Security News > 2020 > November > In 2016 Australia's online census failed. Preparations for the 2021 edition have been rated 'partly effective'

In 2016 Australia's online census crashed and burned after legitimate attempts to complete the survey were mistaken for a DDoS attack, the routers funnelling traffic failed, and disaster recovery plans did likewise.

"Generally appropriate frameworks have been established covering the Census IT systems and data handling, and the procurement of IT suppliers. The ABS has not put in place arrangements to ensure that improvements to its architecture framework, change management processes and cyber security measures will be implemented ahead of the 2021 Census."

Nor has the bureau fully implemented its new IT framework, so Census tech is not compliant and is in any event built outside the agency's architecture standards.

The review rated current practices as "Partly appropriate" and warned the ABS "Has not fully implemented controls for managing the quality and protection of 2021 Census data and does not have in place appropriate arrangements to monitor control implementation."

It now has nine months to get them right: Census day is 21 August 2021.

News URL

https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2020/11/20/australia_census_2021_audit/