Mike Burgess, head of Australia’s Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), raised alarms about the increasing willingness of authoritarian nations to engage in cyber-sabotage aimed at critical infrastructure. In a recent speech, he highlighted the potential for severe disruptions, citing recent telecom outages in Australia linked to three deaths. Burgess warned that the consequences of a coordinated attack by a nation-state could be catastrophic, affecting everything from energy supply to financial systems. He emphasized that these threats are not mere hypotheticals; foreign governments, particularly China, have elite hacking teams actively exploring these possibilities. Burgess pointed to groups like Salt Typhoon, which focuses on espionage, and Volt Typhoon, known for potential disruptive actions against critical infrastructure. He noted that Chinese hackers have already been probing Australia’s telecommunications networks, raising concerns about what could occur if they gain access. Burgess criticized corporate leaders for their complacency and poor governance regarding these threats. He argued that many security incidents stem from known vulnerabilities and urged organizations to take a proactive approach. He recommended that boards thoroughly understand their critical systems and data, manage risks holistically, and not rely solely on superficial presentations. His message was clear: if risks are foreseeable, organizations must take all reasonable steps to mitigate them.