Tony Krzyzewski is a Global Cyber Alliance Ambassador and supports the Alliance’s initiatives to help reduce the impact of cybercrime around the world. Tony will give an update on GCA priority activities to address cybersecurity threats and his NZ efforts to raise the maturity of local government and other critical sectors.
In July 2018, Tony was joined in Auckland by the GCA’s Andy Bates and Josh Lawton and was presented with an award to recognise his sterling efforts in championing information security and the role he plays on the global stage. We are pleased to welcome Tony as our first speaker at CyberCrime 2022.
REGISTER NOW TO TAKE PART: 9AM, 24TH FEBRUARY
What is your current role and/or your interest in tackling cybercrime?
As a Global Cyber Alliance Ambassador and member of the Alliance’s Strategic Advisory committee I have a strong interest in ensuring that the work of the Alliance is effective in helping reduce the impact of cybercrime. Since 2015 we have created tools and resources that have helped protect individuals, organisations and nation states and our ongoing work in this area builds on this legacy.
Closer to home SAM for Compliance’s involvement with the Local Government Cybersecurity Programme and our work with businesses is helping establishing strong controls to help minimise the risks of cybercrime.
What lead you to undertake this work? Can you give us a brief career history?
I think this came about by realising very early on in the deployment of the internet out to businesses and government departments that, while the internet could be used for good, it also could be turned against us. Since launching the first commercial firewall into New Zealand in 1994 my life increasingly turned towards protecting individuals and organisations to the point where cybersecurity dominates my life. I also realised that I had a lot that I could give back, hence my voluntary roles with the GCA, the Center for Internet Security, and with Standards New Zealand / ISO SC27.
In the midst of a global pandemic and with escalating geopolitics between superpowers is cybercrime receiving the attention it deserves? Or do we overstate cybersecurity risks?
I think that it would be hard to overstate the risk that has resulted from both of these. The pandemic has resulted in an almost total restructuring of our IT environments and pushed the boundary out to individual’s homes. It worries me that many organisations, even two years on, have not fully thought through the risks associated with a distributed workforce.
The current geopolitical situation is also concerning, not only for the protagonists but for all of us who may end up being collateral damage. We potentially face massive disruption to systems and services from this thunderstorm within the cloud.
What should countries be doing to quantify and help mitigate organised cybercrime?
The key thing here is exchange of information. Cybercrime very frequently is a cross border issue and a nation’s preparedness and ability to respond is very dependent upon its ability to openly communicate with agencies across the globe.
We also need to acknowledge that this is a major issue impacting individuals and organisations. If the amount of crime being reported to CERT NZ was occurring physically then I am sure that the Government would have very strong response to reduce the level. Unfortunately as this level of crime is ‘only’ electronic and frequently termed as a “scam” we don’t seem to treat it for what it they really are … criminal acts that that are hurting this nation.
If you were advising friends and family on staying safe and secure online what would be your number one recommendation?
If I am allowed only one then it would be…. Don’t ever re use the same username and password combination.