SaaS security vendor Adaptive Shield expands into ANZ

Security vendor Adaptive Shield has announced its expansion into Australia and New Zealand (ANZ), appointing Kendal Watt as its regional director.

The company said the launch of its ANZ operations will help meet growing demand for SaaS security as businesses increase investment in applications like Salesforce, Microsoft365, Google Workspace, Github and ServiceNow.

Melbourne-based Watt brings 20 years of experience leading cybersecurity teams in Australia.

He joins Adaptive Shield from Abnormal Security, where he served as senior enterprise account manager for over two years.

Watt's previous stints include business development and account management positions at the likes of Recorded Future, Dimension Data and Mimecast.

Adaptive Shield said he has worked with a range of companies from startups to multinationals and has advised on holistic cybersecurity strategy and GRC.

“Expanding our presence in ANZ will help support the rapidly growing customer base in the region,” said Maor Bin, CEO and co-founder of Adaptive Shield.

"Bringing Kendal to the team, with his expertise and experience, will play a pivotal role in driving ANZ market adoption of SaaS security at a time when attack vectors are rapidly evolving."

“The establishment of our presence in the region marks a significant milestone in our global strategy and underscores our commitment to providing localized support for our large enterprise customers.”

The appointment of Watt follows the rollout of Adaptive Shield’s new Fast Forward Global Partner Program, which aims to accelerate channel-led growth and deliver SaaS security posture management technology alongside local support.

Existing regional partners include Netpoleon and Restack, providing services to Adaptive Shield’s customers in ANZ.

In February 2024, Netpoleon expanded its partnership with Adaptive Shield to distribute the security vendor's solutions in ANZ.