The NSW Government released its 2026–2028 Cyber Security Strategy, signalling a significant shift in how cyber risk is governed, reported and responded to across the public sector. While the strategy is written for government agencies, its implications extend well beyond government itself, particularly for businesses that supply, integrate with, or rely on government digital services.

As the NSW Government has made clear, cyber security is no longer a background technical issue. It is foundational to trust in public services, economic resilience, and digital transformation.

What is the NSW Government Cyber Security Strategy?

The NSW Government Cyber Security Strategy 2026–2028 is the state’s overarching framework for protecting government systems, data, and digital services over the next two years. It defines how cyber risk is identified, governed, and managed across NSW Government departments, agencies, and statutory authorities.

Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government Hon. Jihad Dib, MP reinforced the intent behind the strategy, stating:

“With more people relying on digital government services than ever before, protecting data and maintaining trust is essential.”

The strategy adopts a two‑year planning cycle, reflecting the government’s acknowledgement that cyber threats evolve faster than traditional policy frameworks can keep pace with.

Building the Foundations: Lessons from NSW’s Earlier Cyber Strategies

The 2026–2028 strategy builds on the foundation established by the 2021 NSW Cyber Security Strategy and the updated Cyber Security Policy released in February 2023.

Earlier strategies delivered tangible improvements, including:

• Stronger coordination between agencies during cyber incidents
• Formalised cyber security baselines across government
• Improved cyber awareness and capability uplift across the public sector
• The ability for NSW agencies to respond to hundreds of cyber threat notifications in a more coordinated manner

Cyber Security NSW Executive Director Marie Patane has consistently emphasised that these earlier reforms were about building sustainable capability, not one‑off compliance:

“Cyber security is not solely a technical challenge, but a leadership and organisational responsibility that requires strong governance and informed decision‑making.”

What’s new in the 2026–2028 Cyber Security strategy?

While continuity exists, several changes mark a clear step forward.

• Faster incident reporting and response
  Mandatory 24‑hour cyber incident reporting, which commenced in August 2025, is now embedded as a core operational requirement rather than a policy aspiration. This ensures faster escalation, clearer accountability, and whole‑of‑government visibility during active incidents.
• Stronger focus on critical infrastructure and supply chains
  The strategy places explicit emphasis on critical infrastructure, operational technology (OT), IoT environments, and third‑party supply chains, areas increasingly targeted by attackers and capable of causing real‑world disruption.
• Clearer roles and stronger central coordination
  The government has reshaped cyber oversight by clarifying agency responsibilities and strengthening central coordination, supported by enhanced assurance and audit mechanisms.

As Minister Dib noted:

“As cyber threats become more complex, ‘set and forget’ is not an option. This strategy allows us to adapt and respond to the ever‑changing cyber risk landscape.”

The Core Strategic Objectives Behind NSW’s Cyber Strategy

The strategy defines five core objectives that anchor all NSW Government cyber activity:

1. Strengthen risk management, governance and compliance
2. Improve incident response and cyber intelligence
3. Uplift cyber resilience across government
4. Drive continuous development of tools, processes and methodologies
5. Support NSW communities to be cyber safe

These objectives collectively position cyber security as a public trust and service reliability issue, rather than a narrow IT control.

Marie Patane summarised this intent clearly:

“This strategy provides a clear and practical roadmap for strengthening cyber resilience across the NSW public sector.”

What the Strategy Tells Us About Government Priorities

Government messaging around the strategy consistently centres on trust, coordination and shared responsibility.

Cyber Security NSW is formally positioned as:

• The central coordinator of cyber security across government
• The threat intelligence lead
• The incident escalation authority for significant cyber events

This governance model sends a strong signal to businesses and the broader community that cyber incidents will be managed through clear authority, consistent processes, and central oversight.

What does this mean for your business?

Even if your organisation is not directly part of NSW Government, the implications are material.

If you are:

• A government supplier or technology partner
• Operating in a regulated or critical services environment
• Handling identity data, operational systems, or sensitive information

…your cyber posture will increasingly be assessed as part of supply‑chain assurance expectations.

The strategy reinforces that cyber security maturity is becoming a commercial requirement, not just a technical safeguard.

What’s next…

Practical next steps include:

1. Review incident detection and response readiness
2. Assess third‑party and supply‑chain cyber risks
3. Ensure cyber governance is visible at executive level
4. Identify and prioritise protection of critical assets
5. Align early with government expectations rather than reacting later

Final takeaway

The NSW Government Cyber Security Strategy 2026–2028 makes one thing clear: cyber security is now a core governance, resilience and trust issue.

As Minister Dib stated:

“Cyber threats are evolving faster and becoming more sophisticated, that’s why multiple government agencies have collaborated on this strategy, so NSW is more resilient and better placed to stay ahead.”

For businesses, understanding this shift, and acting on it, will be essential to remaining trusted, resilient and competitive in an increasingly digital economy.

How Diamond IT Can Help

Diamond IT helps organisations understand cyber risks and strengthen governance by assessing where risks sit, what matters most, and what needs attention. Our team supports leaders with clear, practical advice to improve oversight, meet regulatory and government expectations, and make confident decisions about cyber security priorities. If you’re ready to gain clarity on your cyber risk and governance approach, contact us on 1300 307 907, email us at enquiries@diamondit.com.au or fill out the form below.