Full Compliance, Zero Disruption: Intercontinental Energy’s Strategic Security Uplift
Background
Founded in 2014, Intercontinental Energy is a global leader in green hydrogen development. With a mission to accelerate the energy transition, they design and deliver large-scale, wind and solar-powered energy hubs across Australia and the Middle East.
Austin Technology and Intercontinental Energy (ICE) have maintained a long-standing partnership. As ICE’s operations expanded, so too did their technology and security needs.
The existing relationship deepened when ICE engaged Austin Technology to lead a targeted initiative to achieve compliance with the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) Essential 8 Maturity Level 1 framework, a critical milestone in their broader cyber security strategy.
Challenges
ICE sought to strengthen its cyber security posture by aligning with the ACSC Essential 8 Maturity Level 1 standards. This uplift required significant technical enhancements across multiple domains, including application control, endpoint protection, user access, and patch management.
A key challenge involved ensuring compliance without disrupting the productivity of users, some of whom depended on Microsoft Office macros — a known friction point under strict application control policies.
Solutions
Austin Technology proposed a comprehensive and layered solution, using ICE’s existing Microsoft 365 Business Premium licensing and integrating best-of-breed technologies:
- Microsoft Intune: Rolled out configuration profiles and security policies.
- Microsoft Defender for Endpoint: Paired with Huntress EDR for dual-layered protection.
- Huntress SAT: Delivered security awareness training to address the human element of cyber risk.
- Avanan (Checkpoint): Strengthened email and collaboration security across Microsoft 365.
- ThreatLocker: Enabled application control to meet Essential 8 requirements.
These technologies were selected to provide scalable, policy-driven enforcement while minimising user disruption.
Project Implementation
The implementation was carried out in phases to ensure minimal disruption and maximum alignment with ICE’s operational needs:
- Initial deployment of Avanan to immediately enhance email defences.
- EDR and SAT integration using Huntress and Microsoft Defender.
- Policy configuration via Intune and Conditional Access.
- Application control enabled through ThreatLocker.
- Ongoing tuning of Microsoft 365 security settings in line with Essential 8 controls.
Throughout the process, Austin Technology held regular consultations with stakeholders to ensure solutions were fit-for-purpose, balancing technical requirements with end-user experience.
Results
The project culminated in ICE achieving full compliance with the ACSC Essential 8 Maturity Level 1 framework. Notable outcomes included:
- Substantial uplift in overall security posture.
- Enhanced governance, monitoring, and control across endpoints and cloud platforms.
- Independent validation of compliance through successful third-party audits.
These results positioned ICE as a cyber-secure and future-ready organisation, aligned with the required industry standards.
Key Success Factors
- Achieved complete Essential 8 Maturity Level 1 compliance.
- Strengthened email, endpoint, and application security across the business.
- Maintained seamless operations throughout implementation.
- Fostered internal buy-in through open communication and user education.
- Established a secure, scalable IT foundation to support future growth.
Future
The partnership between Austin Technology and Intercontinental Energy remains strong. Ongoing engagements include monthly check-ins and Quarterly Business Reviews (QBRs) to ensure continued alignment with ICE’s strategic goals. The success of this project has laid the groundwork for future initiatives that will further enhance security, compliance, and operational resilience.
