THE Federal Government's much-vaunted IT security cornerstone - a "beefed-up" Australian Computer Emergency Response Team - is likely to be unveiled at AusCERT's conference on the Gold Coast next week.

Two key initiatives - a national alert system and a national incident reporting service - are expected onstream shortly, but AusCERT is working on a shoestring budget.

The not-for-profit organisation, based at Queensland University, will receive just $270,000 annually to carry out the work, under a contract with the Attorney-General's Department.

AusCERT monitors global computer network threats and to date has provided alerts and other security services, including consulting and training, to members on a cost-recovery subscription basis.

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