History

The Early Days

Safecoms was originally founded in Sydney in 2000. Its initial focus was on implementing and supporting IT security technologies, and it was also developing its own IT security tools. Whilst Safecoms was gaining a reputation for technical excellence and high standards of customer service, the original founder of Safecoms was looking to transition the business more towards the consulting sector with a greater focus on the “process and people” aspects of information security. As a relatively small start up operation, Safecoms lacked the resources to make that transition, and so the founder looked for a new home for the fledgling business. This was how Safecoms came to be part of the Sphere International Group.

Safecoms Becomes Part of the Sphere International Group

Founded in 1996, the Sphere International Group has operations in the UK, Australia, Spain, Portugal and the United States. The Group represents the fusion of business process expertise and IT excellence, and operates in a number of fields where this fusion comes into play. Information security was therefore a natural market place for the Group to enter, and Safecoms became a part of the Sphere International Group in early 2003.

Transition

Sphere International Group’s view of the information security market was that the traditional “technology led” approach needed to be replaced by a “process driven approach”. Many organizations had invested heavily in security devices, but still remained fundamentally insecure because they had failed to address the “people and process” aspects of information security. The Group therefore set about transitioning Safecoms into a pure consulting and services organization that worked with its clients in implementing a process driven approach to information security, with the capability to satisfy the requirements of some of Australia’s largest and most demanding corporations.

Evolution – Australia and UK

By the end of 2005, Safecoms had emerged as a leading player in the Australian information security consulting and services market. Its specialist focus, pragmatic “hands on” approach and deep subject matter expertise meant that many organizations saw Safecoms as a refreshing alternative to the “big 4” (who had traditionally dominated this market sector amongst ASX 100 profile organizations). The success of Safecoms in Australia caused the Sphere International Group to also launch Safecoms in the UK market. This launch occurred in April 2005, and Safecoms UK has already grown a significant client base including the UK operations of two of the world’s largest banks, major UK law firms and a number of public sector bodies.

Safecoms Becomes Part of SIFT

Founded in 2000, SIFT is one of Australia’s leading information security consulting, intelligence and training service providers. In June 2007, the Directors of SIFT and the Sphere International Group successfully concluded an agreement to merge the information security consulting and services business of Safecoms Secure IT in to the existing SIFT information security consulting and services operations, positioning the combined firm for continued growth in the Asia-Pacific information security services market. The integration of the SIFT and Safecoms businesses provides benefits through economies of scale, highly complimentary staff skill sets, a very similar client profile between the firms, and a rock-solid commitment to integrity and quality service.