OpenText gains top IRAP security approval for government use
OpenText has received the highest-level security clearance under the Australian Government's Information Security Registered Assessors Program (IRAP), enabling more widespread use of its platforms by agencies that handle classified and sensitive data.
IRAP is an independent security assessment that is conducted by an accredited third-party assessor against the Australian Government's Information Security Manual (ISM). The assessment covers information classifications such as OFFICIAL, PROTECTED, SECRET, and TOP SECRET. In this instance, OpenText's IRAP assessment was performed against the PROTECTED classification level.
This certification offers federal, state, and local government departments added assurance when selecting technology partners to help manage and secure critical information assets. The IRAP assessment process provides a benchmark for evaluating the security of information and communications technology (ICT) systems.
Public sector challenges
George Harb, Vice President for OpenText in Australia and New Zealand, commented on the importance of this achievement for government organisations. He said the assessment comes at a time when public sector entities are facing increased urgency to modernise their operations while ensuring ongoing compliance with regulatory requirements.
Governments across Australia are under increasing pressure to deliver secure and efficient digital services, but many agencies still face major hurdles in moving away from legacy systems, despite the known risks and inefficiencies.
Harb added that the assessment demonstrates the company's readiness to meet government expectations for secure and compliant platforms.
This IRAP assessment confirms that OpenText platforms meet the rigorous standards required by government and are ready to support agencies with secure collaboration, strong data governance, and full compliance with Australian sovereignty and cybersecurity requirements.
Demand for compliance
OpenText technologies are currently used by more than 700 government agencies and local councils across Australia and New Zealand, supporting both information management as well as the delivery of digital services.
We've seen a sharp increase in demand from the public sector for assurance that platforms meet local compliance and data residency requirements. IRAP provides a clear benchmark for security, and we're seeing agencies use it more actively to guide procurement decisions.
The company says the IRAP assessment brings direct benefits for agencies that require robust security measures when selecting partners for sensitive and classified work.
This IRAP assessment gives our public sector clients confidence that OpenText can support critical operations without compromising security or sovereignty.
Scope of assured solutions
Two OpenText solutions were mentioned as part of the IRAP assessment. OpenText Content Management, known as Extended ECM, is designed to help agencies securely store and organise documents. It also facilitates the application of appropriate access controls and supports compliance with recordkeeping requirements.
OpenText Core Data Discovery & Risk Insights, also known as Voltage Fusion, enables organisations to identify, classify, and manage sensitive data across diverse environments. This function is intended to reduce exposure to risk and enhance protection for government-held data.
Framework and future use
IRAP remains an Australian government initiative developed to enhance cybersecurity standards across government and industry by providing a standard framework for assessing the security of ICT systems. By achieving this certification, OpenText positions its platforms for broader adoption by agencies with responsibilities for managing classified information.
