The right network foundations, delivered with respect for tikanga, so an iwi organisation could serve its community securely, and at speed.
IT Works partners with Māori entities to drive technological advancement in service of community needs. Te Rūnanganui o Te Āti Awa, a community service organisation providing medical and social services, health and education to the iwi, is a prime example.
Working together, the rūnanga enhanced network speed and security, elevated its IT infrastructure, and reshaped the way the iwi and their community safeguard data, reducing the risk of data breaches and ransomware.
Since 2013, IT Works’ guidance has positioned Te Rūnanganui o Te Āti Awa to lead the way as a Māori entity for kaupapa in the cybersecurity space, establishing new benchmarks in data security, community service enhancement and IT innovation.
Client
Te Rūnanganui o Te Āti Awa
Industry
Iwi community service provider
Organisation size
100–200 people
Delivered by
IT Works, end-to-end design, implementation and ongoing support on FortiGate, FortiSwitch and FortiWiFi
Inadequate network coverage and security was keeping Te Rūnanganui o Te Āti Awa from delivering community services effectively. The potential for unauthorised access created real vulnerability, with consequences that could include data breaches, theft of sensitive information or service disruptions.
Slow Wi-Fi and limited data protection were particularly challenging for the organisation’s medical centre, causing interruptions in connectivity and the potential for data leaks. The rūnanga faced risks to its reputation and community trust, and a clear need for an urgent, effective solution.
Why FortinetFortinet has been recognised by Gartner as a leader in cybersecurity for three consecutive years. With international backing and proven performance at scale, it was the right fit for a network this critical.
Senior Technical Engineer, IT Works
improvement in network speed and coverage
now available to the community, up from 40–60Mb/s
to complete implementation
downtime during opening hours
Using FortiGate, FortiSwitch and FortiWiFi, IT Works upgraded the network to improve speed and coverage by 92%, while significantly strengthening security. The implementation was completed in just one day, minimising disruption and meeting the organisation’s technical and operational needs without any downtime during opening hours.
‘With the growth of our rūnanga and increasingly strict cybersecurity measures required in healthcare environments, IT Works provided robust planning, managed the implementation of best-in-market Fortinet solutions, and kept open and honest lines of communication with our team for a seamless project.’
Dinah Luke, Director of Health
A 92% improvement in network speed and coverage, seamless connectivity remotely and across the campus.
A 100% increase in network security, with 2TB of data protected, scalable beyond 10TB, supporting informed, data-driven decisions.
No more frustrating timeouts. Community users now harness 500Mb/s, up from 40–60Mb/s.
The new network is compliant with HISO 10029:2022 and ISO 27001, all personal health data treated as medically secure.
‘The personalised support and open approach we always receive from IT Works didn’t change throughout this journey. They know our people by their first name and will continue to be part of our iwi and rūnanga.’
Dinah Luke, Director of Health
This journey with Te Rūnanganui o Te Āti Awa reflects IT Works’ deep respect for tikanga and an ongoing commitment to quality data infrastructure for the rūnanga. The collaboration paves new pathways in IT for rangatahi, enabling the highest security standards, leadership in cybersecurity, and effective technology use in service of the community.
If you’re a mission-driven organisation looking for a technology partner who genuinely gets it, we’d love to talk.
0800 448 967 or book a time below
