What's Happening?
Austrade, Australia's trade and investment development body, is set to overhaul its core network infrastructure, replacing Cisco-based systems with Fortinet's FortiGate firewalls and new core network switches by late 2026. The current infrastructure includes
Nexus 7000-series switches and Cisco ASA 5525 firewalls, which have been in use for decades. The agency aims to purchase new equipment by March 2026 and implement it in the third or fourth quarter of the year.
Why It's Important?
This transition marks a significant shift in Austrade's network strategy, moving away from long-standing Cisco solutions to Fortinet's offerings. The change reflects broader trends in the industry towards diversifying network infrastructure providers and adopting newer technologies to enhance security and connectivity. For Cisco, this represents a loss of a long-term client, potentially impacting its market presence in government sectors.
What's Next?
Austrade is currently evaluating available networking solutions to guide resource planning and identify the best options for the Commonwealth. The agency has not yet selected a vendor for the core network switches, indicating ongoing assessments and potential opportunities for other providers to compete for the contract.
