Cyber: the new Domain

In a recent article in the Australian Financial Review, a senior Australian intelligence official warned of the growing use of cyber attack against Australian industry and Government interests, including the dramatic possibility of cyber attack as an act of war. Long understood by customers in Defence and the Australian Intelligence Community (AIC), this new threat environment challenges trusted partners such as Raytheon Australia in how to bring capabilities to better support such customers. Cyberspace is clearly its own domain now, on par with the domains of air, land, sea and space.

There are many varying definitions of cybersecurity. In its cybersecurity policy, the Australian Government defines cybersecurity as: ‘Measures relating to the confidentiality, availability and integrity of information that is processed, stored and communicated by electronic or similar means.’ The aim of the Australian Government’s cybersecurity policy is: ‘The maintenance of a secure, resilient and trusted electronic operating environment that supports Australia’s national security and maximises the benefits of the digital economy.’ Cyber threats can range from stealing someone’s identity, stealing company records or military secrets, to sabotaging government computers and key elements of national infrastructures.

Similar concerns have arisen in the US, where the Government’s Cyberspace Policy Review delivered to President Obama in May 2009 noted that ‘The growing sophistication and breadth of criminal activity, along with the harm already caused by cyber incidents, highlight the potential for malicious activity in cyberspace to affect US competitiveness, degrade privacy and civil liberties protections, undermine national security, or cause a general erosion of trust, or even cripple society.’

Security Solutions

Responding to this growing challenge, on 1 July 2010 Raytheon Australia announced the formation of a new business unit to focus on these capabilities. Known as ‘Security Solutions’, the new unit is charged with providing solutions in Cybersecurity; Information and Communication Technologies (ICT); Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR); Intelligence Operations Support; and Geospatial solutions. Raytheon Company excels in these markets, with Government-grade solutions that sit well above the commercial-grade market.

‘Raytheon has a long heritage in supporting customers in these mission areas, both within Australia and internationally’, according to Andrew Pyke, General Manager of Security Solutions. ‘We are making major new investments in Australian industry, adding to our proven track record of performance and Raytheon’s leadership in innovative technologies.’

Technologies and know-how through Reachback

As a subsidiary of Raytheon Company, a key pillar of Raytheon Australia’s success over the last decade has been the positive relationship it maintains with its parent company, described as ‘Reachback’. This has enabled Raytheon Australia, as a major local company employing over 1300 Australians, to offer Integrated Solutions and Mission Support solutions incorporating some of the world’s most advanced technologies and know-how from Raytheon Company. Having grown strongly with this business model in Defence Naval, Aerospace, Land and Electronic Systems markets, Raytheon Australia has also extensively used Reachback in its Intelligence Operations business.

‘The next stage of growth in Security Solutions will take the asset we call Reachback to a new level in this market’, said Andrew. ‘This is a natural step for Raytheon, as we are already a global leader in innovative technologies in intelligence and cybersecurity. However, we also understand that each of our customers views the challenge from their own perspective. We understand that this will always need up-front investments in local industry, employing some of the best people in the field, bringing in the best technologies, secure and convenient facilities and supporting our customer as a trusted partner’.

Raytheon Australia will be building on the three tenets of Raytheon’s global cyberstrategy: first, protect Raytheon’s internal systems, then embed cybersecurity into Raytheon’s products and systems, and finally provide cybersecurity solutions to our customers. Through hardening its own products, systems and infrastructure Raytheon is able to help customers better protect their most important assets and offer increased cyber situational awareness, risk prevention and mitigation.

Raytheon Australia’s capabilities combine with an expanding family of cyber companies that Raytheon has acquired globally, including the attack knowhow of SI Government Solutions, the expertise in global-scale network operations acquired through Houston Associates, the defence expertise acquired through Oakley Systems, security architecture expertise acquired through Telemus Systems, and research and development through BBN Technologies.

Exporting Australian technologies and know-how

In this field, Australian industry is much more than just an importer of foreign capability. Raytheon Australia, along with other local companies, plays a significant role in the global industry. ‘The world is a small place in cyber’, says Andrew, ‘and working with Raytheon’s global subsidiaries, we are very much exporting into the global supply chain, meaning that our Australian customers obtain outstanding solutions and industry capability, without having to solely bankroll the development’.

Early in 2010, Raytheon Australia purchased the assets of Compucat Research Pty Ltd, an innovative Canberra-based technology company with subsidiaries in the UK and US. ‘The purchase of Compucat assets has added to our existing programs to provide an array of innovative technologies, an incredibly talented workforce and secure facilities that will underpin our ability to support our customers’, Andrew explained. From this acquisition, Raytheon Australia now develops and exports cybersecurity and ICT solutions, such as Integrity Software, CMX and secure communications switches and gateways. ‘We are incredibly proud of what our team has achieved on the international stage and you can imagine the possibilities as we combine these local technologies and know-how with Raytheon’s global capabilities and opportunities’, said Andrew.

Some things do not change

In another first from its acquisition of Compucat’s assets, Raytheon Australia now boasts scarce specialist secure facilities, strategically located in Canberra where the Defence and AIC is centred, and between the cyber training centres at the Australian National University and Canberra University.

‘One thing we can be particularly confident about’, says Andrew, ‘is that while Security Solutions will be moving at speed in the cyber market, the basics will remain true for Raytheon Australia: We will be working as a trusted partner located in Australia with our customers, we will offer some of the best people in the industry, supported by secure facilities and some of the best technologies available in the world, and — over-arching it all — we will continue our track record of delivery and performance’. M