Vodafone bolsters cybersecurity portfolio with DEFEND

Vodafone NZ has announced a new partnership that is set to bolster the company's cybersecurity portfolio.

The company recently signed a conditional agreement to acquire a 60% majority share of cybersecurity specialists DEFEND. The partnership will help provide Vodafone customers with a range of new security offerings within their business and personal plans.

Vodafone and DEFEND have both proven successful collaborations in the past with an ongoing partnership, and the new deal is will leverage the collective expertise, energy and ethos of DEFEND while retaining its current staff and structure.

The deal comes as a result of Vodafone recognising the growing market for user-centric cyber security solutions and witnessing DEFENDs growth in the sector over the years. Vodafone says they knew DEFEND was a company that shared their own commitment to creating a thriving, more remarkable Aotearoa by enhancing cybersecurity.

"DEFEND is a hugely impressive player in the cyber security market, and by coupling their innovation and talent with the resources of Vodafone New Zealand, we will offer New Zealand businesses a one stop shop for cyber, network, and operational security," says Vodafone New Zealand enterprise director Lindsay Zwart.

With cybercrime and threat still a real challenge in the broadband and telecom space, Vodafone believes that investing in new technologies and solutions is key to retaining a positive customer experience. The new partnership is said to provide both DEFEND and Vodafone New Zealand customers with increased capability and capacity to drive cyber resilience.

CEO of DEFEND Nigel Everett says the company is proud to partner with Vodafone and help provide Kiwis with a range of solutions to suit their business and personal needs.

"The strategic investment Vodafone New Zealand is going to bring to DEFEND will supercharge our growth and enable a broader and deeper engagement with our customers to reduce supply chain risk and securely develop their own services and solutions," he says.

"We are a customer centric organisation and the value we bring as part of this partnership will enable us to continue delivering world class cyber security consulting and security services on a larger scale. This partnership will provide New Zealand a broader range of integrated services and we are really excited to continue our partnership with the outstanding team at Vodafone.

DEFEND has a track record of providing effective solutions since its launch in 2017. The company has received multiple awards, including ISANZ Cyber Security Start-up of the Year 2018, ISANZ 2019 Company of the Year and was Microsoft New Zealand Partner Awards winner 2020 for Modern Work - Security and 2021 for Security.

The transaction is expected to be completed by April, and Vodafone continues to provide updates on cybersecurity solutions for its customers on a regular basis.