OpenText launches AI cyber tools for Australian firms

OpenText has launched new cyber security tools for Australian enterprises to help govern the use of artificial intelligence. The update is intended to address growing concern over cyber costs and compliance obligations.

The rollout includes OpenText Core Identity Foundation, OpenText Core Data Discovery & Risk Insights, and OpenText Application Security Aviator. The products are designed to help organisations manage identity and access across cloud, on-premises, and legacy systems, protect sensitive data, and automate some remediation work during application testing.

The move comes as more companies deploy generative AI without fully integrating risk controls into their security operations. OpenText cited research showing that 52 per cent of enterprises have fully or partially deployed GenAI, while 79 per cent have not yet reached a stage where AI is deeply embedded in cyber security operations and risks are continuously assessed.

That gap is particularly relevant in Australia, where the cost of cyber incidents has risen sharply. Figures cited by OpenText show the average self-reported cost of cybercrime per incident for businesses increased by 50 per cent overall, with small businesses reporting average losses of AUD $56,600 per incident, medium businesses AUD $97,200, and large businesses AUD $202,700 in 2024-25.

OpenText said it now serves 2,000 organisations across Australia and New Zealand across the public sector and enterprise markets. The latest additions are intended to help those customers meet requirements tied to the Australian Privacy Principles, APRA CPS 234, APRA CPS 231, APRA CPS 230, the Security of Critical Infrastructure Act, and state and territory health record rules.

Identity focus

A central part of the rollout is identity management in hybrid technology environments. OpenText Core Identity Foundation is delivered as a software-as-a-service product and applies Zero Trust controls designed to enforce least-privilege access across edge identity stores in different environments.

OpenText is positioning identity as a key control point as businesses expand their use of AI systems and software agents. Older identity programs often focus on human users and can fail to account for non-human identities created for automation, administration, and machine-led processes.

George Harb, Vice President, Australia & New Zealand at OpenText, said Australian organisations want to move quickly with AI, but not at the expense of security.

Identity is the new perimeter.

Traditional identity programs were built around people. They incorporate structured onboarding, defined roles, periodic reviews, and clear accountability to manage human users through the cycle of their access and responsibilities within the enterprise.

But non-human identities (NHIs), such as AI agents, are often overlooked by these governance processes. They persist quietly in the background, are often provisioned as part of administrative activities to keep systems running, and are often granted long-term credentials with elevated permissions, providing rich targets for attackers.

As with human identities, best practices such as least-privilege permission assignments and frequent credential rotation can help secure the use of these NHIs. Applying appropriate governance processes to the creation, daily use, and ongoing maintenance of these NHIs can help ensure secure automation and more effective control.

Broader controls

Alongside identity management, OpenText is expanding tools aimed at data protection and software security. Data Discovery & Risk Insights is intended to support encryption and protection of regulated and sensitive data throughout its lifecycle, while Application Security Aviator is designed to identify and fix security issues during application testing.

The additions reflect a broader push by technology suppliers to tie AI adoption more closely to governance, privacy, and operational resilience. Australian organisations face growing scrutiny over how data is handled, how access is managed, and how systems remain secure as AI becomes more deeply embedded in business processes.

For OpenText, the launch is part of an effort to deepen its presence in a market where enterprises and public bodies are balancing AI adoption with tighter regulatory expectations and the rising financial toll of cyber attacks.