The first New Zealand data centre has achieved certification under the public cloud data centre certification initiative, led by the government chief digital officer.
CDC Data Centres New Zealand facilities in Auckland were the first through that gate, under the program to enhance the security and efficiency of government cloud services.
General manager all-of-government services delivery Richard Ashworth said the certification would boost New Zealand’s digital infrastructure and demonstrate leadership in strategic planning and investment in digital technology.
“The achievement of this milestone will benefit New Zealand government agencies and organisations today and supports our system leadership and long-term digital transformation goals,” Ashworth said.
The voluntary certification provided a standardised and consistent security assessment of CDC’s Silverdale and Hobsonville campuses in Auckland. Both campuses deliver critical infrastructure technology programs that underpin the security, social and economic wellbeing of New Zealanders.
“This certification provides New Zealand government agencies and organisations with confidence that the public cloud data centres they use meet security obligations and reduce ownership, control, and supply chain risks,” Ashworth said.
It also streamlines the certification and accreditation processes for providers, reducing the effort required to meet agency requests.
The certification scheme is part of a broader effort to enhance digital public infrastructure and aligns with the New Zealand government’s cloud first policy, which requires agencies to adopt public cloud services in preference to traditional ICT systems.