Defence paints-up Penten for Army network security lift

Canberra-based cyber security company Penten has picked up a $2.2 million deal with the Department of Defence to improve the Australian Army’s cyber capabilities.

Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price announced two contracts with the firm on Monday to develop technology that lifts the army’s ability to communicate over unsecured networks.

Penten, which won Telstra’s Australian Business of the Year award last year for its work securing wireless devices from cyber threats, will also use the funding to help the Army shore up its network.

To do this Penten will “develop a cyber-management capability and enhance security countermeasures” to help the Army “monitor network traffic and mitigate attacks on its network”.

“Innovation is critical to build and sustain the Australian Defence Force’s capability edge,” Price said.

“Australia benefits from an industrial base of many agile small to medium enterprises like Penten.”

Last year Penten scored a similarly sized contract with the army to develop its AltoCrypt technology – which uses an encrypted USB devices to secure wireless device.

The project was aimed at giving the army access to rapidly deployable technology to change how classified information is shared, used and accessed.

Assistant Minister for Finance, Charities and Electoral Matters and Senator to the ACT Zed Seselja said the new contracts, which stem from last year’s Army Innovation Day, was a significant investment in local defence industry.

“These contracts will not only allow Penten to support local jobs and skills in Canberra, but will ensure members of the Canberra defence industry community continue to be engaged in developing cutting-edge technologies for Australia’s Defence Force,” he said.