Optus Business is putting $3.5 million into Australia’s industry-led Cyber Security Cooperation Research Centre (CRC) while providing direct access to its dedicated team of cyber security experts.
The investment in the Cyber Security CRC comprises a $2.1 million cash contribution over seven years, plus $1.4 million in-kind and a staff contribution component.
The Australian Government revealed in September that it would invest $50 million over the next seven years to establish the so-called Cyber Security CRC, the latest such cooperative research centre in the Government’s initiative to better collaborate with industry.
It is understood that the Government’s funding would complement more than $89.8 million in investment – both cash and in-kind – from a total of 25 industry, research and government partners, including Optus.
Other industry players that have chipped in so far include CISCO Systems Australia, Jemena, ActewAGL Distribution, TATA Consultancy Services, Datacom Technical Security Services, PEN10 Services, Quintessencelabs, AARNet.
“This will give the Australian community confidence they are safe and secure as they conduct their business online,” the Federal Government’s Assistant Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science, Craig Laundy, said at the time.
“The Cyber Security CRC will deliver solutions to increase the security of critical infrastructure and that benefit businesses and their customers,” he said.
Optus Business, as one of the 25 industry, research and government partners to go in on the new Cyber Security CRC, plans to help accelerate the development of technologies boosting the country’s cyber defences.
“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,” Optus Business managing director, John Paitaridis said.
The Cyber Security CRC investment 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) and an $8 million partnership with La Trobe University to establish an industry-focused cyber curriculum and supporting a Digital University of the Future.
Optus Business has also made a $10 million investment with 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.
The Government’s Cooperative Research Centres (CRC) Program, from which the new Cyber Security CRC emerges, aims to support industry-led collaborations between industry, researchers and the community.
