Government Security Consulting to Protect Public Services

Government agencies operate under constant scrutiny, tight regulatory oversight and evolving threat conditions. Protecting public servants, sensitive information and critical infrastructure requires more than policy, it requires structured, defensible security programs aligned to national frameworks and operational realities.

Agilient is an experienced government security consultant supporting federal, state and local agencies across Australia. Through practical, risk-led advisory services, Agilient helps strengthen protective security frameworks, support compliance and ensure continuity of essential public services.

What is Government Security Consulting?

Government security consulting involves specialist advisory services that help public sector organisations assess risk, strengthen governance and implement practical security strategies aligned to regulatory obligations. This includes enterprise and site-level security risk assessments, development of security policies and procedures, protective security planning, incident and emergency management planning, and operational security reviews.

Government environments face a broad mix of risks, public-facing interactions, workforce safety, sensitive information handling and critical infrastructure protection. Effective consulting ensures these risks are clearly understood and managed through structured, auditable frameworks that support both compliance and day-to-day operations.

Why Choose Agilient’s Government Security Services?

• Public Sector Expertise – Agilient understands the legislative, governance and accountability requirements unique to government environments, including alignment with Commonwealth and state-based frameworks.
• Comprehensive Security Approach – Services span protective security, resilience planning, compliance and operational advisory, ensuring agencies are supported across all aspects of security.
• Tailored Solution Strategies – Security programs are developed to reflect each agency’s responsibilities, operating environment and risk profile, rather than relying on generic models.

Who Needs Government Security Consulting?

Federal, state and local government agencies benefit from specialist advisory support. Departments responsible for public services, community infrastructure or sensitive information require structured security programs to reduce risk exposure, maintain compliance and support operational continuity.

Agilient’s Government Security Consulting Approach

• Security Risk Assessment – Agilient undertakes structured government enterprise and site-level security risk assessments, identifying credible threats, vulnerabilities and operational impacts.
• Regulatory and Compliance Review – Security frameworks are reviewed against key government requirements, including the Protective Security Policy Framework (PSPF), Information Security Manual (ISM) and broader Commonwealth risk management obligations.
• Security Strategy and Policy Development – Agilient develops clear, defensible security strategies, policies and procedures aligned to governance requirements and operational needs.
• Specialist Advisory Services – Targeted advisory services include security zone and ASIO-T4 design alignment, IRAP readiness and alignment, personnel security risk assessments and systems for managing aggressive or high-risk public interactions.
• Implementation and Program Support – Support extends to implementation, including master planning, technology convergence, cost-benefit analysis, change management, and security awareness and training.
• Ongoing Monitoring and Improvement – Agilient provides protective security audits, security operations reviews, and supports business continuity, emergency management and crisis management planning, including facilitation of exercises and scenario testing.

Government Security Services Delivered by Agilient

Agilient provides a comprehensive range of government security consulting services, including:

• Implementation support for PSPF and ISM requirements
• Cyber security advisory, including Essential Eight alignment and threat/risk assessments
• Government enterprise and site security risk assessments
• Development of security policies, procedures and risk treatment plans
• security zone and ASIO-T4 design alignment (accredited SCEC consultant engaged for final sign-off)
• IRAP readiness and alignment (formal assessment by an accredited IRAP assessor)
• Personnel security risk assessments
• Systems for managing aggressive or high-risk public interactions
• Security operations reviews and protective security audits
• Business continuity, emergency management and crisis management planning
• Security awareness training and change management programs

Services are delivered independently and aligned to operational realities, ensuring outcomes are practical, proportionate and defensible.

Supporting Compliance with Government Standards and Frameworks

Government security programs must align with a complex regulatory and standards landscape. Agilient ensures security strategies are informed by relevant legislation, policy frameworks and recognised standards, including:

• Protective Security Policy Framework (PSPF)
• Information Security Manual (ISM)
• Security of Critical Infrastructure Act 2018
• Commonwealth Risk Management Policy
• ISO 31000:2018 Risk Management Guidelines
• Standards Australia HB 167 Security Risk Management
• Standards Australia HB 327 Risk Communication
• ISO Guide 73 Risk Management Vocabulary
• ANZ Counter-Terrorism Committee guidelines
• ASIO T4 guidance and advisory material

Where appropriate, local crime statistics, demographic data and applicable Australian Standards for physical security systems, including CCTV, alarms, access control and perimeter protection, are also considered.

This alignment supports audit readiness, defensible decision-making and long-term governance.

Engage Agilient directly under a government panel

Australian Government agencies can engage Agilient directly under existing panel arrangements, without running a separate open tender. Agilient holds appointments to the Department of Home Affairs Security Services and Equipment Panel, the DFAT Security Services Panel and the Department of Finance Management Advisory Services Panel (Whole of Government), and is listed on the New South Wales Government prequalification scheme for security consulting. For an agency with a defined security need, this is the fastest compliant path to specialist advice. Agilient is independent and vendor neutral, and its consultants bring senior government, defence and intelligence backgrounds.

What does PSPF compliance require?

The Protective Security Policy Framework (PSPF), administered by the Department of Home Affairs, sets the protective security expectations for Commonwealth entities across the domains of governance, risk, information, technology, personnel and physical security. It uses an annual release model with self-assessed maturity and annual reporting. Agilient helps agencies interpret the framework, assess their maturity, and build the governance, policies and controls to meet it, routed through the protective security and PSPF service and the PSPF framework pillar. Agilient provides governance-lane advice on the Information Security Manual and the Essential Eight within this picture, and does not present itself as an ISM, IRAP, SCEC or Essential Eight assessor, and engages accredited SCEC consultants and IRAP assessors for final certification where required.

What does a government security risk assessment cover?

A government security risk assessment identifies the threats an agency faces, the weaknesses in its current controls, and the consequences of a security failure for its people, information and services. Agilient conducts security risk assessments to AS ISO 31000:2018 and the Standards Australia handbook SA HB 167, covering physical security, personnel security, information and ICT security governance, and the protection of critical functions. Where an agency operates critical infrastructure, this extends to critical infrastructure risk management under the SOCI Act.

Credentials that matter to government

Agilient consultants bring senior backgrounds across government, the Australian Defence Force, Special Operations and intelligence. The founder is a former Executive Director of Standards Australia, and Agilient team members developed national standards referenced in the Commonwealth Community Recovery Handbook. Agilient has delivered more than 300 projects, is independent and vendor neutral, and holds the government panel appointments above. Background is on the Agilient company information page.

To discuss protective security, PSPF maturity or a government security risk assessment, or to engage Agilient directly under a panel, contact Agilient.

Strengthen Public Sector Security Today

Security in the public sector requires disciplined planning and consistent oversight. Engaging an experienced government security consultant helps build resilient operations, protect sensitive information and support regulatory compliance. Contact Agilient to discuss a tailored security assessment and strategy aligned to your agency’s responsibilities.