Throughout the world, modern organisations are discovering that adequate security can mean different things to different organisations in the age of virtual communication, and what steps they need to take to safeguard the information they have gathered. In many instances, these efforts are governed by the policies and regulations of a country’s government, as agencies will establish security standards to aid companies in understanding what constitutes effective protection and how they can achieve it.

The situation is no different in Australia. Infosec Registered Assessors Program (IRAP) was developed by the Australian Signals Directorate in order to provide companies with a means of assessing the effectiveness of security. A technology provider’s security controls are evaluated against a standardised set of security controls as part of the IRAP program, and registered assessors use this standardised set of controls as a baseline for development of the Australian public sector’s security requirements.

In addition, Zoom is delighted to announce that we have been evaluated as part of the IRAP program as one of the technology providers.

Committed to the right controls 

We have been able to demonstrate, when we compared our security controls to the IRAP Framework, that our controls provide the necessary controls for customers wishing to attain effective security, as outlined in the following guidelines:

• A guide designed to assist organisations in developing internal security frameworks based on risk assessments can be found in The Information Security Manual.

• A set of core requirements that apply to all Australian government agencies, the Protective Security Policy Framework (PSPF) is a set of guidelines that emphasize the sharing of security standards between all government agencies in Australia.

When our IRAP assessment is successful, not only are our security controls validated, but the results of the assessment can also be used to assist our customers in making risk-informed decisions when dealing with Zoom.

As a result of this achievement, we are able to add yet another internationally-recognised attestation or authorization to our portfolio.

Providing the public with flexible services

By providing the platform to use for video-based services, we provide organizations and government agencies in the public sector with the opportunity to develop the modern and video-based services that their citizens and employees desire and are addicted to. If this technology is implemented successfully, then it could usher in a new era of modernization where citizens would be able to access public services more easily, and be more engaged with their governments.

Telehealth is a good example of this. The Department of Health has recently upgraded access to telehealth, which will enable Australians to communicate with healthcare providers remotely as part of recent initiatives aimed at enhancing access to telehealth. This is an example of what is possible with telemedicine now that people are accustomed to interacting with healthcare providers remotely. The benefits of this are a combination of better access to care for citizens, as well as a reduction in costs for providers. Approximately 21 billion dollars is forecasted to be saved in healthcare costs by 2025 as a result of teleconsultation, according to a survey conducted by Juniper Research.

The use of secure communications technologies can make a huge impact in the education industry – especially in remote areas with a limited access to quality education resources. It is referred to by the NSW government as the Rural Access Gap, and a solution to this problem could help to bring about newfound flexibility and efficiency to online education, as well as give those living in remote areas a greater chance of accessing education through online learning.

Built on trust

As far as the IRAP assessment is concerned, it benefits organizations doing business with governments as well as organizations interacting with those organizations either directly or indirectly, such as banks and insurance companies. The benefits extend beyond the government sector to organizations who provide services or products to the government.

As Zoom’s security program continues to evolve, we will see third-party assessments such as IRAP become an increasingly important component of Zoom’s mission in order to ensure that Zoom is a secure platform built upon trust, and as Zoom’s security program continues to grow, we will see third-party assessments such as IRAP become an increasingly critical component of Zoom’s security program.

Looking for more information on our certifications, attestations, and accreditions? We’ve got you covered. You can learn more about our Trust Center by visiting our website.

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