Mainframe servers from technology provider, IBM have been selected by the Northern Territory Government to host its governmental business applications.

The NT Government selected IBM’s zEnterprise 114 mainframe server for its scalability as well as its ability to be accessed by many users at one time.

To be located at the NT Government’s data centre in Darwin, the mainframe server upgrade is part of the state government’s bi-annual information technology refresh program.

According to a release from IBM, this is ‘crucial’ for managing and delivering services across multiple government departments, while addressing current and future growth requirements.

The release said the server offers the NT Government improved energy efficiency and supports its environmental footprint strategy.

NT Government director of data centre services, Bob Creek said due to the multi-access, shared nature of the government’s systems, the IBM z114 upgrade will ensure that mission critical government applications and systems run as efficiently as possible.

“The mainframe is fundamental to our business and we believe it will continue to deliver efficiency benefits to government for a long time to come,” Mr Creek said.

IBM Australia and New Zealand System z business unit executive, Rolf Stockburger said governments need “flexible infrastructure” to move them forward.

Mr Stockburger said IBM’s relationship with the Northern Territory Government has spanned many decades, providing infrastructure possible to keep its business running “smarter and more efficiently”.