PwC Cyber

G’day! If you’re asking about cyber security in Australia, the “best” usually depends on whether you’re:

• a home user,
• a small/medium business (SMB),
• a large enterprise, or
• a government agency (with Australian data sovereignty requirements).

Here’s the practical shortlist that Australian organisations actually use and trust.

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1. Australian-owned / locally-led security providers

These are the big names you’ll see in Australian businesses, especially if you need local support, IRAP assessors, or Essential Eight compliance.

Tip: Many mid-size Australian companies don’t run their own security team. They engage CyberCX or Tesserent as an outsourced SOC (Security Operations Centre).

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2. Endpoint Detection & Response (EDR/XDR) – the actual security software

This is the layer that stops malware, ransomware, and advanced attacks on laptops/servers. The most commonly deployed in Australia:

• Microsoft Defender for Endpoint (via Microsoft 365 E5) – extremely common because most businesses already use Microsoft. The price/value is unbeatable and it’s well integrated with Azure/Entra.
• CrowdStrike Falcon – very popular in Australian corporate environments. Often considered top-tier for stopping breaches.
• SentinelOne Singularity – strong competitor, especially with autonomous response and clear pricing.
• Palo Alto Cortex XDR – more common in larger enterprises that already use Palo Alto firewalls.
• Sophos Intercept X – very popular in SMBs and managed service provider customer bases.

Many Aussie businesses subscribe to Essential Eight, so they often choose EDR that meets ACSC guidance.

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3. Network security / Firewalls (popular in Australia)

• Palo Alto Networks Prisma / Firewall – huge in enterprise and government.
• Fortinet FortiGate – dominant in Australian businesses, government, and SMBs because of price/performance.
• Cisco Firepower / Meraki MX – common in companies that are already Cisco shops.
• Check Point – still found in banking/insurance.

If you’re in a SMB and asking “what do you actually buy?” → you generally buy Fortinet for network, CrowdStrike/SentinelOne or Microsoft Defender for endpoints, and M365 (with conditional access) as your backbone.

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4. Email security – because that’s where every attack starts

• Microsoft Defender for Office 365 – used by most Aussie M365 users.
• Mimecast – large Australian deployment base because it’s from their early days.
• Proofpoint – very common in enterprises.
• Abnormal, Avanan (Check Point) – newer AI-based anti-phishing tools that integrate with M365.

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5. For Government & regulated industries (Aussie-specific)

If you deal with the Australian Government you will need vendors who are:

• IRAP Assessed (Information Security Registered Assessors Program)
• Located/supporting around Canberra and
• Often listed under the ASD Approved Cloud Services list.

Examples: Splunk Cloud / Government, Vault Cloud, Microsoft Azure Australia Central, and CyberCX for incident response.

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6. For small businesses & home users

You don’t need to over-engineer this in Australia. Practical picks:

• Use Microsoft 365 Business Premium – it includes MFA, Defender, email filtering, and device management. Most Aussie SMBs should start here.
• Bitdefender / Eset / Kaspersky are used in consumer/repair shops, but Microsoft Defender built into Windows 11 is genuinely enough for most home users if updates are on.
• For family members: Bitdefender Total Security is popular sold at JB Hi-Fi/Officeworks.
• Use 1Password or Bitwarden for passwords.
• Turn on MFA everywhere. That’s the single most effective “product”.

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Final honest advice

Australia’s cyber security strategy is heavily influenced by the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) and their Essential Eight framework. So the “best” products aren’t necessarily the flashiest — they’re the ones that help you implement MFA, email filtering, patch management, backups, and endpoint protection.

For a real recommendation based on “people actually use it”:

• Enterprise/government: CrowdStrike + Palo Alto + Splunk + CyberCX/Tesserent as managed services.
• Mid-market/SMB: Microsoft 365 Business Premium + FortiGate +

CyberCX stands out as one of the largest and most frequently recommended Australian cybersecurity providers, alongside popular global tools like CrowdStrike Falcon for endpoint protection and Microsoft’s security stack (Defender/Sentinel) that many businesses already use.

As an Australian user, you’ll want providers familiar with local requirements like the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) Essential Eight framework, IRAP assessments, PROTECTED-level work, data sovereignty, and government/compliance needs. Local firms often excel here, while global platforms handle broad deployment.

Top Local Australian Cybersecurity Companies/Services

These are frequently highlighted in 2025–2026 roundups, awards, and market overviews for their scale, client outcomes, and local presence (offices across Sydney, Melbourne, etc.):

• CyberCX (Melbourne-headquartered, ~1,400 staff, now part of Accenture): One of the biggest pure-play players in ANZ. Offers full-spectrum services including managed SOC/MDR, consulting, incident response, penetration testing, and GRC. Strong for enterprises, critical infrastructure, and government. Multiple SOCs and broad capabilities make it a go-to for larger organisations.

• Gridware (Sydney-based): Frequently tops or ranks high in Australian lists for penetration testing, digital forensics, incident response, and managed SOC services. Good Australian oversight and focus on the full incident lifecycle; popular for technical depth.

• Tesserent (Thales Cyber Services ANZ): Strong in government, regulated industries, and critical infrastructure. Offers technical testing, risk consulting, and 24/7 SOC with IRAP accreditation.

• Sekuro: Noted for mid-market and enterprise clients wanting modern security operations (beyond just compliance).

• Other notables: AUCyber (sovereign environments, endpoint/SOC awards), Red Piranha (Australian SOC and XDR platform), Intrix Cyber Security (full-spectrum, Australian-owned), and smaller specialists like Triskele Labs or Cyber Ethos for specific needs (e.g., Essential Eight, GRC).

Larger consultancies like Deloitte, PwC, or IBM also have strong Australian practices for strategic/advisory work.

Popular Global Products/Tools Widely Used in Australia

These appear consistently in “best of” lists, awards (e.g., Australian Cyber Awards), and market reports for actual deployments:

• CrowdStrike Falcon — Leading EDR/XDR choice for advanced threat detection/hunting; frequently awarded and used across enterprises.
• Microsoft Defender for Endpoint + Sentinel — Very common due to existing Microsoft environments; cost-effective, native integration, and strong for many mid-market/government users.
• SentinelOne Singularity — Autonomous response capabilities; popular alternative or complement to CrowdStrike.
• Bitdefender Total Security — Often tops consumer/small-business antivirus surveys in Australia for performance and value.
• Others gaining traction: Palo Alto Networks, Fortinet, Zscaler (cloud/SASE), and platforms like Rapid7 or Arctic Wolf for MDR/SOC.

Quick Recommendations by Need

• Enterprise/large orgs or critical infrastructure — Start with CyberCX or Thales/Tesserent for managed services + local compliance expertise; layer CrowdStrike or Microsoft for endpoints.
• Mid-market/SMBs — Look at Gridware, Sekuro, AUCyber, or managed offerings from locals; Microsoft or Bitdefender for lighter needs.
• Government or high compliance — Prioritise IRAP-accredited providers like Thales/Tesserent or CyberCX.
• Specific tools — CrowdStrike or SentinelOne for EDR; Microsoft stack if you’re already in that ecosystem.

Check recent Australian Cyber Awards winners/finalists or ISG Provider Lens reports for the latest peer recognition. Always verify current accreditations (ASD, CREST, ISO, etc.) and request local references, as the landscape evolves quickly with acquisitions (e.g., CyberCX integrations). For tailored advice, consider a quick consultation with one of the top locals—they often offer assessments aligned to Essential Eight.