AUSCERT 30 Years 30 Stories – Hank Opdam

Chief Information Security Officer of Ausgrid, Hank Opdam, has enjoyed a 20-year friendship with AUSCERT. Going to his first AUSCERT conference in the early 2000s, Hank has partnered with AUSCERT through a variety of companies, valuing AUSCERT’s open communication and collaborative services. No matter your company size, Hank recommends an AUSCERT membership.

So how did you first become involved with AUSCERT and what motivated you to become a member?

I was working in financial services at the time, and back then, phishing takedowns were a large gap in the industry. That’s where my relationship with AUSCERT first started. These days it’s a very different exercise and we’ve been benefiting from AUSCERT’s security bulletins mostly along with having AUSCERT as a phone-a-friend organisation to bounce ideas and receive assistance with an incident.

What are the key benefits of being an AUSCERT member?

Apart from the services we receive, the bouncing of ideas and bulletins, the other main benefit is the relationship you build with the AUSCERT team. They are a knowledgeable group of people who care and are backed by a community that’s grown at conferences each year.

What advice would you give to someone considering becoming an AUSCERT member?

If you’re an organisation considering an AUSCERT membership – it’s great value, regardless of your company’s size. For smaller organisations, there’s great insights into the threat landscape and the intelligence they can receive. For bigger organisations, it’s about the community, and giving back.

What do you think the future holds for AUSCERT?

Realistically, who knows what the future holds for all things cyber? But one thing that has been clear is that AUSCERT will continue to facilitate events where they’ll listen to their members and community – offering to fill the gaps not being filled by others.

What do you believe sets AUSCERT apart from other organisations in the cyber security space?

AUSCERT is independent, and not-for-profit. You know the information you’ll receive is sound and without influence and that’s helpful when there’s so much noise in the cyber security landscape.