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Accelerating Cloud Adoption and Enhancing Staff Flexibility: A Case Study on Commonwealth Grants Commission
Technology Category
- Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) - Cloud Databases
- Sensors - GPS
Applicable Industries
- Buildings
- Cities & Municipalities
Use Cases
- Personnel Tracking & Monitoring
- Tamper Detection
Services
- Cloud Planning, Design & Implementation Services
The Challenge
The Commonwealth Grants Commission (CGC), an independent statutory body advising the Australian Government on financial assistance for states and territories, was facing a significant challenge with its aging access infrastructure. For several years, the CGC’s staff had relied on a secure internet gateway (SIG) service based on a 10Mbps network link. This SIG was the only link with the outside world, and congestion and performance had gradually become a significant issue. The move to the cloud was part of an 'anywhere, anytime, any device' strategy adopted by the organization to maintain business continuity and rapidly support staff wherever they may be located. There was also a plan to shift into new premises in about 18 months and a need to improve performance to access cloud-based solutions.
About The Customer
The Commonwealth Grants Commission (CGC) is an independent statutory body established in 1933. It advises the Australian Government on financial assistance for the nation’s states and territories. Initially, the CGC provided advice regarding grants made by the Commonwealth Government. Since the Goods and Services Tax (GST) was introduced in 1999, the CGC now advises on how this source of revenue should be distributed. The CGC's staff had been relying on a secure internet gateway (SIG) service based on a 10Mbps network link, which was the only link with the outside world.
The Solution
In response to these challenges, the CGC IT team, in collaboration with a technology partner, examined a range of solutions as part of a larger project that involved migrating from the existing, on-premise hardware to the Azure cloud and the adoption of Microsoft Office 365. The team commissioned a new gigabit network link and deployed Zscaler over the top. The partnership with Microsoft enabled core applications to be migrated to Azure and all staff equipped with a subscription to Office 365 E5 cloud-based suite of productivity apps combined with advanced voice, analytics, security, and compliance services. The project began in late 2019 and was completed early in 2020. An IRAP assessment provided government agencies with confidence in Zscaler’s suitability for processing, storing, or communicating sensitive information, making it easier for agencies to evaluate and adopt the technology.
Operational Impact
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