In this episode of Technology and Security, Dr Miah Hammond-Errey speaks with Brendan Dowling, Ambassador for Cyber Affairs and Critical Technology. They discuss the Australian government's cybersecurity outlook for 2024, focusing on the anticipated pace and scale of responses from advisories to law enforcement actions and sanctions. Additionally, it covers the use of cyber autonomous sanctions, examining the case of Ermakov, as well as potential future uses and the process involved, particularly the criteria for significant cyber incidents. The interview touched on the establishment of a permanent cyber crisis response team in the Pacific, highlighting its readiness and composition as a crucial step in bolstering regional cybersecurity capabilities.   This conversation explored efforts to enhance access to secure technology in the Asia-Pacific region, spanning from IoT to cloud migration, and addressed growing concerns regarding information influence and election disinformation, including TikTok's impact and recent regional acquisition. The discussion explored the necessity of forging diverse alliances to bolster technology security, access, and policy, showcasing collaborative initiatives with partners such as the UK, Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, Japan, and ASEAN. Further, it covered interdependencies, including its reliance on foreign-developed software and hardware, and the imperative of leveraging international cooperation to shape the global market and protect critical infrastructure given heavily digital reliance and wide spread data aggregation. Fittingly, this episode was delayed a few weeks due to a cyber incident.    Resources mentioned in the recording:   ·               Miah Hammond-Errey (2024) Big Data, Emerging Technologies and Intelligence: National Security Disrupted (20% discount code for book AFL04) ·               Miah Hammond-Errey, 18 December 2023, Did you Tech 2023? A wrap of the year’s tech news, with an Australian flavour, The Mandarin   ·               George Packer, Our Man 2019, Random House ·               Gerald Murnane, Border Districts, 2017, Giromando   This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Gadigal people, and we pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging. We acknowledge their continuing connection to land, sea and community, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.   Thanks to the talents of those involved. Music by Dr Paul Mac and production by Elliott Brennan.    Transcript: please check against delivery  Dr Miah Hammond-Errey: [00:00:03] Welcome to Technology and Security. TS is a podcast exploring the intersections of emerging technologies and national security. I'm your host, Dr Miah Hammond-Errey. My guest today is Brendan Dowling. Brendan is the ambassador for cyber affairs and critical technology. He played a key role in developing Australia's recent cyber security strategy, and leads Australia's international engagement on cyber and critical technology. Brendan previously worked at the Department of Home Affairs, including as first assistant secretary of the Cyber and Critical Technology Coordination Centre, and worked in Australia's embassy in the United States and Jordan. We're thrilled to have you on the podcast, Brendan.   Brendan Dowling: [00:00:40] Thanks so much for having me, Miah.   Dr Miah Hammond-Errey: [00:00:42] We're coming to you today from the lands of the Gadigal people. We pay our respects to their elders, past, present and emerging. We acknowledge their continuing connection to land, sea and community and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.   Dr Miah Hammond-Errey: [00:00:56] 2024 has already seen significant law enforcement action and government response to cybercrime, from the first use of autonomous cyber sanctions to joint announcements regarding living off the land, attacks on critical infrastructure to the