When a cyber incident strikes, chaos often follows. Cydarm is designed to bring order, helping teams coordinate and respond quickly.
As cyber threats increase globally, organisations have improved their ability to detect breaches. However, managing the aftermath remains a major challenge.
Cydarm provides a central platform for incident response, enabling teams to track incidents, share information securely, generate reports and follow structured workflows. The aim is to reduce confusion and support faster, more coordinated action.
Built on experience and shared values
Cydarm was founded by Vaughan Shanks and Ben Waters.
Vaughan – with a background working in defence – identified a clear gap. While organisations were getting better at detecting incidents, many struggled to manage what came next.
Vaughan met Ben at an industry event after speaking on a panel. Ben immediately saw an opportunity, as he had recently exited a successful cyber business.
“Ben had been on the journey before and I knew he was up for the challenge,” Vaughan says. “We come from different backgrounds, but we’re aligned on values. That matters most, especially when things get tough.”
Scaling technology and expanding globally
In 2022, Cydarm raised $3 million with an intention to expand globally. This capital allowed them to deeply understand the US market and arrive at a model that is now gaining traction with their first US clients.
The company has now incorporated artificial intelligence into its software development and product offering. Vaughan stresses it’s imperative however to maintain strong engineering oversight.
“Steve Jobs said, ‘The computer is a bicycle for your mind’," Vaughan explains. “I think AI is like a motorcycle, if you don’t know how to ride, it’s dangerous. But if you do, it’s incredibly powerful.”
The value of community
Vaughan credits the Stone and Chalk community as an important part of the journey.
With access to office space in multiple locations across Australia and a network of founders, it has provided both practical support and connection.
“Other founders are walking the same path,” Vaughan says. “You can lean on each other when challenges arise.”
Final thoughts
For Vaughan, building Cydarm is driven by a passion for solving real problems. “There’s nothing else I’d rather be doing every day,” he confesses.
“The upside of entrepreneurship is significant, in fact it’s infinite,” he says.
