Australian cybersecurity company launches in NZ, plans for significant investment

CyberCX, the Australian based cyber security organisation, has launched in New Zealand with plans for 'significant investment'.

CyberCX NZ will have a large specialised cyber security workforce in New Zealand, serving enterprise and government customers in an over NZ$600 million cyber security market.

The company has stated it has plans to introduce a full suite of cyber security services to protect and defend New Zealand businesses, enterprises and government agencies from global and local cyber threats.

CyberCX NZ will cover key cyber security domains, including: consult and advisory; governance, risk and compliance; incident response; penetration testing and assurance; security integration and engineering; and managed security services.

In addition, the company will also provide cloud and mobile security, and identity management services.

According to CyberCX, the company is building its New Zealand platform to deliver end to end cyber security services, supported by investment in systems, processes, tools and a centralised support structure that enables frontline teams to focus on delivering services to customers.

In the longer term, the plans for CyberCX NZ are to increase the local workforce to more than 100 employees in the next year; expand offices in Wellington and Auckland, followed by an office in Christchurch; and invest in developing a unique New Zealand security operations centre (SOC) capability and local cyber workforce development.

Grant Smith has been chosen to lead CyberCX NZ as CEO. Smith previously founded Gen2 Consulting and DMZ Global, and says the company is set to 'transform New Zealand's cyber security landscape'.

CyberCX CEO John Paitaridis says New Zealand is a natural market focus for CyberCX.

He says, "With the exponential growth in the number of cyber attacks on Australian and New Zealand businesses and government agencies, and the aggressive tactics we are seeing from threat actors, we need to significantly bolster our trans-Tasman cyber capability to secure our companies and sovereign interests, in particular Australian and New Zealand critical infrastructure including utilities, agricultural, financial systems, logistics and supply chain.

"Never has this been more important than during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Paitaridis says, "It is time that Australia and New Zealand had its own cyber security company, a national champion at scale, able to defend and protect our local businesses and economies.

"For too long we have relied on international companies for cyber services, where their interests dont always align. We are fiercely independent and driven by our purpose to protect the communities we serve. We are uniquely focused on delivering mission critical cyber security services to New Zealand and Australia leveraging our 500 plus cyber security specialists on both sides of the Tasman.

He says, "Cyber attackers do not recognise borders and they are increasingly focused on targeting our part of the world. At CyberCX we are unifying the best cyber security talent, capability and expertise across Australia and New Zealand and taking up the fight on behalf of our customers.

NZ CEO Grant Smith says, "New Zealand talent and technology is at the heart of CyberCX. It is clear that many New Zealand businesses, enterprise and government organisations are not yet well enough advised, supported or equipped to defend their critical assets.

"Each year thousands of New Zealand organisations fall victim to cyber attacks totalling tens of millions of dollars in losses. 40% of those incidents are linked to state-sponsored actors.

"CyberCX NZ is committed to lifting the countrys national resilience and is focused on maintaining an independent stance, agile ways of operating and core cyber focus.

Smith says, "Increasingly, government and industry in New Zealand are looking for a local trusted cyber security partner. At CyberCX NZ we will ensure we deliver the best experience to our customers.

"To establish ourselves as the most trusted partner to deliver cyber security services, we are committed to continually investing in our New Zealand organisation.