Local Government
Case Study
Overview
Industry: Public Sector
Services: Managed Services
A regional council serving over 50,000 residents in New Zealand’s South Island was facing growing pressure to modernise its technology environment.
As with many local government bodies, the council relied heavily on Microsoft SQL Server to run its core systems, but legacy infrastructure, escalating support costs, and inconsistent performance were impacting operations.
To improve reliability and prepare for future growth, the council partnered with DataSentinel to stabilise and modernise its data platforms and implement a long-term data strategy.
Here’s a snapshot of the customer’s journey
The Challenge
The council’s SQL Server environment was nearing its limits. Many systems were outdated and running on extended support, increasing both cost and risk.
Core services – such as the council’s ERP platform – depended on this infrastructure, and performance issues were beginning to affect service delivery.
The incumbent provider was not delivering strategic value, and the internal team was burdened with maintaining legacy stored procedures and jobs. The council needed to increase visibility, improve cost effectiveness, reduce technical debt, and find a more responsive and capable partner.
The Solution
DataSentinel began with a deep assessment of the council’s SQL Server estate. The engagement included upgrading outdated instances and migrating the ERP system to the cloud to reduce reliance on physical infrastructure.
Legacy stored procedures and scheduled jobs were replaced with a modern, integrated platform. Alongside these improvements, DataSentinel developed a tailored data strategy and introduced a business intelligence framework to improve access to insights and support data-informed decision-making.
The flexible support model allowed the council to scale services in response to internal resourcing needs, ensuring coverage during leave periods or when critical projects required additional capacity.
Key Benefits
Modern, fully supported SQL Server environment improves performance and reliability
Flexible service model aligns investment with need, enhancing cost efficiency
Improved data visibility and analytics empower smarter, faster decision-making
Long-term partnership model integrates DataSentinel as an extension of the team
The Results
Since engaging DataSentinel, the council has significantly strengthened the performance, security, and scalability of its database infrastructure.
Outages and performance issues have lessened, and the move to cloud services has reduced risk and complexity.
With a trusted partner in place, internal teams now benefit from shared tools, consistent practices, and proactive guidance that continues to deliver operational and strategic value.
“Just as we rely on databases to run our operations, we depend on the DataSentinel team for their expertise and advice. We trust them to work in our best interests, effectively making them an extension of our own team.”