Dimension Data to build government-managed cloud

Dimension Data has established a managed cloud platform (MCP) in Canberra that has been purpose built for the Australian Government.

The Canberra MCP is under final construction by Canberra Data Centres and is on track to come online early next year. It will be located in the industrial hub Fyshwick.

It is designed to address the requirements of the Australian Government information security management protocol and the Attorney-General’s Risk management guidelines. The facility will be reserved exclusively for use by government agencies and the data will remain in Canberra.

“We want to see the Australian Government reap the benefits of cloud computing in the same way that the private sector has,” Dimension Data Australia CEO Rodd Cunico said.

“The Canberra MCP has been designed with the Government Cloud Computing Policy in mind, in order to allow departments and agencies to adopt cloud services that not only provide adequate protection of government data but also deliver value for money.”

The first two government agencies - the National Disability Insurance Agency and the Department of Finance - have signed on to make use of the new platform. The latter will use the Canberra cloud to run its video conference booking software-as-a-service, and the Canberra Cloud will connect to that department's Intra Government Communications Network (ICON).

Canberra MCP will provide infrastructure-as-a-service, Microsoft solutions on the cloud and support for enterprise applications including SAP ERP.

Dimension Data recently acquired Australian ICT provider Oakton, adding to its portfolio of government-specific products and services, including information management, collaboration and digitisation services.

“The availability of cloud services offers an opportunity for government to deliver more efficient services that are also more responsive to business and community needs,” Cunico said.

Communications minister Malcolm Turnbull said adopting the MCP will allow the government to benefit from improved cost savings, efficiency and staff productivity.

“The proposition that your data was safer in a server in your office as opposed to in a big, managed facility with all of the 24-hour oversight and all of the systems, was a big call,” he told Fairfax Media. “It is remarkable that people do not reflect more often on the superiority of professionally managed cloud services versus what you can do in your own office or business or agency.”

The facility meshes with the government’s new cloud-first, digital-first strategy, as recommended by the Commission of Audit in May. In line with the new policy, Telstra has just announced plans to develop a cloud environment built specifically for federal, state and local government. The new environment is scheduled to launch in the first half of 2015.

The Canberra facility will be Dimension Data’s third managed cloud platform in Australia and 14th in the world.

Dimension Data used its cloud infrastructure to provide ICT services for the G20 Leaders' Summit in Brisbane earlier this month. The company provided infrastructure and wireless networking services for the roughly 7000 delegates and media attending the event.

The company delivered services on a consumption basis via its Melbourne Managed Cloud Platform, with automatic failover to its Sydney facility. Dimension Data also provided connectivity at a number of single-use hotels reserved for G20 delegates.

The G20 infrastructure supported 10,000 mobile devices, 700 concurrent thin client desktop sessions and 300 wireless access points.

Image courtesy of Brenden Ashton under CC