Higher Education
Case Study
Overview
Industry: Education
Services: Managed Services, Consulting Services, Data and Analytics
A major tertiary education provider is recognised for its research output and academic leadership, serving more than 22,000 students annually.
In 2024, the institution issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) to find a collaborative and adaptable partner to support the management of its diverse and evolving data environment, working closely alongside internal IT teams to build capability and resilience.
Here’s a snapshot of the customer’s journey
The Challenge
The education provider was operating a mixed environment using Microsoft SQL Server and PostgreSQL. It required a partner with expertise across both platforms who could enhance the organisation’s operational maturity without replacing in-house talent.
The team also needed improved visibility and control over database performance. The partner would need to maintain availability, reduce costs, and scale its services up or down in response to seasonal demands and internal staffing changes – making flexibility and collaboration essential.
The Solution
The organisation selected DataSentinel as its managed data services partner, leveraging the team’s deep technical capability across both SQL Server and PostgreSQL.
The engagement included 24/7 out-of-hours support, which ensured operational continuity and reduced pressure on internal teams.
DataSentinel’s consumption-based commercial model aligned well with the organisation’s financial planning approach, allowing support levels to scale up or down as needed.
Beyond day-to-day support, DataSentinel also played a strategic role – assisting with the recruitment of internal data platform staff and providing coverage during periods of leave or increased demand.
Transparency was enabled through shared dashboards and tools, giving the internal IT team access to the same monitoring environment used by DataSentinel engineers. This visibility improved collaboration, built trust, and helped embed consistent practices across the organisation’s data operations.
Key Benefits
Consistent 24/7 support across hybrid data environments
Commercial flexibility through a scalable, consumption-based model
Transparent, shared monitoring tools align internal and external teams
Recruitment support and on-demand staffing coverage
Improved visibility and data platform performance
The Results
The institution now has full oversight of its database operations, with real-time insight enabling better decision-making and planning. Shared dashboards and tools enable alignment between internal and external teams.
Performance and platform reliability have improved markedly, while the cost of managing the environment has become more predictable. The flexible, collaborative model has proved especially valuable for balancing day-to-day operations with longer-term improvement.
“DataSentinel has become a vital extension of our internal team. Their support model is flexible, responsive, and deeply aligned to how we work. It’s a true partnership that delivers real value.”