Check Point Launches Australian Data Centers for SASE & WAF
▼ Summary
– Check Point has launched a new Australia-based data residency instance for its Harmony SASE and CloudGuard WAF services.
– This new Point of Presence (PoP) addresses Australian data sovereignty and compliance requirements, including the SOCI Act and ASD Essential Eight.
– The CloudGuard WAF is a cloud-native solution that uses AI to protect applications and APIs from threats like bot attacks and vulnerabilities.
– Harmony SASE is a unified platform that consolidates multiple security services to protect users, devices, and data with a single management interface.
– The local instance, supported by over 80 global PoPs, aims to provide low-latency access, improved performance, and scalable security for Australian enterprises.
Businesses across Australia now have access to a significant cybersecurity enhancement with the launch of local data centers for Check Point Harmony SASE and Check Point CloudGuard WAF. This strategic move addresses the growing demand for low-latency performance and strict adherence to national data residency and privacy laws. The new infrastructure is designed to support secure digital transformation by ensuring that sensitive information remains stored and processed within the country.
This development directly meets the requirements of Australian legislation, including the Security of Critical Infrastructure (SOCI) Act, the Privacy Act, the My Health Records Act, APRA CPS 234, and the ASD Essential Eight. By keeping data onshore, organizations can significantly reduce operational risk and simplify their compliance efforts.
The new Australian Point of Presence (PoP) for Check Point CloudGuard WAF provides a cloud-native solution for protecting web applications and APIs. It leverages contextual AI to deliver precise threat prevention, defending against both known and unknown attacks without depending on traditional signatures. This approach offers robust protection against vulnerabilities, sophisticated bot attacks, and zero-day threats. A key advantage is its flexibility; unlike older WAF solutions tied to specific hardware or a single cloud provider, CloudGuard WAF supports multi-cloud, hybrid, and containerized environments like AWS, Azure, GCP, and Kubernetes. The local instance promises reduced latency, improved application performance, and AI-driven security tailored to modern application-layer risks.
For organizations navigating digital transformation, Check Point Harmony SASE serves as a unified platform that consolidates essential security services. It integrates Firewall-as-a-Service, a Secure Web Gateway, Zero Trust Network Access, SaaS security, and SD-WAN into a single, cloud-delivered solution. Powered by AI and machine learning, the platform proactively blocks malware, phishing attempts, and anomalous behavior. A central management console provides comprehensive visibility and control over cloud applications, streamlining policy enforcement and reporting across the entire enterprise. This results in stronger on-device security and a smoother experience for end-users.
David Caspari, Managing Director for ANZ at Check Point Software Technologies, stated that this launch is a critical investment for the region. He emphasized that it provides Australian enterprises with the scalable security infrastructure needed to support remote work, widespread SaaS usage, and branch connectivity, all while complying with local regulations like the ASD Essential Eight.
Scott Ellis, Regional Sales Engineering Manager for ANZ, added that the local PoP and data residency capabilities empower Australian customers with a more refined cloud security strategy. He highlighted that a hybrid mesh architecture allows businesses to tailor their security posture with a powerful combination of AI-driven protection, local data residency, low-latency access, and seamless compliance.
This new Australian instance is bolstered by Check Point’s global network of over 80 Points of Presence, ensuring low-latency access worldwide. This expansive support enables enterprises to scale their operations securely while confidently protecting users, applications, and data across their entire digital ecosystem.
(Source: ITWire Australia)