Western Australia Government signs agreements with Microsoft to modernise agencies and boost security

Microsoft today announces a new Whole of Government Agreement with Western Australia that will ensure agencies, regardless of size, can leverage Microsoft’s cloud services cost effectively to inject efficiency across the public sector and lay the digital foundations for new citizen-centric services.

The Agreement aligns strongly with WA’s strategic digital goals. These include maximising value from investments and enhancing security, stability, efficiency, transparency and capability.

Strategically aligned to the Agreement, WA’s Office of Digital Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Microsoft that is focussed on security. This is intended to deliver enhanced cyber security for the public sector and also see the organisations collaborate on initiatives designed to work toward identifying and eradicating cybercrime.

With the majority of WA’s State Agencies already using Microsoft Azure, the Whole of Government Agreement gives all agencies cost effective rights to use Azure as well as technologies such as Teams, Office 365 and Dynamics 365. Agencies will also be able to leverage Windows Virtual Desktop.

The Agreement, in conjunction with the MoU, promotes security for Government agencies of all sizes and raises the security profile of the State. Already 15 WA agencies are using Azure Security Centre and 10 are making use of Azure Sentinel – providing access to the security insights revealed from Microsoft analysis of 6.5 trillion signals each day.

The Agreement, MoU and further Microsoft support to assist deployment pave the way for ubiquitous use of Microsoft’s advanced security technologies and agencies are already upgrading their security infrastructure.

Steven Worrall, managing director, Microsoft Australia, said: “We are delighted to be able to extend our long term relationship with the WA Government ensuring that all agencies will have access to the sorts of high value digital technologies that can transform the way they operate and engage with citizens and businesses.

“The MoU will also elevate Western Australia’s cyber security posture by ensuring access to leading edge technology, real time insights and the opportunity to collaborate on initiatives to target and eradicate cybercrime. Microsoft will also provide specialised security training to WA personnel and we look forward to working together on this important issue.”