Singapore, 2 November, 2016 – Singtel built out its cyber security capabilities today with the launch of the Optus Advanced Security Operations Centre (ASOC) in Sydney. The A$10 million investment is designed to strengthen Australia’s cyber defence by helping government agencies and enterprises arm themselves against a growing number of sophisticated cyber security threats.

The Optus ASOC brings Singtel’s global cyber security network to eight ASOCs around the world which currently protect more than 3 million businesses in 96 countries worldwide. Together, they share threat intelligence, threat data analytics and advanced security automation which help protect organisations against threats regardless of where they originate globally.

Mr Bill Chang, Singtel’s Group Enterprise CEO said, “The Optus ASOC’s ability to integrate network and security monitoring functions allow it to provide comprehensive infrastructure, network and data security for Australian government agencies and businesses. This cutting-edge facility leverages our global cyber security capabilities to deliver round-the-clock protection and rapid response against a wide range of sophisticated and fast evolving cyber threats.”

The Optus ASOC is supported by Singtel’s more than 2,000 cyber security experts globally, many of whom hail from Trustwave, the largest independent managed security services provider in the US which Singtel acquired in 2015 as part of plans to globally scale its cyber business.

“Together with our managed security services arm Trustwave, we have the capability to provide extensive and seamless cyber security services for Australian companies intending to expand into the region and beyond. Likewise, multinational corporations planning to expand into Australia have access to Trustwave Managed Security Services, delivered through the Optus ASOC,” Mr Chang added.

According to the Australian Cyber Security Centre, cyber crime is estimated to cost A$1 billion each year to the Australian economy, with an average cost of $A2.5 million to an organisation for a single data breach. In the past two years, an estimated 65% of Australian organisations have been the targets of such crime.

The launch of the Optus ASOC comes on the back of announced plans last week to set up another ASOC in Tokyo where Singtel and Trustwave would provide security services to Japan in partnership with TIS. Last week also saw the launch of the NUS – Singtel Cyber Security Research Laboratory set up to develop next generation technologies for cyber security.

In Australia, Optus has made significant investments in cyber security throughout 2016. These include a co-investment of A$10 million with Macquarie University to establish a multi-disciplinary Cyber Security Hub to tackle Australia’s cyber skills shortage and an A$8 million partnership with La Trobe University to establish industry-focused cyber curriculum.

Singtel has also enhanced its cyber security capabilities through strategic partnerships with leading global cyber security services providers Palo Alto and Akamai to provide their managed security services to businesses in the region.

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