The Oceania Cyber Security Centre (OCSC) and Monash University are excited to announce that applications are now open for a new cybersecurity capacity-building opportunity in the Indo-Pacific designed to future-proof regional data resilience.

The Post Quantum Cryptography in the Indo-Pacific Project (PQCIP) is providing free training to government organisations and businesses from across the Indo-Pacific to help them prepare for emerging quantum computing threats.

Currently we rely on traditional encryption methods as one of the tools in the digital toolbox to protect our information. However, with new advances in quantum computing technology, the protection offered by traditional encryption methods is at risk. Currently deployed cryptography is not strong enough to withstand attacks from future large-scale quantum computers, which will become a reality in the coming years. Post-quantum cryptography involves mathematical techniques for ensuring that information stays private, or is authentic, and resists attacks by both quantum and non-quantum (i.e. classical) computers.

The PQCIP is designed to help participants future-proof their systems with post-quantum cryptography. The program involves an assessment of each participant’s current cybersecurity capabilities followed by tailored educational programs conducted by cybersecurity experts that will train participants to deploy post-quantum cryptography. Each training module will be delivered by cryptography experts from Monash University, adapted to meet the local needs, and provided free of charge.
The team from Monash University and OCSC have more than 20 collective years of experience working in cybersecurity across a broad range of industries and regions. This includes working with post-quantum cryptography and cybersecurity standardisation, consulting in the public and private sectors, and providing advice on cyber strategy and policy to governments in the Indo-Pacific to strengthen their national cybersecurity resilience.

Participants will finish the program:

  • Having an advanced understanding of how quantum computing will affect them in the future and the risks that it poses,

  • Knowing the necessary skills to secure their systems against quantum computers through post-quantum cryptography,

  • Being able to conduct their own assessments of their organisation’s systems and information, and

  • Possessing their own plan for migration of their systems and information to quantum-secure cryptography.

Selection Criteria

Registration for PQCIP is now open to interested individuals from businesses and government organisations in Malaysia, Indonesia and Pacific Island Nations.

The program is funded by the United States Department of State and will be provided free of charge to all approved participants. This program is not designed for military, intelligence, or law enforcement organisations. Applicants who are unsure of their eligibility are still encouraged to apply.

How to Apply

To register your interest, please provide your name, the name of the organisation you work for and your nationality in an email to: pqcip@monash.edu

Associate Professor Ron Steinfeld from Monash University’s Faculty of Information Technology and Dr James Boorman from OCSC are available for interviews. Please visit the Program’s website for more information.