Job kiosks to get a security beef up

Computer kiosks at Hawke's Bay's Work and Income offices are among those around the country which remain offline while its network security is beefed up.

The ministry's East Coast media spokesperson Calvin Robinson said it was likely the kiosks would not be working until such time they were proved to be "fool-proof". The computers had been available to help job seekers search employment websites.

A security alert was raised about six months ago when two men using one of the public kiosks were able to access a separate corporate network.

Technology systems consultant Deloittee conducted a security review. The report found the ministry had not done enough work to ensure there was appropriate security to protect information at the time the kiosk and services were designed and built.

"There has been quite serious concern about privacy and protection of information," Mr Robinson said.

"I know that Deloittee is managing the security review and advising on how it (kiosks) could be better protected."

Mr Robinson said Work and Income staff were asking people to use their own family and friends networks to check employment websites.

"We're asking they keep checking the Trade Me and Seek websites where they can. We are still holding seminars for work seekers twice a week, to go over job vacancies and connect people with vacancies."


The ministry said about 75 per cent of its clients had access to the internet without using its services. The remaining clients had been supported to find jobs by their case managers and referrals to alternative internet services such as local libraries.

Deloittee has now started phase two of its report into the kiosk security breach which will focus on IT security.

Ministry of Social Development chief executive Brendan Boyle had created a new senior management position of chief information security officer to make sure the recommendations from the two Deloitte reports were put into action.