NSW Food Authority

http://www.foodauthority.nsw.gov.au

The NSW Food Authority (the Authority) selected Hostworks to deliver, design, implement and manage critical online operations for its key websites in 2010.

The Authority works with consumers, industry and other government organisations to minimise food poisoning by providing information about and regulating the safe production, storage, transport, promotion and preparation of food.

The Authority’s activities include regulating 55,000 food businesses in NSW, investigating complaints and cases of food poisoning, operating a helpline, managing a partnership with local councils, coordinating NSW product recalls, and running consumer and industry information programs.

 The Authority operates three websites that deliver a range of information, including:

• www.foodauthority.nsw.gov.au - a information portal for consumers, industry and local government
• www.foodnotify.nsw.gov.au - an online portal for businesses in NSW to "notify" their details to the Authority of their food activity detail
• www.frp.nsw.gov.au - a secure web portal which provides information and collaboration tools for members of the Food Regulation Partnership – consisting of Local Councils, Lord Howe Island Trust and DECC (in respect of Kosciusko National Park)

Hostworks provides a portfolio of services to the Authority, including its Utility Computing platform, a service comprising infrastructure, management and tools to ensure scalability and availability. This service ensures ongoing support, removing the risk of website failure and maintaining user experience.

Hostworks also has full responsibility for the operation of the platform on which the Authority’s websites reside, allowing it to focus on its core business.

“Hostworks has a strong appreciation and an understanding of how the Authority operates, and the importance of working within the Authority’s budgets. Hostwork’s proven track record of managing many of the largest and most critical websites in Australia gives the Authority assurance of the availability and performance of its online presence.” Debbie Brookfield, Business Systems Manager, NSW Food Authority.

 The main benefits of the Hostworks enhanced website hosting and management service include:

• high availability - Hostworks provides the Authority with a 24x7 service level of 99.9% on its services;
• rapid implementation - Hostworks provided a rapid implementation and transition of existing websites to the Authority’s new Hostworks environment;
• scalability – the Authority is able to scale up and/or scale out at short notice to support marketing initiatives and new projects;
• security – the Authority benefits from Hostworks’ tightly engineered and proactively managed approach to security management; and
• flexibility -  to support the Authority’s upcoming new website initiatives.

PRESS RELEASE - The NSW Food Authority Selects Hostworks to Manage Key Websites