KPMG gets First Point

KPMG Australia has bought Asia Pacific cyber security technology integrator First Point Global for an undisclosed sum.

First Point founding partners John Havers and Jan Zeilinga will join KPMG's cyber security leadership team, along with 30 other employees who, along with KPMG's team will be known as KPMG First Point Global.

The identity and access management company brings 'a particular strength in placing customer identity management at the heart of our clients' customer strategies, building revenue as well as managing risks," Malcolm Marshall, KPMB global head of cyber security says of the deal.

The acquisition is the fourth cyber acquisition by the KPMGinternataional network in the past five months – and the sixth acquisition by KPMG Australia in 18 months – and highlights the growing demand for cyber security.

Marshall says cyber security is one of the greatest risks facing business today.

"The critical challenge of protecting information systems and assets, and the reputational and regulatory implications of failing to do so continue to raise the stakes on cyber security and governance.

"Investors and regulators are increasingly challenging boards to step up their oversight of cyber security and calling for greater transparency around major breaches and their impact on business," Marshall says.

Havers, First Point Global chief executive, notes that digital identity and access management have moved from the backroom to the boardroom.

"Ten years ago, we were having discussions with technologists about authentication and authorisation.

"Our discipline then became important for audit, risk and finance to address growing compliance requirements.

"Today, digital identity and its management underpins customer-facing services which are strategic for the growth and survival of businesses, and C-level executives and boards care about that," he says.

Globally, KPMG has identified cyber security as one of the six strategic growth initiatives for focused investments, with the company investing 'substantially' in strengthening its cyber capabilities in recent months.

Those acquisitions include leading IAM consultancy Qubera which operates in the United States, United Kingdom and India, and Finish cyber security business Trusteq Oy, which also specialises in IAM services and security transformation.

Gary Wingrove, KPMG Australia CEO, says the company already has a strong team focused on cyber risk, protection and cyber crime investigations.

"Now we can offer a much deeper capability by creating one of the leading cyber security consulting groups in Australia.

KPMG First Point Global will offer a full spectrum of cyber services covering consulting, systems implementation and ongoing support.