Hornsby Shire Council halves costs with Fortinet network overhaul

Hornsby Shire Council has completed a major upgrade of its network infrastructure, replacing its legacy system with a Fortinet-powered solution delivered by Ip.Glass.

The council moved away from its previous multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) network, which had presented challenges relating to cost, inflexibility, and scalability. The new system features FortiGate Next-Generation Firewalls, FortiSwitch LAN components, FortiAP wireless access points, and FortiExtender connectivity for 4G and 5G, all of which are centrally managed via FortiManager Cloud.

Cameron McNaught, Infrastructure Services Team Leader at Hornsby Shire Council, highlighted the advantages of the transition, stating, "Fortinet SD-WAN was a really good story from the council's point of view. It offers a more secure and more flexible product, more resiliency, redundancy, simplicity for less money, and a much better user experience."

McNaught explained that segmentation and autonomy have increased across the council's sites. "With Fortinet, every council site is its own standalone network, fully segregated, but still part of the whole. If a site goes down, there's no longer a single point of failure. Hornsby Shire Council has reduced communications spend by at least 50 per cent and now has the visibility and control to manage and secure all council locations effectively," he said.

The new network infrastructure establishes standardised security policies throughout council operations. It also allows for quicker onboarding of new sites and supports improved digital service delivery for both staff and residents.

In addition to performance improvements, the transformation assists the council in its efforts to comply with the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) Essential Eight and ISO 27001 standards. The enhanced connectivity now enables the council to integrate Internet of Things (IoT) devices, implement zero trust network access, and offer upgraded digital services to the community.

Tim Weddell, IT Operations Manager at Hornsby Shire Council, commented on the operational benefits: "Council users don't see problems anymore. It just works. They are protected wherever they go, even when they are offsite. Their focus is now on business outcomes, not IT challenges."

The project supports Hornsby Shire Council's objective to build a future-ready network for both existing and emerging technologies and is aligned with the council's broader vision focused on digital innovation and optimising technology assets.

John Millionis, Director, Channel and Distribution for Australia at Fortinet, said, "Fortinet is pleased to support this important initiative through the collaboration with Ip.Glass. This project highlights the critical role of Fortinet's Engage Preferred Services Partners in helping customers achieve secure and scalable digital transformation. Ip.Glass has once again demonstrated its ability to deliver outstanding outcomes through deep expertise and trusted partnership."

Ip.Glass is currently the first and only partner in Australia to hold Fortinet's Engage Preferred Services Partner (EPSP) designation, which recognises an organisation's capability to deliver expert deployment and support for Fortinet's solutions.

Semyon Taskin, Managing Director at Ip.Glass, said, "Ip.Glass is proud to partner with Hornsby Shire Council on a project that delivers meaningful and lasting impact. Hornsby Shire Council had a clear vision for digital innovation, and the Ip.Glass team worked closely with the council to design and deliver a network that supports both immediate operational improvements and long-term strategic goals. The Fortinet Secure SD-WAN solution provided the foundation to improve performance, reduce complexity, and embed robust security controls across every location."

The upgraded infrastructure establishes a platform not only for present-day connectivity and security requirements but also accommodates potential expansion for smart city services and further digital transformation initiatives within Hornsby Shire Council.