Two of Curtin University’s vital health research data networks have been certified to a globally recognised information security management standard, confirming the University’s commitment to safeguarding sensitive health information.
The Population Health Research Network Centre for Data Linkage (CDL) and the Health Systems and Health Economics (HSHE) team, both based in Curtin’s School of Public Health, attained certification to the standard ISO/IEC 27001:2013 by SAI Global Certification Services.
According to the Joint Accreditation System of Australia and New Zealand, Curtin University is the first university in Western Australia to achieve this information security management system standard and only the second university in Australia, following Monash University.
Curtin University’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research, Professor Chris Moran, said achieving the globally recognised standard confirmed Curtin’s commitment to protecting the security of sensitive health data when undertaking research with public and private health services, government and industry.
“As a university, we are firmly focused on making a real difference to people’s lives by pursuing new and high-quality public and population health research,” Professor Moran said.
“To achieve this, we need access to large and diverse clinical and population health data sets from a range of current and new research partners, who can be assured that this sensitive information is protected from threats that could compromise the confidentiality, integrity or availability of that data.”
Curtin University’s head of information security, Richard Addiscott, said attaining and maintaining the ISO 27001 information security management standard would help Curtin achieve its teaching and research objectives, as well as enabling the continuous improvement of Curtin’s overall information security and cyber risk management practices.
“Achieving this standard has been a truly collaborative effort across multiple areas of the University and provides evidence of Curtin’s commitment to ensuring information security helps expand our research capacity, strengthen our links with industry and increase the impact of our research,” Mr Addiscott said.
