Australian authorities investigated a cyber security incident at DP World Australia, one of the country’s largest port operators.
After suspending operations for three days, the port operator, which manages container terminals in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Fremantle, resumed regular operations at its facilities.
“The breach had crippled operations at the company, which manages about 40% of the goods that flow in and out of Australia,” Reuters reports.
WATCH:
Several of Australia’s biggest ports are back in operation after a cyber security incident. The breach had crippled container terminals in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Fremantle for three days https://t.co/Y2fdaBSU2J pic.twitter.com/7Mx8JvSVpj
— Reuters (@Reuters) November 13, 2023
Reuters reports:
“Operations resumed at the company’s ports across Australia at 9 a.m. today (2200 GMT, Sunday) … following successful tests of key systems overnight,” the company, part of Dubai’s state-owned DP World, said in a statement.
DP World expects to move about 5,000 containers from the four Australian terminals through the day, although ongoing investigation and responses to protect its networks could result in temporary disruptions over the next few days.
Advertisement“This is a part of an investigation process and resuming normal logistical operations at this scale,” DP World said.
After spotting the breach on Friday, DP World, one of a handful of stevedore industry players in Australia, disconnected internet, significantly impacting freight movements.
Australia has seen a rise in cyber intrusions since late last year, prompting the government in February to reform rules and set up an agency to help coordinate responses to hacks.
Our government is working closely with the company to protect Australians and their interests. Minister @CatherineKingMP and I have been briefed directly by the company and are both in contact regularly with the @AUCyberSecCoord.
— Clare O'Neil MP (@ClareONeilMP) November 12, 2023
Managing cyber incidents of this kind is incredibly complex. The National Coordination Mechanism will meet again this afternoon, bringing together relevant states and territories, logistics companies, other port operators and relevant Commonwealth agencies.
— Clare O'Neil MP (@ClareONeilMP) November 12, 2023
“The Australian Government continues to work with DP World Australia to resolve a nationally significant cyber incident that has affected operations at a number of ports around the country,” Air Marshal Darren Goldie, Australia’s National Cyber Security Coordinator, said in a statement.
The Australian Government continues to work with DP World Australia to resolve a nationally significant cyber incident that has affected operations at a number of ports around the country.
— National Cyber Security Coordinator (@AUCyberSecCoord) November 12, 2023
Zero Hedge shared Goldie’s full statement:
Today (Sunday 12 November 2023), I again convened the National Coordination Mechanism to bring together government agencies and the maritime and logistics sectors as part of the response to the incident. This followed earlier technical and Ministerial briefings with the company.
DP World’s IT system remains disconnected from the internet, significantly impacting their operations in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Fremantle. Our priority remains assisting DP World to restore their systems, which will allow cargo operations to recommence.
DP World today advised the Australian Government that the timeframe for interruptions to continue is likely to be a number of days, rather than weeks.
They also advised that despite the disruption, they are able to access sensitive freight at the ports if necessary – for example, in a medical emergency.
We are continuing to develop our understanding of the flow on impacts to Australia’s logistics system.
The National Emergency Management Agency, the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts and the Office of Supply Chain Resilience in the Department of Industry, Science and Resources will work with DP World to ensure that government and industry stakeholders have appropriate situational awareness necessary to support the management of any disruption to Australia’s supply chains.
While I understand there is interest in determining who may be responsible for the cyber incident, our primary focus at this time remains on resolving the incident and supporting DP World to restore their operations.
The Australian Federal Police is continuing to investigate the incident.
“Australia’s ports and other terminals remain operational. We understand the importance of accurate reporting in maintaining public confidence and preventing unnecessary concern,” Ports Australia said in a statement, according to the outlet.
The cyber security incident at DP World Australia follows reports of the Optus outage, one of the country’s largest telecommunications companies.
Millions of Australians woke up one morning to internet outages, dysfunctional train networks, and widespread communication issues.
