Singtel's Optus opens A$10m cyber-security operations centre

SINGTEL's Australian unit Optus has opened a A$10 million facility to strengthen Australia's cyber defence.

The company on Wednesday launched the Optus Advanced Security Operations Centre (ASOC), which adds to Singtel's current network of seven ASOCs protecting more than three million businesses in 96 countries.

These centres will share threat intelligence, data analytics and advanced security automation.

The Optus ASOC is supported by Singtel's 2,000 over cyber security experts worldwide; many of them come from Trustwave, the largest independent managed security services provider in the US which Singtel acquired last year, the group said.

"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," said Singtel Group Enterprise CEO Bill Chang. "Likewise, multinational corporations planning to expand into Australia have access to Trustwave Managed Security Services, delivered through the Optus ASOC."

Cyber crime is estimated to cost A$1 billion (S$1.06 billion) a year to the Australian economy, with an average of A$2.5 million to an organisation for a single data breach, said Singtel quoting figures from the Australian Cyber Security Centre.