Macquarie University plans to invest $700 million over 10 years in a digital transformation initiative

The Sydney-based institution and hospital has successfully completed a major migration of its VMware-based infrastructure to Amazon Web Services, a move that has allowed for increased scalability, flexibility, and efficiency in its digital operations. Additionally, the decommissioning of its Oracle on-premises servers signifies a strategic shift towards cloud-based solutions for enhanced performance and cost-effectiveness.

Despite these significant achievements, the recently promoted CIDO, Jonathan Covell, emphasizes that these actions are merely the initial steps in a broader modernization strategy. Covell envisions a comprehensive digital transformation roadmap that will encompass further upgrades, integrations, and innovations to propel the institution and hospital towards a more advanced and digitally-enabled future. This forward-looking approach underscores the institution's commitment to staying at the forefront of technological advancements and delivering enhanced services to its stakeholders.

Jonathan Covell, the Chief Information and Digital Officer at Macquarie University, views the upcoming digital transformation as an opportunity for genuine change rather than simply digitizing existing processes. He emphasized that the previous decade was dedicated to revamping physical infrastructure, and the next ten years will be centered on enhancing the digital experience for the university and hospital community. This strategic shift underscores the institution's commitment to embracing digital innovation and improving overall user experience in the digital realm.

Jonathan Covell emphasized the need to reassess and revamp existing processes in order to achieve genuine transformation. He highlighted the importance of trust and effort in this endeavor, acknowledging that the foundational work already completed by the institution has positioned them to overcome technological barriers and drive forward with their digital initiatives. This forward-thinking approach underscores Macquarie University's commitment to leveraging technology effectively and ensuring that it serves as an enabler rather than a hindrance to their transformation journey.

Under the management of IT services provider Kyndryl, Macquarie University's cloud migration involved transferring 480 virtual machines that supported various applications such as finance, customer relationship management, and student support software onto Amazon Web Services (AWS). Jonathan Covell shared that the institution has successfully migrated 85 percent of its workloads and multiple applications to the cloud, marking a significant milestone in their digital transformation journey. This transition to the cloud signifies Macquarie University's commitment to leveraging cloud technology to enhance operational efficiency and support their diverse range of services.

In response to its acquisition by Broadcom, Macquarie University is planning to minimize its reliance on VMware over the next two years. Jonathan Covell's team aims to achieve this by strategically retiring environments and making a sharp commitment to managing utilization effectively. They plan to eliminate any unused overhead from VMware farms, ensuring that the university optimizes its resources and streamlines its IT infrastructure in alignment with its evolving needs and strategic objectives. This proactive approach reflects Macquarie University's commitment to adapt to changes in the technology landscape and optimize its operations for enhanced efficiency and effectiveness.

After reducing its reliance on VMware, the team at Macquarie University plans to assess, plan, and pilot a larger-scale migration away from VMware, starting at the end of this year. Jonathan Covell expressed the intention to transition away from VMware before facing potential challenges, likening the move to stepping off a ship before it sinks. He highlighted that the university is well-prepared for this transition as they already utilize alternative technologies such as containers, serverless computing, and public cloud Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS). This strategic shift towards embracing diverse technologies underscores Macquarie University's commitment to staying ahead of the curve and leveraging innovative solutions to drive their digital transformation initiatives.

Macquarie University is well-prepared for the transition away from VMware due to its existing use of alternative technologies such as containers, serverless computing, and public cloud Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS). Jonathan Covell mentioned that the university is currently evaluating these technologies to assess their operational, financial, and skill-related impacts. This evaluation process will help inform the university's decision-making regarding a potential migration away from VMware.

Covell also stated that VMware on AWS will be the initial target environment for migration efforts, with plans to commence the migration process within the current year. This strategic approach underscores Macquarie University's commitment to leveraging cutting-edge technologies and optimizing its IT infrastructure to support its digital transformation goals effectively.