The latest alert has seen a cyber-security firm argue that threats emanating from foreign states against New Zealand have spiked to extraordinary levels. — come amid revelations from the Government Communications Security Bureau that it had dropped the ball on a major foreign-state-sponsored attack in 2021 against two MPs and an academic.

The 2021 cyberattack was directed at Labour MP Louisa Wall, National MP Simon O'Connor, and University of Canterbury Professor Anne-Marie Brady. By 2022, therefore, the GCSB, specifically the National Cyber Security Centre, had not briefed the actual targeted individuals about the detailed nature of the attack, and neither had the former Minister Andrew Little, who argued for increased communication and openness.

This NCSC review accepted these failures and underlined the necessity of reflection regarding the wide ramifications of the cyber incidents beyond the technical perimeters. It was found that no security intrusion had been made in the logical networks. On the other hand, it found lots of trials of phishing into the parliamentary emails.

Dan Richardson, Executive Director for Strategy and Risk at CyberCX, noted the increasing threat being posed by foreign state actors, particularly in the context of deteriorating global geopolitical situations. He commended the review undertaken by NCSC and lauded the work of profiling the permeating aspect of these threats.

Reaction from the Targets

The he noted individual's disappointment of the narrow stance of the NCSC and failure to properly elucidate the personal and national security risks. He called for revised procedures that will ensure both timely support and guidance for the affected lot of such attacks.

Moving Forward

The incident underscores the need for New Zealand to bolster its cyber defenses and adopt a proactive approach to mitigate future threats. Simplified, it can be inferred in this the urgency with which New Zealand requires strengthened cyber defenses and proactive ways to help limit or avert threats in the future. It is in this perspective that democracy and national security in several countries are being put in place to advance against tightening cyber adversaries.

As the nature of cyber threats advances, so must New Zealand enhance its cyber-resilience in such a manner that, at all times, all stakeholders including individuals are well-informed and protected from such intrusions. This is of not just immediate interest but long-term national concern and stability.