OPTUS INVESTS $3.5 MILLION INTO CYBER SECURITY COOPERATIVE RESEARCH CENTRE

Strengthening ties with industry, academia, and government to bolster Australia’s cyber capabilities

Optus Business will invest $3.5 million into the industry-led Cyber Security Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) as part of its increasing commitment to tackle the growing threat of cybercrime globally.

Under the seven year agreement, Optus Business will provide the Cyber Security CRC with direct access to its dedicated team of cyber security experts and industry partners – from business and academia – to accelerate the development of technologies boosting the country’s cyber defences. The Optus Business team will also work with the Cyber Security CRC to deliver training and guidance to help bridge Australia’s cyber skills shortage.

This extends Optus’ focus on the development of cyber security solutions across the Financial Services, Retail, Mining and Agricultural industries, leveraging our investments and experience in critical infrastructure and IoT.

John Paitaridis, Managing Director, Optus Business said, “No matter who you are, or what you do, cybercrime is a persistent and growing threat. By working together we can build an ecosystem to maintain a resilient, secure and trustworthy cyber capability in Australia, and Optus is proud to have a crucial role in this through our many partnerships and now through the Cyber Security CRC.”

“This cooperative investment into the Cyber Security CRC is the largest of its kind, following the Australian Government’s launch of the National Cyber Security Strategy. The Cyber Security CRC has to-date received commitments to the value of over $139 million, made up from a range of investing companies and bodies,” said David Irvine, Chairman, Cyber Security Research Centre.

Launched in September 2017 by the Australian Government with an investment of $50 million over the next seven years to build Australia’s cyber capabilities, the Cyber Security CRC will initially focus on Critical Infrastructure Security and Cyber Security as a Service (CSaaS).

Optus Business is one of 25 CSCRC industry, research and government partners who are collectively investing more than $89 million to develop Australia’s cyber capabilities.

The investment in the Cyber Security CRC of a $2.1m cash contribution over seven years, plus $1.4m in-kind and staff (people) contribution, represents the latest in a series of cyber focused partnerships and initiatives undertaken by Optus Business over the last 18 months. These include the opening of a $10 million Advanced Security Operations Centre (ASOC); an $8 million partnership with La Trobe University to establish an industry-focused cyber curriculum and supporting a Digital University of the Future; a $10 million investment by Optus Business and Macquarie University into the creation of an ‘Optus Macquarie University Cyber Security Hub’ providing research, short professional courses and consultancy services to the private sector and government agencies.

For more information please contact:

Media contact:

Steve Batten/Sally Oelerich
Optus Corporate Affairs
P: (02) 8082 7850
E: media@optus.com.au