The Centre is overseen by the Cyber Security Operations Board and is the joint responsibility of the Minister for Defence.

In line with the recommendations of the 2017 Independent Review of the Australian Intelligence Community led by Michael L'Estrange and Stephen Merchant, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced that the role of the Australian Cyber Security Centre would be strengthened and that the Prime Minister's Special Adviser on Cyber Security, Alastair MacGibbon, would assume the responsibilities as the Head of the Centre within the Australian Signals Directorate, which was established as a statutory agency.

[1][2][3] The Special Adviser position was removed when MacGibbon left the public service in May 2019.

[6] The Centre is also a hub for collaboration and information sharing with the private sector and critical infrastructure providers, state and territory governments, academia and international partners.

The Special Adviser then became the National Cyber Coordinator within the Department of Home Affairs.