IBM hires ex-AFP cyber top cop to run Aussie infosec centre

Former director of the Australian Federal Police's high-tech crime centre Kevin Zuccato will join tech giant IBM to lead its new Canberra-based national cyber security centre.

Kevin Zuccato

Zuccato led the AFP's high-tech crime centre for five years until late 2009, and later worked for over two years as its national manager of intelligence.

He has spent more than 30 years in law enforcement, spending much of that time focusing on cyber security, national security and intelligence. Zuccato also helped establish the Vietnamese police force's high-tech crime centre.

Since leaving the AFP in May this year, Zuccato has advised public and private sector organisations on safety and security issues as the managing director of consultancy GMT Solutions.

He will leave this role to head up the new IBM national cyber security centre, which will be based in IBM's Canberra office and used to sell the company's security solutions to organisations.

IBM said the centre would also act as a hub for collaboration between government and industry, in line with the government's cyber security strategy unveiled earlier this year.

It declined to to specify how many employees would staff the centre. IBM has more than 12 security operations centres globally to handle the infosec operations for 3700 clients, the company said.

“To overcome the growing volume and sophistication of cyber attacks, and the global shortage of skilled security professionals, organisations and government need to partner, draw greater insights from data and share information," Zuccato said in a statement.

"I look forward to working with IBM, our clients, partners and government to build Australia’s cyber security resilience.”