Macquarie Telecom, Netskope unite to boost AI security in Australia
Macquarie Telecom and Netskope have entered into a partnership aimed at simplifying security and network solutions for Australian organisations using data, cloud, and AI applications.
This agreement will see the integration of Netskope's Security Service Edge (SSE) platform with Macquarie Telecom's Software-Defined Wide Area Network (SD-WAN). The combined service is designed to offer advanced security and networking capabilities, making them available to a broader range of Australian organisations as they seek to enhance network security and adopt cloud technologies and artificial intelligence at an enterprise level.
Context of rising threats
The partnership comes at a time when Australian businesses have faced sustained and significant data breaches, prompting increased cybersecurity regulation and greater pressure on IT and security teams. The new offering aims to address these challenges by providing a consolidated solution for web, data, cloud, and AI security, along with managed networking services.
Netskope's SSE platform is noted for consolidating various security capabilities, with the aim of delivering greater efficacy and cost savings. The company states that this approach is intended to protect against threats while removing the usual compromises between security and network performance.
The combined service is assessed under the Information Security Registered Assessors Programme (IRAP) at the PROTECTED level. This allows its use by government bodies and critical industries in Australia. Furthermore, it is designed to support Australian organisations working to meet compliance criteria under the Security of Critical Infrastructure (SOCI) framework or the Government's Essential Eight framework.
Statements from partners
"Organisations big and small are under immense pressure to strengthen their cyber defences while keeping operations simple and manageable," said Luke Clifton, Group Executive for Macquarie Telecom. "By joining forces with Netskope, we're giving customers a smarter, more resilient network backed by integrated, enterprise-grade security. They're getting the best of both worlds."
Discussing the current state of enterprise networks, Tony Burnside, Senior Vice President and Head of APAC at Netskope, said:
"Modern networks need to be both fast and secure, but many organisations are still having to accept trade-offs between performance and security, which result in either an inferior security posture, or a degraded user experience. Networking and security consolidation is now a cornerstone of the demands of modern business, and through this partnership with Macquarie Telecom, we will help more Australian organisations unlock enhanced levels of data security, enabling agility, innovation, and competitiveness."
Both companies highlighted their focus on customer service and experience as an additional benefit of the partnership. Macquarie Telecom points to its net promoter score (NPS) as evidence of its customer satisfaction, while Netskope emphasises its approach to balancing user experience with robust security.
On this point, Clifton added:
"Too often, securing users, environments, and networks comes at the cost of user experience. Netskope stands out by striking the right balance between delivering uncompromising security while ensuring performance and customer experience are prioritised. Together, we're not only delivering best-in-class protection, but also the ability to maintain the excellent user experiences we're known for. That's what sets this partnership apart."
Industry recognition and existing relationships
Netskope has been recognised as a Leader for the fourth consecutive year in the 2025 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Security Service Edge. The company already maintains a partnership with Macquarie Government, a related entity that delivers SASE technology to federal government customers.
The collaboration announced by Macquarie Telecom and Netskope aims to support organisations facing new regulatory, security, and performance challenges as the use of data, cloud, and artificial intelligence continues to grow across critical and enterprise sectors in Australia.
