Coalition launches incident response operations in Australia

Coalition has established incident response capabilities in Australia and appointed Praneil Kumar to head these operations.

Praneil Kumar joins Coalition Incident Response (CIR) following over a decade of experience in security consulting, where he has specialised in digital forensics and incident response (DFIR), both defensive and offensive security, as well as governance, risk and compliance (GRC).

Kumar previously worked at BAE Systems Digital Intelligence, serving in several roles, most recently as Cyber Capabilities and R&D Manager. His previous responsibilities included leading complex cybersecurity engagements across different sectors both locally and internationally, and expanding BAE's offerings to align with changing customer requirements and global industry trends.

Kumar commented on his new position, stating, "Throughout my career, I've always been driven by the challenge of actively countering digital threats and building resilient security capabilities. Joining Coalition is a natural next step, and I am incredibly excited about this opportunity."

"It allows me to leverage my deep cybersecurity experience to work side-by-side with our Australian policyholders - businesses that are essential to our economy and people, but often lack the resources to manage cyber incidents alone. Imagine a local medical centre, a place patients have relied on for years, suddenly unable to provide prescriptions or advice because their systems were shut down by a cyber incident. That's exactly the type of scenario where I want to be a partner to help an organisation through one of its worst days. My commitment is to provide immediate, expert guidance and a clear path to recovery."

CIR operations

CIR offers services such as negotiation with threat actors, deployment of DFIR tools, and collaborations with other cybersecurity providers to help reduce and manage financial and data losses for clients. In 2024, CIR handled more than 700 global cases for Coalition policyholders, addressing 56% of reported matters without extra cost to policyholders.

Sam Weaver, General Manager of Coalition Australia, said, "Coalition Australia remains dedicated to providing innovative Active Insurance solutions that protect businesses from evolving cyber threats. Our strong growth and expanding local team further solidify our commitment to delivering exceptional value to partners and clients and helping them mitigate digital threats before they can escalate into full-blown attacks."

Local representation

The new role ensures that Coalition has dedicated representation in Australia for all parts of its Active Insurance suite, including claims, incident response, risk assessment and the deployment of local cybersecurity analysts. These services enable Australian policyholders to directly access local expertise for their cybersecurity concerns and to respond to vulnerabilities more effectively.

Coalition's expansion in Australia includes recruitment in multiple cities, broadening its capacity to provide on-the-ground support and direct guidance to Australian businesses affected by digital risks.

CIR services are available to policyholders both before and after a claim is filed, with CIR acting as one of several panel providers that customers may utilise. This structure grants policyholders options when responding to a cyber incident or making a claim.

CIR's approach involves working closely with affected businesses to deliver technical response services and recommendations that aim to minimise operational downtime and support a thorough recovery.

The Australian market is experiencing increased attention from cyber threats, and Coalition's move to provide dedicated DFIR capabilities locally is designed to address growing demand from organisations seeking support before, during, and after cyber incidents.

Coalition plans to continue building its local team in Australia in response to evolving digital risk and service requirements from policyholders in the country.