Australia’s Cybersecurity Boom: Fortress or Bubble?

Technology and cyber security leader Warwick Brown gives his insights on Australia's cybersecurity boom, questioning if rapid growth is building genuine resilience or inflating a bubble

Australia’s cybersecurity market is booming, expected to hit AUD 19.3 billion within a decade. Startups are multiplying, and job titles seem to sprout after every board meeting. The statistics point to a future filled with opportunity, but beneath the surface, the narrative is more complicated.

Growth on this scale can outpace genuine resilience. Companies move faster than their talent pools mature, and borrowed governance frameworks are common. The industry’s expansion is impressive, yet the underlying question persists: are these foundations deep enough to withstand tomorrow’s storms, or are we inflating another tech bubble?

A few years ago, cyber was the bold new pillar of Australia’s digital future. Lately, boards have shifted their focus to AI, driven by its promise and its threat. While cybersecurity has slipped down the agenda, AI brings a set of governance risks that remain poorly understood and rarely managed. The urgency for experienced cyber professionals, strong governance, and endurance has not faded. However, as priorities change and hype cycles turn, there is a real risk that Australia neglects the basics. What important elements are being overlooked?

Cloud adoption provides a snapshot of export potential: more than 65 percent of Australian organisations have embraced it, well ahead of global trends. Government support continues, seeking to elevate local products internationally. However, exporting cyber solutions requires more than investment and infrastructure. It depends on hard-won trust, transparency, and the capacity for resilience in every product, especially as AI systems bring new layers of complexity.

If Australian cyber is to stand out on the world stage, technical proficiency alone will not be enough. Security and governance need to be built into every solution from the beginning, and AI risks need to be confronted directly. Trust is not automatic; it must be earned. Growth that lasts comes from capability that endures, not just capacity that looks impressive.

This month, the spotlight will be on honest reflection. Where is our real strength? What gaps remain in our national strategy? Most importantly, how can Australia ensure this boom is remembered for creating something substantial, not just another fleeting trend?