Concentric AI, Sektor sign ANZ data security tie-up

Concentric AI has signed a distribution agreement with Sektor for Australia and New Zealand, giving the data security firm a local route to market through channel partners including resellers, managed security service providers and systems integrators.

Under the deal, Sektor becomes Concentric AI's authorised distributor across both countries, providing partner enablement, go-to-market support and local expertise for selling Concentric AI's AI and data security governance platform.

The agreement comes as organisations across the region face greater scrutiny over data handling and wider day-to-day use of AI tools. Security teams are contending with data sprawl across cloud and on-premises environments, as well as the risk of sensitive information being shared through employee prompts in generative AI systems.

Data governance problems are also creating more direct security risks. Excessive permissions, unclear ownership of data stores and inconsistent classification can increase the chance of confidential information being exposed or misused, particularly when staff use consumer AI services or unapproved tools.

Concentric AI's platform is designed to identify and monitor sensitive data and apply controls around its use. Its approach is intended to give security teams guardrails for AI use while maintaining visibility across multiple storage locations.

Channel route

Sektor's channel partners are expected to offer Concentric AI's technology to organisations seeking better visibility into sensitive information, as well as stronger classification and protection controls. The arrangement also adds Concentric AI to the portfolio of security vendors distributed by locally owned Sektor, which operates across Australia and New Zealand.

Security distributors in the region have increasingly acted as aggregators for specialist tools, particularly where customers rely on channel partners for deployment, integration and managed services. This model has remained important as organisations reassess AI governance and how they protect data that AI tools may access.

"Data security is a growing priority for organisations across Australia and New Zealand as data becomes more distributed, regulatory scrutiny intensifies, and AI adoption accelerates," said Matt Geluk-Rowe, Head of Partnerships at Sektor.

Geluk-Rowe said Concentric AI stood out after evaluation for its ability to maximise existing technology investments, such as Microsoft Purview, while enabling safe AI use. "Its data-centric approach strongly aligns with our mission to deliver differentiated, high-value security technologies, and we're excited to partner with Concentric AI to support customers and partners across the region," he said.

Platform detail

At the centre of Concentric AI's offering is Semantic Intelligence, which uses proprietary AI and large language models for data discovery and continuous monitoring. The platform identifies data that may present risk and tracks changes over time as information moves between systems.

The software also includes remediation options such as classification, permission management, data movement and deletion. These functions address common data security issues, including overly broad access rights and unmanaged duplication of sensitive content.

Concentric AI also offers a product called Semantic DLP, which provides visibility into "shadow AI"-typically employee use of unsanctioned AI tools or workflows outside approved corporate systems. It uses contextual discovery and labelling to block or redact sensitive data in AI prompts, and tracks prompts, responses and policy violations.

These features reflect a broader shift as organisations try to set boundaries for AI use while still allowing staff to adopt productivity tools. In many cases, controls have lagged behind adoption, leaving security teams to retrofit monitoring and policy enforcement after AI tools are already in the workflow.

Regional expansion

Concentric AI said the agreement is part of its expansion in Australia and New Zealand, positioning the partnership as a way to build a distribution base and work through partners on deployments and ongoing service delivery.

"Expanding our presence in Australia and New Zealand is an important step for Concentric AI as global demand for data security and AI protection continues to grow," said Chris Farrelly, Regional Vice President, APAC at Concentric AI.

"Partnering with Sektor gives us a strong distribution foundation in the region and enables our partners to quickly build and scale Concentric AI into their data security offerings," Farrelly said.

Sektor Cyber operates as part of the wider Sektor Group and distributes cybersecurity products through channel partners across Australia and New Zealand. Both companies said the arrangement aligns with efforts by regional organisations to tighten data controls as AI use expands and regulatory expectations rise.