Cirrus Networks Holdings has been granted a $3 million operational technology (OT) cyber resilience service contract by Woodside Petroleum.
The contract seeks to converge traditionally siloed information technology (IT) and OT business units with security and safety at the forefront, with a key consideration of Woodside’s offshore platforms, floating production storage and offloading and onshore LNG plants.
Cirrus will complete the program for Woodside over 18 months.
Company managing director Matt Sullivan said Cirrus was pleased to have won the “competitive tender” and partner with Australia’s largest independent oil and gas company.
“It highlights our position as a market leader through investment and commitment to this fast-growing strategic OT/cyber security segment of the market,” Sullivan said.
“With quality staff, innovative solutions and strong technology partnerships, we are confident our security and OT division will continue to … provide robust technology platforms to safeguard our clients in ever changing and evolving environments across the country.”
Woodside, in highlighting the importance of cybersecurity, said, “In 2018, we have refreshed our technology strategy to ensure we continue to focus on conventional oil and gas technologies and data-driven breakthroughs.
“We are installing a data-driven digital nerve system at our facilities that will provide insights to enable better decisions and avoid disruptions to operations.”
According to client services manager for FM Global Australia and New Zealand Andrew Stafford, cyberattacks have been increasing in number, roughly doubling every year since 2015. Its financial impact on business this year was also up 62 per cent since 2016.
“Ensuring your digital investments have the appropriate protections in place is key. The cost of failure here is simply too great,” said Stafford.