29 Jun 2026
Blogs
Earlier this year, AUSCERT designed and facilitated customised tabletop exercises for two higher education institutions in the Pacific. These engagements built on the cyber security training courses previously delivered by AUSCERT to micro businesses in Fiji and Papua New Guinea throughout 2025.
Our collaboration with Pacific Adventist University (PAU) in Papua New Guinea and a university in Fiji reflects AUSCERT’s continued commitment to strengthening cyber security capabilities across the region.
Cyber threats are increasingly global in nature, but their impacts are often felt most acutely at the local level. Recognising this, AUSCERT has been working closely with universities in the Pacific region to build practical, sustainable cyber resilience. Through tailored exercises and training, we aim to empower institutions with the knowledge, skills and confidence needed to respond effectively to evolving threats.
AUSCERT’s Tabletop Exercise service is a strong example of this collaborative approach, as key stakeholders were brought together within PAU to simulate a realistic cyber incident scenario. Participants were challenged to test their response processes, communication channels, and decision-making under pressure in a safe and controlled environment.
Participants from both universities received a detailed After Action Report, a key component of AUSCERT’s capability-building approach. This report captured our observations from the exercise and provided targeted and actionable recommendations to strengthen future incident response efforts.
PAU shared the following feedback on the experience:
“AUSCERT delivered a professional and well-structured tabletop exercise for Pacific Adventist University. The scenario design was relevant, thoughtfully developed, and facilitated in a manner that encouraged meaningful participation across all stakeholders. AUSCERT demonstrated expertise, ensuring the session remained both engaging and instructive”.
The accompanying After Action Report was comprehensive and insightful, clearly outlining areas for improvement and providing practical recommendations to enhance our preparedness and strengthen our organisational resilience.
This engagement has significantly contributed to PAU’s capability uplift, and we sincerely value AUSCERT’s partnership.”
Extending Support Across the Region
Alongside the tabletop exercises, AUSCERT delivered a series of online cyber security training sessions for micro businesses in Fiji and Papua New Guinea. The training focused on building cyber security awareness, strengthening practical cyber hygiene, and improving participants’ confidence in recognising and responding to common cyber threats.
Building a Stronger Global Cyber Community
AUSCERT’s work in the Pacific forms part of a broader mission to foster a connected, collaborative global cyber community. We believe that sharing knowledge, experience, and best practices across borders is essential to addressing the collective challenges of cyber security.
We are proud to support our partners in the Pacific and look forward to continuing this collaboration to help strengthen cyber resilience across the region and beyond.
