7th annual ISANZ information security awards announced

7th Annual iSANZ Winners Announced

The COVID-delayed 2021 iSANZ Awards were held online on 17 March with awards handed out in six categories, plus a Hall of Fame Award recognising an outstanding contribution to the information security industry.

The annual iSANZ awards acknowledge those who are contributing to information security – helping keep New Zealand’s digital networks safe from malicious computer activity. iSANZ Board Chair Kendra Ross said the awards are an important opportunity to inspire, promote and reflect on the hard work that goes on behind the scenes in our world-class information security industry.

“As the digital world spreads its roots ever deeper, the risk and impact of cyberattacks increases. This only reinforces the importance of our talented and hardworking community of cybersecurity professionals who protect our connectivity as we enjoy our daily lives,” she said.

“We’ve again been highly impressed by the accomplishments of all our iSANZ entrants, finalists and winners - especially during the past two years with the coronavirus pandemic creating new challenges for cyber security businesses as they’ve helped New Zealanders adapt to an operating model in which working from home has become the new normal.”

The winners in the 2021 iSANZ Awards are:

Best Security Project or Security Awareness Initiative GCSB for development of its baseline security templates.

The judges commented that GCSB’s baseline templates help with the hardest part of security - translating the ‘what’ into the ‘how’. The “high leverage project” provides a solution for continuous assurance with government security requirements and benefits of all New Zealand’s cybersecurity.

Best Security Leader Josh Bahlman from Spark.

The judges commented on Josh’s personable approach and commitment to increasing awareness of cyber security - saying that in a field of truly impressive candidates, he has demonstrated an ability to take quick, decisive action in the wake of major cyber security events.

Best Start-Up or New Business Onwardly.

The judges commended Onwardly for taking on a part of the market where upskilling is a barrier to cybersecurity hygiene. The company is helping small to medium business owners better contend with the reality of digital dependency - letting them understand their security posture in a straightforward, nontechnical way.

Best Security Company of the Year SafeStack Academy.

The judges commented on SafeStack’s innovative approach to solving the problem of lack of resource in the security industry, and its approach of “baking in” security at an early stage in the design and development process to make products more secure.

Best NZ Security Product or Service Darkscope for its CIQ360 cyber risk insurance rating service.

The judges were impressed with Darkscope’s innovative cybersecurity

The ISANZ emblem is the karearea or New Zealand falcon - a symbol for courage, victory and rising above a situation.

tools - commenting that these help to assess risk, based on evidence not assumptions.

Up-and-Coming Cyber Security Star Casey Cooper from BNZ.

The judges commented on Casey’s compelling achievements since joining the industry, especially the impact he has made in securing BNZ, his work on Zero Day cybersecurity vulnerabilities and the recognition he has gained from management, colleagues and customers.

Hall of Fame Award The Information Security Interest Group (ISIG) was inducted as the 2021 iSANZ Hall of Famer.

Established in 2003, ISIG is a professional interest group for people working in information security. It has membership chapters in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin and Hamilton. iSIG has been ground zero for the development of a number of well-known Kiwis who have gone on to accomplish amazing cybersecurity results both in Aotearoa and internationally.