Victorian NFP taps Macquarie Cloud for security platform

Macquarie Cloud Services has inked a deal with Victorian not-for-profit Child & Family Services Ballarat (Cafs) to deliver a cybersecurity threat intelligence and detection platform.

Founded over 160 years ago, Cafs prioritises the wellbeing of over 6,500 children, young people and their families across Victoria's Grampians and Central Highlands.

The not-for-profit needed to bolster its cybersecurity, given the sensitive nature of its data and its current digital transformation initiatives. 

Macquarie Cloud's platform will provide real-time cyber threat detection and response capabilities plus the ability to integrate and correlate threat intelligence from multiple sources.

The platform will integrate with Microsoft's security incident and event management (SIEM) solution Azure Sentinel.

Macquarie Cloud is also improving Cafs’ workflows to better utilise Microsoft’s Extended Detection and Response, which will allow the not-for-profit to facilitate a zero-trust framework  throughout its IT environment.

Cafs will also have round-the-clock access to Macquarie Cloud’s more than 200 NV1 government data security-cleared personnel for detection and response, governance and strategic support.

“We have a small ICT team, so we rely on external partners to help deliver certain functions and capabilities, particularly when specialist skill sets are involved,” Cafs' cybersecurity and infrastructure specialist Chris Hunter said.

“I started researching security operations centre and SIEM services, and Macquarie Cloud Services emerged as one of the leading Microsoft security partners in Australia."

"The team took the time to understand our business and requirements as an NFP, which other providers didn’t really bother to do."

"They were also willing to be flexible in the commercial arrangements, helping us to make the business case with key stakeholders and get the investment over the line.”

Hunter added that as well as becoming cyber resilient, Cafs wanted to leverage the opportunities of technologies like AI and automation.

“We know these technologies can make service delivery better and easier, but you need to have the right foundations to support all the data, and they need to be secure,” he said.