The RAMJO Councils Cyber Security Working Group have been working for the past year to create a model for the joint procurement of SIEM and SOC services to strengthen the region’s cybersecurity posture, deliver cost efficiencies, and provide councils with flexible, scalable security options.
The objectives of this joint approach are:
- Better Pricing: By aggregating demand across multiple councils, the procurement process will increase purchasing power, reduce costs, and improve value for ratepayers.
- Risk Reduction: Cybersecurity threats are growing in frequency and complexity. A coordinated procurement will allow councils to access professional, proven SOC and SIEM solutions that strengthen resilience against cyberattacks.
- Flexibility: Councils will not be locked into a single solution or vendor. Instead, the procurement will establish a panel arrangement with multiple service levels and providers.
By implementing a Panel arrangement no council will be obligated to buy a SIEM or SOC solution. Councils will retain complete discretion to opt in or out of purchasing from the resulting multi-vendor panel, offering Gold, Silver, and Bronze levels of service. This provides councils with flexibility to choose the service tier and vendor that best suits their size, budget, and risk profile.
A huge thank you to the Cyber Security Working Group and in particular to Gerard Simms, of Leeton Shire Council, and Stuart Ross, or Albury City Council, for putting together this informative and all-encompassing proposal for our Procurement Project Manager Jason Schneider-Fuller to take to the market.