Deakin University receives top marks for IT security

Deakin University has received international recognition for the security of its IT infrastructure.

Deakin is the first university in Australia to receive ISO 27001:2006 certification, an internationally recognised security management standard.

"This certification is a reflection of how seriously the University takes information security," said Peter Brusco, the Executive Director of Deakin's Information Technology Services Division.

"The ISO 27001 certification shows that we will go that extra mile to ensure the security of the information we store on behalf of students, staff and the University as a whole," Mr Brusco said.

"As far as information security is concerned we believe it places us in an enviable position, but we do expect that other Australian universities will follow our lead."

To qualify for ISO 27001:2006 certification, the University's information security management system underwent a rigorous audit. The audit evaluated a number of processes including security policy, asset management and information security incident management.

"We are committed to ensuring that Deakin's data is as secure as it possibly can be; and we now have the certification to prove that it is," Mr Brusco said.

"Achieving this certification helps strengthen our information security culture and reduces the risk of fraud, information loss and unauthorised disclosure."

Deakin will now be audited regularly to ensure that it complies with the necessary requirements to maintain ISO 27001:2006 certification.