"Thales' cyber capabilities are leading the way in safeguarding Australia and New Zealand's digital future"

As the digital landscape continues to evolve, the need for robust cybersecurity measures has never been more critical. We sat down with Thea Dedden, GM of Digital Identity and Security for Thales Australia and New Zealand, to explore how Thales is leading the charge in securing the future across ANZ.

What makes Thales’ cyber capability unique?

Thales stands out in the cyber domain due to our blend of technology innovation and security expertise. With our National Security heritage and strong engineering background, we support customers throughout the entire cybersecurity lifecycle. We guide them through emerging technologies and evolving regulations, helping prioritise critical demands. Our approach combines advisory, managed services, and top-tier security products to safeguard crucial identities, data, and applications.

What role does Thales play in Australia and New Zealand, and who are some of organisations we support?

Thales secures sectors ranging from critical infrastructure to digital payments. Our National Security heritage drives us to enhance Australia’s cyber resilience through customer support, supply chain education, and partnerships with educational institutions to foster future technologists and security experts.

Examples of how we are helping businesses and governments everyday include:

• Safeguarding energy and water supply, and protecting supply chains and trade at major ports.
• Securing individuals' data when interacting with the government online; and their identities in both digital and physical forms.
• Safeguarding payments from point-of-sale to the banking infrastructure across Australia.'
• Protecting entry to mobile telecommunications networks.
• Safeguarding the annual Australian schools’ online NAPLAN assessment.
• Securing airport operations for safer passenger journeys

Can you tell us more about Thales' cybersecurity experts in Australia and New Zealand?

Thales has more than 500 cybersecurity experts across ANZ who are dedicated to living and breathing cyber every day. These experts help safeguard our customers and contribute to the cyber maturity of our own organisation. With the predicted needs of Australia and New Zealand reaching 85,000 cyber workers by 2030, we’re committed to  developing the workforce of the future in ANZ.

Tell us about Tesserent and Imperva, and how do they fit into Thales’ offering?

Thales has strengthened its cyber capability with the recent acquisitions of Tesserent and Imperva.

Tesserent brings over 500 security specialists across Australia and New Zealand, ensuring local expertise and support. Imperva, a leader in data and application security, enhances Thales' ability to offer comprehensive solutions for application, data, and identity security across critical industries like banking, education, and government services.

Can you tell us about a Digital Identity and Security project you're particularly proud of?

Where is Thales heading in the cybersecurity landscape?

Cybercrime is set to become the third-largest economy, driving rapid evolution. In Australia, cybersecurity spending will grow by 9% annually over the next five years. Thales will support critical industries in bridging legacy OT and IT gaps and adapting to regulatory reforms. Our ambition aligns with the Australian Government's vision to make Australia a cybersecurity leader by 2030, working closely with customers, government, and industry to achieve this.