Published: 23 Mar 2026
Cybersecurity Posture Improved To Match AI Threats With Microsoft Sentinel Uplift
The Australian Fair Work Commission has leveraged LAB3’s expertise in automation, DevOps, and security to enhance their cybersecurity capabilities and improve their overall security posture.
The Fair Work Commission is Australia's national independent workplace relations tribunal and registered organisations regulator. The Commission sets minimum wages and helps to resolve issues in the workplace.
Cybersecurity is paramount to the Commission's operations. A key priority is to maintain a security posture that matches the increasing speed and sophistication of today's AI threats, in a way that is cost-effective and does not impact service delivery.
To enhance their cybersecurity capabilities and improve the overall security posture of the organisation, the Commission leveraged LAB3 expertise in automation, DevOps and cybersecurity. This included an uplift of the existing Microsoft Sentinel and a transition from an incumbent provider to services provided by the LAB3Security Operations Centre (SOC) to manage the Commission's SIEM.
We selected LAB3 because they delivered value quickly without adding the typical overhead. Their DevOps-led approach matched how we work, and their code-based releases made change repeatable, lower risk and easier to operate.
We've also seen an improvement in visibility, particularly in Security Operations, the guidance from LAB3 and implementation of baseline analytics controls improved our maturity, strengthened our ability to detect and respond to threats entering the environment.
Joshua Pope — CTO, Fair Work Commission
Challenge
LAB3 worked in partnership with the Commission to swiftly deploy comprehensive solutions to uplift their security posture and maintain data sovereignty. This included a collaborative transition from an incumbent provider of Sentinel and SOC to ensure the seamless continuity of cybersecurity measures throughout the uplift to LAB3.
LAB3 worked in partnership with the Commission to swiftly deploy comprehensive solutions to uplift their security posture and maintain data sovereignty. This included a collaborative transition from an incumbent provider of Sentinel and SOC to ensure the seamless continuity of cybersecurity measures throughout the uplift to LAB3.
Approach
The Commission's Microsoft Sentinel environment was uplifted by layering LAB3 code and introducing automation into the equation. Sentinel was further enhanced with LAB3 analytical controls to immediately improve security and threat visibility. The automation capabilities have reduced the Commission reliance on human analysis, providing increased detection and response capabilities.
In tandem with the Sentinel uplift, LAB3 deployed its SOC capability, working hand in hand with the incumbent provider to ensure a seamless outcome.
The LAB3 SOC is provided using DevSecOps to provide continuous detection and response to reduce dwell time, simplify compliance, and strengthen trust. The SOC roadmap included items like SOAR optimisation and XDR introduction.
Critical to the Commission's decision to opt for the LAB3 SOC is that it is 'based in the cloud' which means data sovereignty is always maintained. The Commission were also reassured by the fact that LAB3 is fully Australian based with onshore resourcing.
Impact
The partnership has achieved significant improvements in the Commission's security posture and provided genuine strategic value.
The partnership has established foundations for long-term security excellence to cover the delicate and highly confidential services the Commission provides. Embedded into operations, LAB3 is playing an ongoing role in the FWC's security journey, including regular Sentinel and Essential 8 assessments.
Cybersecurity is critical to the Commission's purpose and reputation as Australia's independent workplace regulator, and LAB3 helped us lift capability in a practical way via automating the right work, reducing reliance on manual effort. With an upskilling from both the Commission and Lab3 to our ways of working meaning we have a shared understanding and material interest to own the outcomes and keep improving.
Bhavesh Kumar — IT Security Advisor, Fair Work Commission