SUMMARY:
We interviewed Brad Pearpoint about why Cyber Security is a core pillar of Advantage. He talks about the fact that security is a business-critical issue for businesses across all sectors and that every organisation, regardless of size, is facing growing pressure to protect data, ensure continuity of business and meet changing compliance requirements. He outlines how Advantage is responding to this issue with a client-first approach.
Why has Advantage made cyber security a core focus, and how is it helping New Zealand businesses tackle today’s IT challenges?
With nearly 40 years of experience, Advantage recognised early on that cyber security is not just a technical issue – it’s vital to business resilience, reputation and trust. As threats like cyberattacks, phishing and regulatory pressures grow more complex, especially with the rise of cloud and remote work, many Kiwi organisations – particularly SMEs – struggle to keep up. That’s why we’ve embedded security into every layer of our services, offering end-to-end IT and cyber solutions including 24/7 SOC monitoring, endpoint protection and governance support. Our deep local roots and global partnerships ensure scalable, enterprise-grade protection tailored to the evolving needs of NZ businesses across all sectors.
How are cyber threats evolving in the current landscape and what new ideas are helping us stay ahead?
Cyber threats are evolving rapidly. They are becoming more targeted, more automated, and often leveraging social aspects to bypass traditional defences. We’re seeing a rise in sophisticated phishing campaigns, supply chain attacks, and ransomware-as-a-service models that lower the barrier to entry for cybercriminals.
In response, the defence playbook is changing too. At Advantage, we’ve invested in AI-powered detection and response tools, behaviour-based analytics, and automation within our Security Operations Centre to identify threats faster and act in real time. We’re also focusing heavily on proactive strategies such as continuous risk assessments, segmentation and helping clients build cyber resilience from the inside out. It’s about staying ahead, and that means combining smart technology with experienced people and clear governance.
You championed the use of AI and automation for SIEM – what led you to go down this path?
The volume and complexity of security events today make traditional, manual SIEM approaches unsustainable. Traditional SIEMs see thousands of alerts per day, many of which required human analysis to uncover real threats.
Relying solely on human analysts wasn’t scalable and it introduced too much risk. That’s what drove us to embrace AI and automation within our SIEM strategy.
By integrating machine learning, behaviour analytics, and automated response playbooks, we’ve been able to cut through the noise, reduce mean time to detect and respond, and give our analysts more time to focus on what really matters.
It’s not about replacing people, it’s about amplifying their effectiveness
The growth Advantage has achieved in its cyber security is extraordinary. What makes Advantage special?
What sets Advantage apart is our ability to combine our technical expertise with a genuine understanding of our clients’ needs. We’re not just selling products – we’re building long-term partnerships and delivering outcomes that matter.
Our team operates a New Zealand-based SOC, which gives clients confidence that their security is being managed locally, by people who know their environment and their business context. We’ve also invested heavily in the right technologies – AI-driven threat detection, automation, and advanced endpoint protection. These are wrapped in clear governance, compliance support, and strategic advice.
But at the core, it’s our culture that makes the difference: we care about doing things properly, we’re constantly evolving, and we treat our clients’ risks as if they were our own. That’s why our cyber practice has grown the way it has.
What opportunities or challenges do you see shaping the next chapter for Advantage?
The next chapter for Advantage is shaped by both opportunity and responsibility. As cyber threats become more advanced and regulatory expectations increase, more organisations are realising that security isn’t optional – it’s foundational.
That creates a huge opportunity for us to continue expanding our managed security offerings, particularly in areas like cloud security, identity, and governance.
At the same time, the challenge will be staying ahead of a threat landscape that’s evolving faster than ever, while scaling our services without compromising the personal, high-trust relationships we’re known for.
We also see growing demand for strategic advisory services – helping boards and executives understand and manage cyber risk at the governance level.
Our focus is on being more than a provider. We want to be a true security partner that supports our clients through every stage of their growth.
