Case Study
Melbourne Institute Data Lab
The Melbourne Institute, within the University of Melbourne, manages several important surveys including the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics (HILDA) Survey. They needed to enhance their data security due to increasing requirements, and to establish secure enclave for virtual access to micro-level survey data for curation, analysis, and visualisation by researchers.
Designed and built by Cyconsol, MIDL provides a secure environment for research data curation and analysis.
The Melbourne Institute Data Lab (MIDL) environment balances the needs of data custodians and analysts, evolves with regulatory changes, and ensures high security and operational efficiency. It supports over 40 researchers with secure data access to Australian surveys, providing insights into a wide range of economic, social and demographic issues.
MIDL is an Accredited Data Service Provider by the Office of the National Data Commissioner, and has been assessed at the PROTECTED classification against the requirements of the Information Security Manual (ISM) under the Australian Government’s Protective Security and Policy Framework..
“Cyconsol’s ongoing support for MIDL is essential in maintaining a trusted reputation among current and prospective data custodians, data users and other stakeholders. I greatly respect the expertise and knowledge of the team at Cyconsol. They are contributing to this world-class platform for Australian researchers, with cybersecurity meticulously woven into its foundation.”
Dr Rajeev Samarage, Platform Lead and a Senior Research Fellow at the Melbourne Institute
Cyconsol provided these essential services for the Melbourne Institute:
Technical environment – this included platform planning, design, implementation and testing; assisting with the development of pricing and cost recovery mechanisms, and the procurement of hardware, software and licensing quotes through vendors; the physical setup of hardware and software at the data centre; configuration and tuning; remote access through a secure virtual desktop;
Data governance model – assisting in the development of the data management model; documentation and training on how to access the data;
Operational environment - management of access controls; management of all elements of service delivery (ITIL); and platform automation capability including data migration and destruction as per Australian Government requirements and specific contractual requirements; remote support;
Security governance - implementation of the security program consistent with the Information Security Manual (ISM); Adherence to the Australian Privacy Principles; physical security; preparation for IRAP assessment; ongoing compliance.
Get the full story
The secure environment was designed to provide enhanced computing, storage, and networking capabilities. Built on robust on-premises infrastructure with selective integration of cloud services, the project brought together multiple technology components to ensure high availability, security, and operational efficiency.
Cyconsol provides ongoing services for the Melbourne Institute Data Lab. Read how the team at Cyconsol created this unique environment and what it delivers for Australian researchers.
Contact us
Find out more about the Melbourne Institute Data Lab and learn how we can help your organisation.
The Cyconsol Advantage
Independent
We only implement the best tools and strategies based on the unique needs and requirements of our clients.
Quality Focused
We implement strict quality management processes so that we can provide assurance that the advice and support will be consistent and accurate.
True Trusted Advisors
We are known for providing the best advice and solutions based on the specific needs of our clients.
Leading Edge
We are constantly researching and testing new technologies to identify the most effective and efficient control options available.