FirstWave receives funds to develop AI-powered compliance software

FirstWave Cloud Technology has been awarded funding under the CSIRO Regional University Industry Collaboration (RUIC) program.

The initial $264,982 project is delivered on a co-funded (in-kind and cash basis) under the RUIC program, with $168,982 being contributed by the University of the Sunshine Coast (supported by CSIRO), $48,000 contributed by the Queensland Government and $48,000 by FirstWave, in addition to the existing efforts of the FirstWave team and a variety of assets that are made available to FirstWave by the University of Sunshine Coast and the CSIRO.

The funds will be used for a collaborative project to accelerate the commercial delivery of AI-powered network intelligence and compliance software.

FirstWave is working with the University of the Sunshine Coast (“UniSC”) Cyber Security Lab in collaboration with CSIRO to advance the next phase of its AI-driven compliance management software.

The collaboration will see AI technology developers and researchers working directly with FirstWave’s product and engineering teams to build and operationalise new machine learning models using real-world operational data.

The project accelerates FirstWave’s strategic shift from traditional network monitoring towards intelligent, predictive network and compliance management. It builds on the company’s existing anomaly detection and machine learning capability within its NMIS and Open-AudIT platforms, which are estimated to be deployed across more than 150,000 organisations in 178 countries.

The collaboration is focused on delivering production-ready enhancements that enable enterprise and government customers to identify emerging network and security issues earlier, reduce unplanned downtime, and improve the resilience of mission-critical digital infrastructure.

At the centre of the work is the development of a contextual, state-aware AI framework that incorporates realworld operational conditions such as workload behaviour, dynamic routing, cloud scaling events and automation.

The machine learning models will be validated using live operational data from FirstWave’s platforms to ensure direct commercial relevance, scalability and suitability for global deployment.

The project also supports national priorities in cybersecurity and digital resilience, contributing to Australia’s capability in autonomous systems, secure data analytics and intelligent infrastructure.

Danny Maher, MD and CEO of FirstWave, said the collaboration represents an important step in executing the Company’s AI compliance strategy.

“This collaboration brings key expertise that we need and accelerates our ability to deliver intelligent, predictive compliance for organisations worldwide," he said.

"By combining UniSC’s capabilities with our global footprint and the extensive network data collected through our platforms, we are strengthening Australia’s cybersecurity resilience while advancing the AI that underpins our compliance management stack.”

2025 saw FirstWave complete a $2.85 million capital raise; extend existing agreements with Microsoft and Telstra; and partner with AWS for a global marketplace launch.