BT SELECTS SYDNEY FOR GLOBAL CYBER SECURITY HUB EXPANSION

BT and New South Wales Government today
announced the opening of a new global cyber security research and development
hub in Sydney. The hub is an expansion of BT’s existing Security Operation
Centre (SOC) and will create up to 172 new highly skilled jobs over five years,
further cementing New South Wales as Australia’s cyber security hotspot.

The hub is BT’s first
cyber security R&D facility outside of the United Kingdom and will employ
highly qualified cyber security specialists. The areas of expertise in the new
hub will include cyber security, machine learning, data science analytics and
visualisation, big data engineering, cloud computing, data networking, and the
full life cycle of software engineering. The centre will also offer job
opportunities for 38 graduates with relevant degrees.

The expanded operations centre and R&D hub is part of BT’s global network
of 14 Security Operations Centres, providing cyber security service for global
customers in 180 countries around the world. BT is recognised by industry
analysts as one of the world’s leaders in managed security services on a global level as well as in the Asia Pacific region specifically.

Security solutions developed and supported out of the Sydney hub will be
deployed for customers locally and globally. The hub will also host cyber
security systems integration and services teams as well as BT’s newly created
role of chief global engineer for cyber product development.

Minister for Innovation Matt Kean said the NSW Government-backed Jobs for NSW
would provide a $1.67 million grant to BT.

“This cutting edge operation will help keep
Australia’s best cyber security talent here in NSW while nurturing our next
generation of specialists to ensure we remain a regional leader in this fast
growing industry.

“As well as creating 172 jobs, including 38 jobs
for skilled graduates over the next five years, BT will also make a $2 million
investment in capital infrastructure and a further multi-million dollar
investment to employ cyber security specialists at the hub.”

Mark Hughes, CEO BT
Security, said: “We are thrilled at this exciting new opportunity to tap into
local cyber security skills. Never before has cyber security been more
important and we see potential for growth in New South Wales, Australia and
further afield. The hub will be a cornerstone of our global cyber security
capabilities and help us stay ahead in this fast moving space.”