Defence Magazine

The Defence Intelligence Organisation building stands forbiddingly behind a tall perimeter fence in Russell. Walking across the bare courtyard is quite intimidating - heart thumping, you step into the reception area and come face-to-face with high-tech retina scanning gates - you could be forgiven for feeling like you have stepped onto the set of Alias. Talking to Major General Maurie McNarn, the new Director of DIO, working there sounds just as interesting.

He explains that his people are confronted daily with a mass of information coming in from wide ranges of sources and have to select the right bits to turn into formal published intelligence product and a wide range of intelligence services, including intelligence for use in the strategic J2 function.

"In most cases you don't have all of the facts and have to make a recommendation based on professional judgement in a timely manner. It's no use being an expert after the fact."

"The consequences can be quite serious. It's rarely black and white and it is not an academic exercise - it is linked directly to the real world. Fundamentally we are at war with terrorism. We are making decisions that can effect the life and death of soldiers," he says.

It's not surprising then, that one message that comes across loud and clear talking to Major General McNarn is that he is passionate about his people and believes they are DIO's key asset. He says he has been impressed with the diversity and qualifications of DIO's staff.

"We have a lot of variety in the organisation. People come from a range of backgrounds including academia, journalism, and business as well as the ADF and recent university graduates. Most have significant tertiary qualifications and many speak foreign languages. Having that diversity of background and differing perspectives is important in avoiding 'groupthink'. They are an excellent group of people who are committed to the job," he says.

So much so Major General McNarn says, that headhunting is a factor in a turnover rate that is slightly higher than he'd like. A new training framework is being put in place to retain DIO staff - one part of a new personnel management and recruitment initiative - but he sees the exposure to the wider intelligence community as a positive.

"You need to take a holistic view. If you produce good people and train them well there is an immediate benefit to the organisation, but there is also a longer-term benefit because your people go out into the wider intelligence community and it enhances the reputation of the organisation. Thirdly, they hopefully come back to you as senior people with wider experience," he says.

Major General McNarn is impressed with the work his predecessor did implementing the Flood recommendations and reform in DIO.

"Most of the Flood report recommendations signed off by Cabinet had already been implemented, or were under-way, before I arrived. Frank Lewincamp handed over an organisation with good people. He had made a lot of fundamental changes in the previous five years, while supporting a high operational tempo overseas. It was in fundamentally good shape," he said.

He plans to build on Mr Lewincamp's work by focusing on four objectives over the next 18-24 months. The first two objectives look at recruiting and retaining staff with a high level of analytical skill, while managing workloads to ensure that all work has a clear and relevant purpose. The second two will provide DIO staff with a physical environment and IT system that enables them to better respond to their dynamic work needs.

"Apart from making it a pleasant place to work, the refurbishment will ensure the staff are logically grouped in a way that allows them to access people and information that they need to do their jobs. The new IT system will take us from being some years behind, to state of the art," he says.

For further information about career opportunities with DIO, please contact Mr Sean Kahl:
sean.kahl@defence.gov.au
02 6127 5024

Keeping the hackers out

By Natalie LeStone

Believe it or not, Defence has something in common with American heiress Paris Hilton. It isn't being the heir to a fortune, or an unfortunate home video or two, but rather our vulnerability to computer hackers.

In February this year Hilton's wireless phone/camera/PDA/Internet terminal device was hacked into and the entire contents were placed on the Internet, including private numbers for other celebrities such as Eminem and Ashlee Simpson.

Had Paris Hilton been more aware of IT security, the incident which affected her and her friends may not have happened. All information processed, stored or communicated by electronics means can be compromised. IT security is a serious issue for Defence - it happened to an heiress and it could happen to Defence too!

However, the Department of Defence and other Australian Government agencies can be assured that they have expert support on matters relating to the protection of Australia's official communications and information systems, through the Defence Signals Directorate's Information Security Group (DSD ISG).

As the national authority for information security, DSD ISG provides a range of Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) security services to the Australian Government such as:

Protecting Australia's National Information Infrastructure (NII). The Active Vulnerability Assessment (AVA) is a new initiative being launched that tests a client's vulnerability to electronic attack. With permission of the client and legal services, the AVA actively penetrates the client's network. It finds any vulnerabilities in the network and tests the client's reaction to the 'attack';
Managing the operation of the Australasian Information Security Evaluation Program (AISEP). The AISEP evaluates and certifies products for Australian and New Zealand Government use, and DSD publishes the details of certified products on the Evaluated Products List (EPL);
Managing the Information Security Incident Detection, Reporting and Analysis Scheme (ISIDRAS). ISIDRAS collects information on security incidents that affect the security, or functionality, of Australian Government computer and communication systems;
Assisting agencies in the design of secure gateways, and certifying Australian Government gateways at the HIGHLY PROTECTED, PROTECTED and X-INCONFIDENCE levels; and
Providing the Australian Government with ICT security policy advice and assistance. This is based on policy and guidance contained within the Protective Security Manual and the Australian Government Information and Communications Technology Security Manual (also known as ACSI 33).

While communications technologies continue to progress, we must continue to review and monitor the security issues surrounding these advances. One such technology is the Personal Digital Assistant device known as BlackBerry. Upon the request of the Australian Government, the Information Security Group recently conducted a review and issued policy for the use of the BlackBerry, with certain restrictions, across government. This document, along with other policy and information about the Defence Signals Directorate can be found on our website, www.dsd.gov.au

The Group works closely with the Defence Security Authority Directorate of Information Security who develop and advise security policy and standards, measure compliance to these policies and standards through a security performance program, and conduct information security education and training for the Department of Defence.

From a Defence perspective the DSD ISG provides support to the Department of Defence and military operations information security through:

Provision of high-grade cryptographic material;
Accreditation of TOP SECRET systems; and
Communication security monitoring activities.

Information about DSD IT Security services, and questions on how the Information Security Group can help you, can be directed to the Client Services Team. Enquiries on any aspect of our information security responsibilities and services are welcome at any time.

For further information:
www.dsd.gov.au/infosec
infosechelp@dsd.gov.au
02 6265 0197

Defence

Intelligence and Security

Passionate about people

Kathryn Fitch sits down with the newly appointed Director of DIO, Major General Maurie McNarn

Keeping the hackers out