In a groundbreaking move to accelerate cyber resilience for Australian businesses, Forde is proud to announce a strategic partnership with Blueshift Cybersecurity – a key player in the field of affordable, managed security operations for any size business.

This alliance aligns the technical expertise of Blueshift with the consulting capabilities of Forde towards a mutual goal of integrating advanced cybersecurity protocols, particularly within the framework of the Essential Eight (E8) and RFFR (Right Fit For Risk) strategies.

It also aims to establish a secure cyberspace, through managed critical infrastructure security information and event management (SIEM) capabilities all in compliance with RFFR (right fit for risk) methodology.

As both firms champion a unique and uncompromising approach to information security, businesses operating in Australia can be sure to enjoy a safer and more secure digital future. Blueshift’s compliance with global ISO 27001 and RFFR standards also adds to Forde’s ability to offer clients a robust framework for managing cybersecurity risk at an affordable price point.

The collaboration specifically addresses the crucial aspects outlined by RFFR (Right Fit for Risk), ensuring a robust defense against cyber threats. At the core of RFFR, the partnership between these firms supports centralized logging and monitoring through a SOC managed Security Incident and Event Management (SIEM) system.

Blueshift’s managed SIEM solution not only meets the prerequisite of recording specific security telemetry,  but also ensures the integrity of the logs by securely storing them on-prem in each customer’s environment and safeguarding them against unauthorized access.

With event logs analyzed by a combination of SOAR automation and hypothesis based threat hunting, the collaboration emphasizes the efficient detection of cybersecurity events, coupled with the ability to deliver rapid incident response.

Continuous monitoring is a cornerstone of the RFFR methodology, and the partnership further fortifies this by incorporating both agent-based vulnerability detection and network based vulnerability scanning. The Blueshift SIEM agents are equipped with an up-to-date vulnerability database, offering an additional layer of defense against potential threats. The combination of Forde’s penetration testing with the Blueshift managed SIEM further enhances the proactive approach to identifying and mitigating vulnerabilities.

With its SIEM solution, Blueshift plays a pivotal role in assessing and categorizing security events, aligning seamlessly with the ISO 27001 requirement to respond to incidents according to documented procedures.  Insights gained from these incidents are then utilized to continuously improve security controls, ensuring a dynamic and adaptive cybersecurity posture.

Blueshift’s CTO,  Greg Scasny said: “As Forde and Blueshift usher in a new era of cybersecurity collaboration, businesses across Australia can anticipate a heightened level of protection against advanced cyber threats. With the unified visibility provided by the integration of SIEM logs, network data, cloud, and leading endpoint security tools, the Blueshift SOC is able to detect and block anomalies, minimize adversary dwell time, and respond rapidly to post exploit cyber incidents. With a steadfast commitment to compliance standards, the partnership’s focus on not just meeting but surpassing industry benchmarks is poised to set a precedent for cybersecurity excellence in the region.”

Michael Travis, Forde’s CEO, highlights the significance of the partnership for smaller enterprises, stating “Affordable, SIEM solutions are often elusive for SMBs. This partnership addresses a critical gap in the market, offering a managed SOC and compliance-driven approach that is both effective and cost-efficient making it a game-changer for businesses looking to accelerate cyber resilience as well as maintaining data sovereignty”