Hitech Support delivers secure online services to NSW councils and libraries ( Western Sydney IT Cluster - Newsletter - February/March 2006)

Western Sydney IT Cluster member, Hitech Support , in partnership with Verizon (MCI), is helping New South Wales councils and libraries deploy internet and wireless communication services that they can deliver securely and cost effectively to the public.

The project also links councils and libraries throughout NSW by internet to an extended network Hitech manages for the State Library of NSW, bringing this on-line capability to more than 65 metropolitan and regional councils and municipal library sites in NSW.

Joyce Azzopardi, Principal Project Coordinator of the NSW Library Network project says the State Library wanted to create a reliable, robust and cost effective network of municipal libraries across NSW. To achieve this required the design of the infrastructure, the integration of systems and the development of support services, using leading edge technologies, so Hitech was hired.

She says, 'Hitech Support continue to be a terrific help to me and my customers. Their staff are quick to respond to requests and know what they're doing, which makes my job easier'

Hitech CEO, John Papoutsis , says a number of challenges face an ICT service provider helping local governments deliver effective and resilient on-line services to their public

Networks must often be extended to remote sites that need internet-based Virtual Private Network (VPN) Services and Wireless links, and cost effective point to point data links. In rolling out on-line services for councils to the public, Hitech has to ensure the internet and wireless links are secure, to protect council on-line services from hackers or intruders. It must also deploy solutions manageable by council IT staff, so they can effectively perform ongoing maintenance and support.

John used as an example, some of Hitech's recent work with North Sydney Council, to replace old firewall technology with a solution providing a range of feature rich and flexible services.

As part of the project, Hitech replaced the out of date and unstable firewall, which was not performing satisfactorily, and provided council with the ability to manage current and future internet and wireless communications requirements.

It centralised all communications into a single platform to simplify and reduce management overheads and provided a disaster recovery facility for the council's communications links.

For further information contact John Papoutsis, or tel: +612 9686 7220.