About AHECS

The Australasian Higher Education Cybersecurity Service (AHECS) was formed in 2019 as an initiative from CAUDIT members. AHECS is delivered in collaboration with Australia’s Academic and Research Network (AARNet), AusCERT, Council of Australasian University Directors of Information Technology (CAUDIT), Research and Education Advanced Network New Zealand (REANNZ), and the Australian Access Federation (AAF).

AHECS is a higher education sector collective that leverages the capabilities and expertise of its partner entities to strengthen the overall cybersecurity posture of the sector. AHECS acts as the sectors peak cybersecurity body and represents the sector on cybersecurity issues.

AHECS’s purpose is aligned to the principles of being stronger together and ‘all boats lift on a rising tide’. It is a collective developed specifically for the sector, by the sector, to address capability gaps and help defend the sector from continuously evolving cybersecurity threats. This is achieved through coordination of members and partners to inform direction, advocate, share intelligence, reduce barriers to the implementation of good practice, identify and act on capability gaps, and holistically defend the sector from continuously evolving cyber security threats in conjunction with key vendors.

We are grateful to the volunteers who form our governance.

Advisory Council: Our AHECS Advisory Council set the direction for AHECS and meet bi-annually to oversee strategy and activities.

Executive Steering Committee: Our AHECS Executive Steering Committee meet monthly and set priorities and AHECS planning

Operations Group: Our AHECS Operations Group meet monthly and undertake the operational activities associated with AHECS, reporting progress to the Steering Committee.