APRA’s Directive - And What It Means for Your Fund

At its July 2025 Superannuation Industry Roundtable, APRA urged super funds to rapidly uplift cyber resilience: strong authentication controls, tested backups, and clear accountability across the institution—not just in IT. Funds that demonstrated swift incident response, clear ownership of member protection, and preparedness fared best.

Systems Thinking Wins the Day

Cyber Cognition teaches something crucial: “Move beyond the myth of the superhero CISO and create a security culture that’s as robust as it is sustainable.” Security must be woven into the fund’s fabric—not bolted on.

Here’s how that plays out:

• Modernise your foundation—build security into your core systems, not as an afterthought.


• Create shared accountability—every executive and business unit should confidently speak about cyber risk.


• Measure what matters—track metrics that shift behavior, not just audit compliance.

• Ask the million-dollar question: if your CISO walked out tomorrow, would your fund still be secure?

Why This Truly Matters Across Your Fund:

• Technology & Operations: Cyber resilience projects require integrated upgrades—not disparate patches.


• Data Science: Models and pipelines are only as trustworthy as their underlying security.

• Investment Operations: Disruption from cyber events can trigger liquidity or settlement risks.


• Marketing & Member Services: A breach erodes long-hard-won trust in a heartbeat.

• Governance & Risk: Boards must own cyber risk, not delegate it. It’s an institution-wide responsibility.

Where Ascendunt Group Comes In

Elevating cyber resilience across all functions isn’t simple. It demands cross-team coordination, clear roles, disciplined execution, and momentum. Ascendant Group partners closely with super funds—scoping and delivering cybersecurity transformation projects that are strategically aligned, operationally seamless, and regulator-ready.

Conclusion


If your cyber program feels more like "duct tape on steroids" than a fortress, it’s time for reinforcements. At Ascendant Group, we don’t just help you check boxes—we help you build a resilient, confident future. Want to explore a cyber uplift project that delivers outcomes? Let’s chat—your members, trustees, and IT team will thank you.