Antarctica New Zealand Implements Metalogix Replicator for SharePoint To Securely Replicate Research Information Between SharePoint Deployments

OVERVIEW

Antarctica New Zealand is the Crown Entity responsible for developing, managing and executing New Zealand Government activities in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean, in particular the Ross Dependency. Antarctica New Zealand manages Scott Base, New Zealand’s Antarctic research station. It maintains New Zealand’s operational presence in the Ross Dependency for the benefit of present and future generations of New Zealanders. Key activities include supporting scientific research, conserving the intrinsic values of Antarctica and the Southern Ocean and raising public awareness (in part through arts, media and youth programs) of the international significance of the continent.

THE CHALLENGE

As a crown entity, executing government activities, it is vital for Antarctica New Zealand that there is always a secure continuity of communication and information replication between their offices. Antarctica New Zealand uses Microsoft SharePoint as its primary information and collaboration platform for interaction between Antarctica New Zealand’s Christchurch head office and Scott Base, its research facility located in Antarctica. The key challenge they faced in developing an effective collaboration solution was how best to share information securely between offices with firewalls over a low bandwidth (64/256k), high latency (300ms) satellite data-link.

THE SOLUTION

Metalogix Replicator for SharePoint provided just such a collaborative solution that ensures secure replication between offices is available, even with the presence of a firewall.

“Metalogix Replicator for SharePoint was chosen as a key technology to achieve our goals,” said Greg Jack, Information Services Team Leader, Antarctica New Zealand. “The ability of Replicator to allow administrators to select which sites, lists and document libraries to synchronize or replicate was a primary factor in our decision.”

THE RESULTS

With the numerous configuration options provided via Metalogix Replicator for SharePoint, Antarctica New Zealand can ensure that only the documents they want shared with their various branch offices get replicated. Antarctica New Zealand can also utilize the built-in efficiencies of Replicator to optimize the flow of operations. These include replicating in-process Workflows and Remote Differential Compression (RDC).

Taking advantage of Metalogix Replicator’s ability to replicate a document’s workflow state and status allows the team to share the continuing research being conducted, where and when it is needed. As a result, a project that is still in progress will still be replicated as changes are made to it, keeping all data up-to-date. With RDC, only the changes made to documents are replicated, versus the entire document. This in turn ensures that all operations are working at an efficient rate, even under low bandwidth and high latency constraints, one of Antarctica New Zealand’s biggest concerns.

With Metalogix Replicator for SharePoint, Antarctica New Zealand can ensure that their information is securely replicated, their data is up-to- date, and that the continuity of operations is maintained. Furthermore, they can customize what is replicated, further ensuring that secure data remains secure and required data is replicated.