Why Australia needs a SAGE: A security architecture for the Australian government environment

The electronic security (eSecurity) applied to government data and information holdings have emerged as a significant issue for nations around the world, including the Commonwealth of Australia. This paper chronologs some of the important eSecurity activities and milestones in the years that preceded September 2001 and the actions taken by Australian governments directly following the attacks on New York City and Washington. The paper also discusses the work that is currently in progress to develop a Security Architecture for the Australian Government Environment (SAGE) and the intended benefits for the broader Australian community.