Macquarie Government today announced it has expanded its four-year partnership with global SASE (Secure Access Service Edge) leader, Netskope, following a large-scale Federal Government network security deployment.

The Australian sovereign company deployed Netskope’s market-leading single-vendor SASE platform to the Department, ensuring it maintains compliance with the Essential 8 (E8) Maturity Model Level 2 controls. By adopting Zero Trust principles, the solution ensures all access is both explicitly requested and continuously revalidated, providing robust security measures critical for safeguarding government networks and data.

SASE architecture delivers an automated, dynamic policy enforcement framework, ensuring the Department’s personnel access applications securely based on their clearance levels, whether working remotely or on-premises. Without disrupting the user experience, SASE continuously verifies and validates access, blocking unauthorised data sharing on unapproved applications and guiding staff toward agency-approved tools, enhancing both security and compliance.

SASE underpinned by zero trust empowers Federal Government departments to embrace flexible working and complete cloud adoption – critical factors for attracting and retaining top talent. By enabling this modern workforce approach, it ensures robust security remains uncompromised, supporting the government’s commitment to innovation and operational excellence.

As part of its strategic expansion, Macquarie Government was an early adopter and one of the first Australian organisations to be appointed to Netskope’s Managed Service Provider (MSP) Program. This milestone strengthens its capability to deliver advanced technology solutions to the Government, further cementing its role as a trusted partner in enhancing public sector security.

“The combination of Netskope’s best-in-class single-vendor SASE platform with Macquarie Government’s sovereign capabilities brings the promise of secure, flexible access to Australian Government agencies, transforming the way users and applications are secured,” said Aidan Tudehope, Managing Director, Macquarie Government.
“By ensuring compliance with Essential 8 Maturity Level 2 standards, this partnership delivers enhanced security and resilience, providing a robust system that addresses the unique needs of government entities in an increasingly complex digital landscape.”

“This deployment represents a significant milestone in advancing cyber posturing within the Australian Government,” said Tony Burnside, Senior Vice President and Head of APJ, Netskope. “By leveraging the advanced capabilities of the Netskope One platform and Macquarie Government’s local engineering expertise, they have turned the vision of SASE into a practical, impactful reality.”
Mr Burnside added, “Macquarie Government continues to refine their approach, delivering innovative solutions that enable SASE deployments at a PROTECTED classification while meeting the stringent compliance requirements of the Australian Government.”

This partnership expansion follows the addition of Macquarie Government to the Information Communications Technology Provider Arrangement (ICTPA) panel, enabling Australian Defence and Intelligence agencies to procure services directly from the company.