Royal Australian Navy Integrates Cyber Specialists Into Fleet
The Royal Australian Navy has employed a new team to oversee critical cyber and data capabilities at sea.
The Communications and Information Systems (CIS-I) workgroup is a unit developed to sustain naval fleet technologies associated with digital and transmission demands.
CIS-I personnel are selected through rigorous information systems preparation in a complex, fast-paced maritime environment.
‘An Important Step’
The CIS-I training program began in April and initially produced 14 specialists for deployment in a graduation ceremony on November 9.
Lessons were relayed at the Defence Force School of Signals – Maritime CIS Wing at the HMAS Cerberus base in Victoria.
The course covered tutorials in cyber threat detection and response, information management, and network administration.
“While the training is still in its infancy, the graduation of this first cohort of streamed sailors is an important step in the modernisation of our workforce,” HMAS Cerberus Information Systems Instructor Petty Officers Blake Ridge explained.
![Seaman Communication Information System - Information Specialist Kyle Bergan connects a network cable to a Switch. This training in a controlled environment will allow SMN Bergan to provide live connectivity for his ship at sea, and in a real time scenarios. This is a skill that is highly relied upon by Commanding Officers at sea to ensure their ship maintains connectivity to other ships at sea and key Defence organisations ashore that provide necessary support to Naval operations *** Local Caption *** Meet some of the Navy’s newest communicators currently under training at HMAS Cerberus. Alex, Kyle & Grisadarporn all started their journeys with the Navy through the ANC, they are well on their way to careers in the Information Warfare community.Alex, a communications specialist in training, joined from TS Walrus. His professional development encompasses Satellite systems, radio systems, voice procedures, tactical manoeuvring of ships, in addition to other means of communications that are critical to Navy’s ability to remain engaged. Kyle (TS Toowoomba) and Grisadarporn (TS Henty) are training to be Information Systems specialists. Their areas of responsibility will include the management and support of Navy’s ICT at sea. They are progressing their development under the CompTIA certification framework. Collectively, these sailors will contribute to the establishment, maintenance and protection of Navy’s Information Environments against a wide range of threats including Cyber attack.](https://www.thedefensepost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/20230627ran8440972_0086-scaled.jpg)
Supporting Ships, Establishments
Following induction, the CIS-I team will work on several vessels and sites as qualified information systems experts.
Seaman Henry Pears, a soldier who participated in the CIS-I inaugural training, commented on the program’s future.
“I hope that my cohort and I can meet the Navy’s expectations,” the warfighter said. “Although we are the first streamed CIS-I out of initial employment training, we are excited to get into the fleet and get to work.”