challenges.

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