Local Government IT Support | Trusted Partnership with Subnet

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Overview

The Local Government Association of South Australia (LGA SA) represents and supports councils across South Australia, helping strengthen the local government sector through advocacy, services and collaboration.

With a small internal IT team responsible for supporting the organisation's technology environment and delivering projects for councils, LGA SA relies on access to specialist expertise to help meet its evolving technology requirements.

Through a long-standing partnership with Subnet, LGA SA has modernised its IT infrastructure, strengthened its cybersecurity posture and gained access to trusted technical guidance across a broad range of technology initiatives.

From migrating legacy infrastructure to Microsoft 365 and SharePoint, through to cybersecurity assessments and emerging AI technologies, Subnet continues to support LGA SA as an extension of its internal IT capabilities.

Challenges

LGA SA's internal IT team manages a diverse range of responsibilities, from maintaining day-to-day systems to supporting technology projects involving South Australian councils.

Over time, the organisation faced several challenges requiring additional technical expertise and resources.

Legacy Infrastructure and Administration

LGA SA previously relied on internal servers and shared drives, creating storage and access challenges alongside the ongoing responsibility of maintaining and patching physical infrastructure.

Increasing Cybersecurity Requirements

As cyber threats continue to evolve, maintaining a strong cybersecurity posture has become an increasingly important priority. LGA SA required independent expertise to assess its security environment and help ensure its Microsoft systems were configured appropriately.

Limited Internal Resources

With a small IT team responsible for multiple operational and project requirements, LGA SA needed a technology partner capable of providing specialist knowledge and additional resources when required.

Emerging Technology and Changing Requirements

From new applications to artificial intelligence, LGA SA also required access to trusted advice to help evaluate and implement technologies with confidence.

Solution: A Long-Term Technology Partnership with Subnet

Subnet has worked alongside LGA SA for many years, providing technical expertise, infrastructure solutions, cybersecurity advice and ongoing support.

Rather than focusing on a single project or technology, the partnership has evolved to support LGA SA across multiple areas of its IT environment.

By combining practical implementation experience with specialist technical knowledge, Subnet helps LGA SA address immediate challenges while supporting its longer-term technology objectives.

Key Initiatives

1. Modernising Infrastructure with Microsoft 365 and SharePoint

One of the most significant projects undertaken by Subnet was helping LGA SA migrate from its legacy internal infrastructure to Microsoft 365 and SharePoint.

Previously, the organisation experienced challenges with internal server maintenance, storage and access to shared drives.

Subnet helped design and implement a cloud-based environment, enabling LGA SA to move away from maintaining internal servers and simplify the management of its information and collaboration systems.

With the environment appropriately architected from the outset, LGA SA has benefited from a more streamlined approach to ongoing administration.

2. Strengthening Cybersecurity and Microsoft Security Configuration

Subnet has also supported LGA SA through independent cybersecurity audits and specialist security advice.

Drawing on experience across Microsoft Azure, Microsoft Entra ID and related security technologies, Subnet has helped LGA SA improve the configuration of its environment and strengthen its overall cybersecurity posture.

The partnership also provides LGA SA with access to broader industry knowledge and experience, helping its internal team understand security challenges and approaches beyond its own organisation.

3. Providing Specialist Advice on AI and Emerging Technologies

As LGA SA explores the opportunities presented by artificial intelligence, Subnet has provided additional technical guidance to support its initiatives.

This has included reviewing the organisation's approach to developing AI agents, providing a valuable second opinion and helping the internal team assess whether its work is progressing in the right direction.

Having access to specialist expertise enables LGA SA to explore emerging technologies with greater confidence.

4. Supporting Telephony, Hardware and Ongoing IT Requirements

Beyond cloud infrastructure and cybersecurity, Subnet has assisted LGA SA with implementing a 3CX phone system and supporting its broader technology requirements.

This includes hardware procurement, technical support and access to specialist resources when new challenges arise.

With a locally based team, Subnet can provide responsive assistance and face-to-face engagement when required, helping LGA SA address technology needs without placing additional pressure on its internal resources.

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Results

The long-standing partnership between LGA SA and Subnet has delivered benefits across infrastructure management, cybersecurity and access to specialist technical expertise.

Simplified IT Management

Migrating to Microsoft 365 and SharePoint has reduced the need to maintain internal servers and shared drives, creating a more streamlined approach to managing the organisation's information systems.

Stronger Cybersecurity Posture

Independent security assessments and specialist Microsoft configuration advice have helped LGA SA implement a more tightly controlled technology environment.

Access to Broader Technical Expertise

Subnet provides additional knowledge and resources across cloud infrastructure, cybersecurity, AI and other technology initiatives, complementing LGA SA's small internal IT team.

Responsive Local Support

Having a South Australian technology partner enables LGA SA to access timely assistance, direct communication and face-to-face support when required.

Confidence in a Trusted Partnership

Through years of collaboration, Subnet has become a trusted point of contact for LGA SA when complex IT challenges arise or new projects require specialist expertise.

Conclusion

LGA SA's relationship with Subnet demonstrates the value of a long-term technology partnership built on trust, collaboration and technical expertise.

From modernising legacy infrastructure and improving cybersecurity to supporting emerging AI initiatives, Subnet has helped LGA SA address a diverse range of technology challenges.

For a small internal IT team supporting an organisation with broad responsibilities across South Australia's local government sector, access to responsive, specialist support remains an important advantage.

By working closely with LGA SA and understanding its evolving requirements, Subnet continues to provide the expertise and practical assistance needed to support its technology objectives.