Who we are

The Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) is a vital member of Australia’s national security community, working across the full spectrum of operations required of contemporary signals intelligence and security agencies: intelligence, cyber security and offensive operations in support of the Australian Government and Australian Defence Force (ADF).

The Australian Cyber Security Centre sits within ASD and is the Australian Government’s technical authority on cyber security.

ASD’s ACSC began operations in 2014 as a collaboration between government agencies. Since then, and as part of the Independent Intelligence Review in 2017, the Australian Government identified the need to provide enhanced cyber security capabilities and a single point of advice and assistance on cyber security.

On 1 July 2018, when ASD became a statutory agency, Australian Government cyber security expertise from Australia’s Computer Emergency Response Team Australia and the Digital Transformation Agency moved into the ASD’s ACSC.

ASD brings together capabilities to improve Australia’s national cyber resilience and its ACSC services include:

• the Australian Cyber Security Hotline, which is contactable 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, via 1300 CYBER1 (1300 292 371)
• publishing alerts, technical advice, advisories and notifications on significant cyber security threats
• cyber threat monitoring and intelligence sharing with partners, including through the Cyber Threat Intelligence Sharing (CTIS) platform
• technical advice and assistance to help Australian entities respond to cyber security incidents
• national exercises and uplift activities to enhance the cyber security resilience of Australian entities
• collaborating with Australian organisations and individuals on cyber security issues through ASD’s Cyber Security Partnership Program.

ASD leadership

Minister for Defence

The Minister for Defence is responsible for the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD).

Director-General ASD

The Director-General leads ASD and is responsible to the Minister for Defence.

Head Australian Cyber Security Centre

The Deputy Director-General ASD and Head ACSC leads the ACSC Group within ASD and is responsible to the Director-General ASD.