The conference, which is being run by the United States Department of Defence in Atlanta, Georgia, will focus on all aspects of cyber security, computer crime and incident response, including intrusion investigations, cyber crime law, digital forensics, information assurance, research, development, testing and evaluation of digital forensic tools.

"Cyber security and crime poses a significant challenge for our law enforcement and criminal justice system," McClelland said in a statement.

"The internet makes it easy for criminals to operate from abroad, especially from those countries where regulations and enforcement arrangements are weak. For this reason, cyber security increasingly requires a coordinated national and international response."

McClelland added that the conference represents an opportunity to strengthen international relationships and improve the effectiveness of responses to global cyber threats. It will be attended by representatives from a range of fields including counterintelligence special agents, criminal investigators, computer forensic examiners and prosecutors, as well as government representatives from Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and New Zealand.

CERT Australia - which marks its first year of operations this month - works closely with the owners and operators of critical infrastructure and systems to ensure that threats and vulnerabilities are detected and mitigated.