Accenture boosts Australia cybersecurity arm with BCT Solutions deal
Global consulting and technology giant Accenture has acquired cybersecurity services firm BCT Solutions, as the firm looks to consolidate its position as the cybersecurity consultancy of choice for the Australian government.
Accenture associates closely with the Australian government in a number of areas, a relationship that has matured over the last two decades. Part of maintaining this association has been to recognise the evolving needs of the government, which include cybersecurity in the contemporary context.
Cyber attacks are growing in frequency across the globe, and the Australian businesses environment is increasingly aware of the need to invest in prevention. The acquisition of BCT solutions is a significant step for Accenture to bolster its capabilities in the cyber security domain and support firms with investing strategically.
BCT Solutions is a Canberra-based firm that specialises in various service offerings that come within the ambit of electronic warfare, cybersecurity and digital intelligence. Services include IT security, project delivery, training and command & control.
The firm was founded by former members of the Australian Defence Force, which makes it an especially valuable addition to Accenture’s operations. Defence spending in Australia is currently on the rise, which has prompted major advisory firms in the country to bolster their capabilities in the defence arena.
Big Four accounting and advisory firm EY recently appointed former Defence Minister Christopher Pyne to its operations, to help capitalise on this boom in spending. Given Accenture’s close collaboration with the government, the firm will benefit from these additional capabilities in the cyber defence space.
Accenture’s global Defence Lead, Matthew Gollings commented on this added value, saying, “We are very proud to welcome the BCT team to Accenture, and we commend their work in supporting the local defence community. BCT is a strong match with Accenture’s values, culture and people — and we look forward to combining our skills to serve the needs of government agencies.”
BCT Solutions Director Angus Heatley added, “We are excited to join forces with Accenture to address the pressing challenges facing the Defence and broader public sector landscape. Most of the BCT workforce are veterans and have the deep, first-hand defence and national security industry experience, skills and understanding to better equip Australia’s Defence force. Together with Accenture, we can further tailor services to our clients’ ever-changing security needs and ensure they are building resilience from the inside out.”
Overall, Accenture appears to be investing heavily in expanding its capabilities in Australia. This is the firm’s second major acquisition this year, following a deal with Oracle consultancy PrimeQ worth $31 million in January. The deal gave Accenture a strong foothold in the Oracle-driven ERP consultancy market across Australia and new Zealand.
