A Western Australian parliamentary question seeks information on the use of third-party firewall and anti-virus software across various government departments and agencies, revealing varying levels of protection and risk management strategies.

AnsweredQoN 3788Legislative Assembly
Asked
14 August 2018
Portfolio
Water; Fisheries; Forestry; Innovation and ICT; Science

QuestionView source ↗

For all departments, agencies, government trading enterprises or boards within the Minister’s portfolio responsibilities, I ask as at 8 August 2018 do they operate any of the following: (a) Third party firewall software, if so: (i) How many network systems, computers and devices are protected (or what is the number of licences that have been issued); and (ii) Are any network systems, computers and devices unprotected by firewall software: (A) Do any of these unprotected systems, computers or devices manage Cabinet, customer, commercial or sensitive information; and (b) Third party anti-virus software, if so: (i) How many network systems, computers and devices are protected (or what is the number of licences that have been issued); and (ii) Are any network systems, computers and devices unprotected by anti-virus software: (A) Do any of these unprotected systems, computers or devices manage Cabinet, customer, commercial or sensitive information?

AnswerView source ↗

Answered
30 October 2018
Responded by
Minister for Water; Fisheries; Forestry; Innovation and ICT; Science
Response time
18 days
Aqwest
(a) Yes (i) 75 (ii) No (A) Not applicable
(b) Yes (i) 55 licences issued (ii) No (A) Not applicable
Busselton Water
(a) Yes (i)  42 (ii) No (A) Not applicable
(b) Yes (i) 42 (ii) No (A) Not applicable
ChemCentre
(a) Yes (i) 458 (ii) Yes as some devices do not support third-party firewall software. ChemCentre has implemented other security controls to manage the relevant risks. (A) No
(b) Yes (i) 458 (ii) Yes as some devices do not support third-party anti-virus software. ChemCentre has implemented other security controls to manage the relevant risks. (A) No
Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development
Please see Legislative Assembly Question on Notice 3777.
Department of Water and Environmental Regulation
(a) Yes (i) 2 000 (ii) No (A) Not applicable
(b) Yes (i) 2000 licenses (ii) No (A) Not applicable
Forest Products Commission
(a) Yes (i) All (213) (ii) No (A) Not applicable
(b) Yes (i) All (213) (ii) No (A) Not applicable
Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation
Please see Legislative Assembly Question on Notice 3772.
Office of Digital Government
Please see Legislative Assembly Question on Notice 3772.
Water Corporation
(a) Yes (i) All servers, workstations, devices and networks are protected by firewalls. There are 27 778 in total. (ii) Yes. Devices such as mobile telephones and tablets are not connected to the Water Corporation network. (A) Yes (b) Yes (i) All servers and workstations within the Water Corporation network have anti-virus protection. There are 5 515 in total. (ii) Yes as some devices do not support third-party anti-virus software. Water Corporation has implemented other security controls to manage the relevant risks. (A) Yes. Although mobile telephone and tablets may be unprotected by anti-virus software, the systems they connect to would be protected.  Additionally, the communications between device and server are protected by transport layer encryption.

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