A major cyber incident targeting law firm HWL Ebsworth has had a profound impact on Australia, as revealed in an announcement by National Cyber Security Coordinator, Air Marshal Darren Goldie. The incident, which prompted a four-month coordinated response from the Australian government, has now reached a point where formal assistance is withdrawn, allowing HWL Ebsworth to manage its response independently. The scale of the incident, previously reported to impact “more than 40” entities, has been officially confirmed to have affected a total of 65 Australian government entities as direct clients of the firm through its legal and consulting services.
The conclusion of the coordinated government assistance marks a crucial juncture in the incident response, but Goldie emphasizes the government’s preparedness to reengage if the situation evolves. Lessons learned from this cyberattack, impacting both government and private sector clients, will be subject to a comprehensive review led by Goldie. The aim is to enhance the effectiveness of future responses to cyber incidents, fostering resilience and a proactive rebound. The revelation of sensitive personal and government information being impacted underscores the urgency for continuous improvement in cybersecurity measures across government and industry.
