Optus Business is investing $3.5 million in the newly launched industry-led Cyber Security Co-operative Research Centre.
Under a seven-year agreement, Optus Business will provide the Cyber Security CRC with direct access to a dedicated team of cyber security experts and industry partners — from business and academia — with the aim of accelerating the development of technologies boosting Australia’s cyber defences.
Optus says its team will also work with the Cyber Security CRC to deliver training and guidance as part of its strategy to help bridge Australia’s cyber skills shortage.
Launched in September this year 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.
{loadposition peter}Optus says the agreement extends its focus on the development of cyber security solutions across the financial services, retail, mining and agricultural industries, leveraging investments and experience in critical infrastructure and IoT.
“No matter who you are, or what you do, cyber crime 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,” says John Paitaridis, managing director, Optus Business.
“This co-operative 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 CRC.
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.
Optus says its investment of a $2.1 million cash contribution over seven years, plus $1.4 million 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.
The telco lists its investments in security as the opening of a $10 million Advanced Security Operations Centre, an $8 million partnership with La Trobe University to establish an industry-focused cyber curriculum and supporting a Digital University of the Future, and 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.