Digital Resilience specialises in providing cyber security, privacy, financial crime, and risk management services across the Asia Pacific, United States and Europe. Their mission is to create a safer, more secure, and resilient digital future for clients and their customers. In 2023, the company was the winner in the ‘Technology and Digital’ Category at the Bendigo Business Excellence Awards.
Introducing Digital Resilience
Digital Resilience was born out of a friendship between five people who met as colleagues working at the Bendigo and Adelaide Bank some fifteen to twenty years ago. Fast forward to a global pandemic, which accelerated a reliance on digital technology and, consequently, vulnerability to cyber crime and a business idea was floated. Recognising a growing need in the sector, everyone jumped in. Friends became business partners and the now leadership team at Digital Resilience.
Consulting Partner Jacob Kiel says demand for Digital Resilience is going through the roof – not surprising in light of the number of companies that have reported significant data breaches in recent history. But, this is where Jacob also explains how Digital Resilience has taken an innovative approach in the sector. While they offer cybersecurity consulting to enterprise-sized organisations, they’re also working to democratise cybersecurity support for small to medium businesses.
Jacob explains that small(er) businesses have fewer resources when it comes to cyber security; and yet are coming increasingly under attack. “It doesn’t matter who you are or where you are,” Jacob says, “you’re still going to be a target.” He says larger companies with the resources to invest in cybersecurity are better armed against cyber crime now. As a result, cyber criminals are targeting other businesses, recognising that they don’t have the same resources and protections. That’s where Digital Resilience comes in with an innovative product that, in essence, offers businesses as close to a DIY approach to cyber security as there is.
The product developed by Digital Resilience is called My Security Adviser. It’s a digital platform that automates the risk assessment process, then sets out a road-map based on that information for companies to effectively manage that risk. Currently, Jacob says My Security Advisor supports businesses all over Australia – companies with as few as three employees, up to as many as four hundred. He explains, too, that as Australia looks towards making changes to the Privacy Act, which would make it compulsory for small businesses to protect personal data by law, the need for a product like My Security Advisor will increase even further.
Business from Bendigo
“From a lifestyle perspective, you can’t beat it. From a cyber-security perspective, it really doesn’t matter where we are.”
The Digital Resilience Leadership Team brought extensive corporate experience from their tenure at Bendigo and Adelaide bank, which included the mindset that you don’t need to be capital-city based to grow a company with global reach. Jacob underscores the lifestyle advantages, highlighting that the digital landscape increasingly diminishes the importance of location. A robust internet connection is really the only primary requirement of running a business within the tech services sector, and Bendigo city boasts some of Australia’s fastest internet speeds. Moreover, the city is committed to ongoing investment in digital infrastructure in an effort to continue to entice businesses to start-up or scale up in the region.
The challenges
While Jacob says there’s a much higher rate of staff retention in Bendigo, the core challenge Digital Resilience faces is finding employees that not only have the right experience, but that feel like the right cultural fit for the company. “The talent pool is less diverse compared to Melbourne, but then, conversely, when a suitable candidate is discovered it often results in a long-term commitment, so there’s a positive side to the problem,” Jacob explains.
In the company’s experience, people who move to Bendigo for work tend to stay because the work-life balance attainable in the region is hard to give up. “When people can have the same professional level of career without the commute and cost of living they’re less inclined to look for job opportunities elsewhere, particularly in Melbourne.”
The advice
Jacob’s advice for anyone looking to start up or scale up in the region – in the technology services industry and beyond – is to build relationships with like-minded businesses. Be.Bendigo is an excellent place to start – they’re an organisation whose purpose is to drive connections between businesses in the region for a more prosperous local economy.
Jacob also suggests finding a mentor who understands the local dynamics of the region and the economy. “Networking in the community is crucial, and a mentor can help you navigate the intricacies of doing business here.” Whether it’s understanding cultural nuances, identifying potential partners, or simply offering moral support, Jacob believes a local mentor can be a trusted guide. They can not only share their experiences but also help you adapt and thrive in this vibrant business ecosystem.
To learn more about Digital Resilience and their groundbreaking work in the cyber security space visit them here.
You can also learn more about the Professional Services sector in the Loddon Mallee; or, about starting a business in the City of Greater Bendigo. If you have questions about starting-up or moving a business to the Loddon Mallee region, visit our Contact page to connect with expert local support.
