Optus Business has announced that it will invest $3.5 million into Australia's Cyber Security Cooperative Research Centre (CRC).

The Government launched the Cyber Security CRC in September this year with the aim of focusing on Critical Infrastructure Security and Cybersecurity as a Service.

“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,” explains David Irvine, chairman of the Cyber Security Research Centre.

”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,” Irvine continues.

Optus Business is one of 25 Cyber Security CRC partners who are investing a pooled total of more than $89 million into the program.

Under a seven year agreement, Optus Business will contribute its cybersecurity team and industry partners, including business and academia. It will also work with the Cyber Security CRC to deliver training and guidance.

The company says the contributions will speed up the development of Australia's cyber defences.

"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,” comments Optus Business managing director John Paitaridis.

According to Optus Business, the investment also strengthens the company's focus on cybersecurity solution development in financial services, retail, mining and agriculture.

Optus Business will contribute a $2.1 million cash contribution over seven years. In-kind and staff contribution equate to a further $1.4 million investment.

The company has been highly active in a range of projects over the last 18 months: It helped to open the $10 million Advanced Security Operations Centre; invested in an $8 million partnership with La Trobe University to establish a cyber curriculum; and invested $10 million with Macquarie University to create an ‘Optus Macquarie University Cyber Security Hub'.

Optus Business' Advanced Security Operations Centre (ASOC) is powered by Trustwave and combines Optus network security capabilities.

“The ASOC specifically provides proactive threat management, in-country forensic capabilities including incident response, access to best of breed cyber security technology partnerships and combined threat intelligence, all consolidated within the Centre to provide a truly global cyber view,” Paitaridis says.

Optus has also formed partnerships with the likes of FireEye, Palo Alto Networks, Check Point and Akamai.

“This powerful partner ecosystem ensures Optus customers will access the latest best of breed security technologies, allowing for proactive management and support by a single provider with deep capabilities and global presence,” Paitaridis concludes.