When global car brands head south to test their latest models in sub-zero temperatures, Southern Hemisphere Proving Ground knows it can rely on its network to stay in control and up to speed – no matter what the cars are doing.

Skiers and snowboarders aren’t the only international guests to flock to Wanaka in winter. Between June and September each year, Southern Hemisphere Proving Ground (SHPG) hosts global car
manufacturers who come to trial their newest models in the icy conditions.

SHPG has 16 testing workshops scattered throughout its site, in the alpine landscape between Queenstown and Wanaka. Not only is it a seasonal operation (the testing workshops run only during winter) but the competing car brands need to be certain their new features, as well as test data, are completely secure and confidential.

Rock-solid system needed

“Our season is busy and demanding. When we open the testing sites we’ve got to know our network and system are rock-solid and ready to go.

“Our clients from the research and development side of the automotive industry are cutting edge – we need to make sure we’ve got support in place to match their expectations.”

Steve Gould,

Southern Hemisphere Proving Ground.

For more than eight years, IT Centre has been looking after SHPG’s IT needs. This involves trekking up to the ice every year to get the 16 test workshops networked and operational. It’s no run-of-the mill job. Each of the 16 workshops has to be completely secret, yet networked to the central system.

Services provided

• Network design, implementation and support
• Computer systems set-up, implementation and support
• Cloud-based services including online back-up and file sharing
• Microsoft Office 365 hosted email
• On-going monitoring and maintenance
• Priority response service

Global clients, large data requirements

Through provider Spark, SHPG has a 100MB fibre link and guaranteed connectivity for international traffic. IT Centre worked locally to ensure all technical requirements were met when this was installed. Any new upgrades or software are introduced seamlessly. For example, IT Centre successfully integrated a weather station function that gives crucial real-time updates on weather conditions to all workshops – along with a user-friendly web-based interface. More recently, SHPG moved from standard email to Microsoft Office 365 hosted email – a cloud-based solution that gives greater flexibility and security. And over the 2016 winter, IT Centre is helping manage the implementation of a new management system.

As with any IT system it’s important to be prepared for contingencies – and SHPG uses the priority response service from IT Centre to make sure issues can be resolved promptly.

According to IT Centre’s Rob Facer, SHPG is one of their more ‘fun clients’, and has needed some creative solutions at times. But fundamentally, the need for security, flexibility and reliability is a constant across any business.

“We’ve had a long-standing relationship with IT Centre – they understand our business and how we operate. They’re on hand to sort out any issues that come up, and can deliver a creative solution when needed. It enables us to give our international clients the service they require.”

Steve Gould,

Southern Hemisphere Proving Ground.