Zscaler launches new co-located data centre in Perth

Zscaler has announced the launch of a new co-located data centre in Perth, aligning with its strategy to bolster support for customers in the region.

The brand new facility will further strengthen customer organisations' Zero Trust cybersecurity measures, according to the company's statement.

This development is part of Zscaler's ongoing investment in the markets of Australia and New Zealand. The Perth site will complement the firm's existing data centre infrastructure, which includes locations in Sydney, Melbourne, and Canberra, all of which are situated within Equinix data centres.

With the increasing volume and sophistication of cyber threats faced by Australian entities, there is a growing need for enhanced cybersecurity strategies. Zscaler's ThreatLabz reported over 29 million phishing attempts in Australia alone, with a year-over-year increase of 479% in the volume of phishing content hosted in the country. The Australian Federal Government has set a goal to become the most cyber-secure nation in the world by 2030. The new data centre in Perth aims to provide improved capacity and performance, which will help prevent malicious activities from disrupting customer operations.

The newly launched data centre will support the Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange platform, which includes solutions such as Zscaler Private Access and Zscaler Internet Access. These solutions are designed to optimise digital experiences and enhance security for modern, dynamic applications. Notably, Zscaler was the first cloud security vendor to achieve Information Security Registered Assessors Programme (IRAP) protection assessment. Additionally, the company has committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2025, with all its data centres fully powered by renewable energy.

Eric Swift, Area Vice President for Australia & New Zealand at Zscaler, commented on the importance of adopting a Zero Trust approach to cybersecurity amidst the growing threat landscape. "With the advent of new technologies like GenAI tools, the threat landscape is advancing in volume and sophistication, making it all the more critical to adopt a Zero Trust approach to cybersecurity – especially as more organisations move beyond legacy private networks to connect in a cloud-enabled, mobile world."

"Australia is setting the benchmark on the global stage when it comes to being cybersecurity-first, and we are proud to partner with both public and private enterprises across the region to implement a Zero Trust strategy. We are deeply committed to helping all organisations to secure, simplify, and transform their operations," he added.

Guy Danskine, Managing Director at Equinix Australia, expressed his satisfaction with the expanded partnership. "We're delighted Zscaler continues to choose Equinix as its preferred data centre partner, adding a point of presence in Perth to complement existing sites in Sydney, Melbourne, and Canberra," Danskine said.

"This expanded partnership illustrates the role Equinix plays in enabling the critical infrastructure that powers a safe and prosperous digital economy, giving customers and partners unbridled access to a dense ecosystem of technologies and networks. With continued investments in Western Australia, Perth is becoming a major data hub in Australia and together, Equinix and Zscaler provide the resilient infrastructure organisations need to strengthen their cybersecurity posture and maximise the benefits of a digital-first strategy."

Zscaler's customers in Australia span various sectors, including John Holland, Probe CX, Northern Beaches Council, and Ramsay Healthcare.