17 May 2021

Vectra AI, a pioneer in network detection and response (NDR), is delighted to announce its appointment to deliver behavioural detection and response capabilities for the growing Australian telecommunications company Superloop through its partnership with Baidam Solutions.

This appointment by Superloop will see it deploy Vectra’s Cognito® AI platform and marks an exciting collaboration for Vectra AI and its channel partner, Baidam Solutions in the Australian marketplace.

Meeting international standards

As a telecommunications company, Superloop is legislatively bound to meet international standards of information security, however Head of Security and IT for Superloop, Jason Veness, says the company strives to exceed these standards. The partnership with Vectra and Baidam will allow Superloop to expand its capabilities, so existing and future customers have access to a wider range of security services.

The partnership with Vectra and Baidam will allow Superloop to expand its capabilities

"By partnering with Vectra, we are continuing to shift from static pattern-based threat detection to behavioural detection and response capabilities in our security operations. This partnership allows us to go beyond industry standards, ensuring better protection for our products and in turn, our customers,” said Veness.

Evolving technology landscape

A focus of Superloop, an Australian-based telecommunications company that delivers connectivity services to businesses across the Asia Pacific region, is to take a forward-thinking approach to an ever-evolving technology landscape and provide solutions to suit specific business needs and requirements.

Veness continues, "Through a very well-designed user interface and the Cognito AI platform, Vectra has simplified our security operations practices. The number of false positives has reduced dramatically, allowing us (Superloop) to spend our security operation hours more effectively to mitigate threats versus chasing ghosts.”

Internal operational efficiencies

We’re delighted, together with Baidam Solutions, to be working with Superloop"

Commenting on the Superloop win, Dee Clinton, Vectra AI’s head of Asia-Pacific partner alliances said, “We’re delighted, together with Baidam Solutions, to be working with Superloop to improve their security posture and that of their customers. Our Cognito platform has hit the ground running, delivering greater security visibility across Superloop’s entire network while also improving internal operational efficiencies, so its security team can spend their time where it matters most.”

Through its partnership with Superloop, Vectra and Baidam will further support the company to stay ahead of cyber threats and provide its customers throughout the Asia Pacific with the best in class cyber security solutions available.

Protecting digital assets

The joint initiative between Vectra and Baidam Solutions, announced in 2020, provides First Nations’ people with scholarships, a full education, and technical skills to combat the rise in cyberattacks against local businesses, government, and infrastructure.

The partnership between Baidam Solutions and Vectra AI has developed strongly over the past 12 months"

Phillip Jenkinson, CEO of Baidam Solutions, says the organisation is excited to welcome Superloop as a client and further strengthen its partnership with Vectra. “The partnership between Baidam Solutions and Vectra AI has developed strongly over the past 12 months. Not only are we able to support clients like Superloop protect their digital assets with Vectra’s AI driven network detection, we’re also committed to working with Vectra on increasing Indigenous diversity and inclusion in the ICT sector,” said Jenkinson.

Cyber security talent

Vectra AI’s Dee Clinton says her business is also focused on a better future for its customers. An example of this in action is a joint scholarship with Baidam Solutions, designed to encourage more Indigenous people to enter Australia’s fast-growing cybersecurity field.

Our long-term shared ambition is to grow more local cyber security talent to help organisations across Australia build a stronger security infrastructure and protect critical data and assets from increasing numbers of attackers,” comments Clinton. Clinton was pleased to be present when the first scholarship was awarded recently to proud Indigenous man, Cody Meakin OAM from Western Arrernte, Central Australia.

Greater financial independence

Cody, who won gold at the 2012 Summer Paralympics for wheelchair rugby in London

Cody, who won gold at the 2012 Summer Paralympics for wheelchair rugby in London - the first gold in the sport for Australia - has shifted his attention from sport to the finance sector and technology since his medal win. He says he’s incredibly proud to have won the full cost of tuition to become SANS Institute Certified. He will be studying online over the coming six months towards this qualification with the support of Vectra AI and Baidam Solutions.

Believe me when I tell you that being awarded this scholarship in such a rapidly growing industry is life changing,” Cody says. “Thanks to the Baidam and Vectra teams for giving me a chance, a hand up. Career pathways in cybersecurity attract higher remuneration than most other industries and this will allow me greater financial independence. When the time is right, I look forward to mentoring other Indigenous students and passing my knowledge on.”

Local mentoring pool

Cody is currently working full-time within the financial services sector as Director, corporate support, and housing at The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Health Service (ATSICHS) Brisbane. As part of this scholarship, he will have access to a large local mentoring pool to further support him in becoming SANS Institute Certified, an internationally recognised certification standard.

Cody will have access to a large local mentoring pool to further support him in becoming SANS Institute Certified

The scholarship will be focused on Risk and Compliance which I will be able to implement in my current role. I hope to build my cybersecurity knowledge as I progress through my career, cybersecurity has become a keen interest of mine,” he says. Clinton is excited about the opportunity for Cody and his future contributions, saying the cybersecurity industry is in dire need of capable professionals like him.

Successful business outcome

She comments, “Our joint scholarship program with Baidam Solutions will assist those willing and capable to flourish in a competitive skills market. We congratulate Cody on his achievement and look forward to him playing an important role in our country’s security. We hope his success will encourage other First Nations’ students to follow a similar pathway to an executive level within the growing cyber security industry.”

Baidam Solutions dedicates a significant percentage of its profits toward providing pathways to employment in the ICT security sector for First Nations’ people through the Baidam Initiative. It works closely with Federal, State and enterprise customers to help them achieve successful business outcomes and meet their Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) goals.