Case Study: Remediating and transitioning fragmented simulation infrastructure to a secure, resilient future state
Client: Department of Defence, Joint Operations Command, Joint Collective Training Branch (JCTB)
Project: ICT Futures Program, CENGR directorate
How Profectus deploys a cross-disciplinary remediation and transition team to modernise fragmented simulation and network infrastructure for the Joint Collective Training Branch, maintaining operational continuity while aligning systems to Defence enterprise architecture and Authority to Operate conditions.
Client and context
The Joint Collective Training Branch (JCTB), within Headquarters Joint Operations Command (HQJOC J7), is responsible for delivering high quality, timely and realistic joint collective training to prepare Australian Defence Force elements for operational success. To meet the increasing complexity of Defence training environments, JCTB initiated a multi-year ICT Futures Program to refresh, remediate and modernise the branch’s simulation and network infrastructure.
The program covers network and server upgrades, system transitions and architectural improvements to support live, virtual and constructive training environments across Australia, with the aim of delivering secure, resilient and scalable infrastructure that underpins the ADF’s joint and combined exercise capability.
The engagement
Profectus was engaged under the Simulation Support Panel to provide specialist personnel across multiple technical streams including Networks, Transition, Project Coordination and Solution Architecture. Working within the CENGR directorate under JCTB, the team supports the design, remediation and delivery of the Futures Program infrastructure upgrades, collaborating with Defence engineers, the Chief Architect and other technical stakeholders. Personnel work from JCTB facilities at Fyshwick and HMAS Harman, supporting both local and distributed Defence sites, with work often extending beyond standard hours during training cycles and travel undertaken to support system upgrades and validation activities.
The challenge
JCTB’s simulation and training systems had evolved through years of incremental upgrades, requiring a coordinated remediation and transition effort:
- Fragmented infrastructure: inconsistent configurations, legacy technical debt and integration challenges across multiple Defence networks, with limited visibility of system dependencies
- Operational continuity: maintaining readiness while systems were transitioned or upgraded, often supporting live training events concurrently under high operational tempo
- Architecture and security alignment: aligning new and legacy network components to Defence enterprise standards, security frameworks and future-state architectures
- Coordination: integrating multiple technical disciplines, contractors and Defence stakeholders under a unified project structure and strict timelines
Our approach
Profectus deployed a cross-disciplinary team combining technical depth with strong governance, coordination and quality assurance.
Architecture and design
A Solution Architect designed and documented network, server and system architecture components to support current and future training requirements, delivering architectural artefacts, designs and implementation roadmaps aligned with Defence standards and the HQJOC enterprise architecture under the direction of the Chief Architect.
Network engineering and remediation
Network Engineers provided hands-on remediation and transition support for simulation network environments, deploying and configuring infrastructure including routing, switching and firewall management across JCTB-managed systems. Engineers remediated networks, virtualisation, compute and storage, applied automation and scripting for repeatable builds and configuration consistency, and normalised operating system and software baselines to reduce recurring faults.
Transition and service management
A Transition Manager managed the transition of systems into maintenance and support phases, developing service design and support documentation. The team developed technical control documentation, ensured configurations complied with Defence security requirements, ITSM policy and Authority to Operate conditions, applied ITIL service management principles and participated in Change Advisory Boards.
Technical specialist support
Specialists undertook deep fault diagnosis across operating systems, hypervisors, middleware and simulation application stacks, performing controlled rebuilds of virtual machines and simulation hosts, correcting configuration drift and restoring known-good states, then conducting post-remediation validation before returning environments to service.
What we delivered
- Infrastructure remediation: remediation of key network and server infrastructure components supporting simulation environments, with improved stability, predictability and maintainability
- Updated architecture: delivery of updated architectural artefacts, designs and standards documentation under the direction of the Chief Architect
- Configuration and ITSM uplift: uplift in configuration control, ITSM compliance and integration across simulation and production systems, supported by CMDB and risk assessment contributions
- Enterprise alignment: improved alignment between JCTB systems and Defence enterprise network architecture, with quality management and reporting maintained throughout
Systems and methods
Routing, switching and firewall management · Virtualisation, compute and storage remediation · Automation for build consistency · CMDB · ITIL and Change Advisory Boards · Authority to Operate conditions · Defence enterprise architecture alignment
The result
By embedding cleared personnel across project coordination, solution architecture, transition and engineering roles, Profectus is strengthening Defence’s ability to modernise and sustain its simulation infrastructure while maintaining operational continuity. Ongoing refresh and transition activities across networks, servers and simulation systems are scheduled through 2025, with continued focus on interoperability, cyber resilience and readiness assurance. The engagement demonstrates Profectus’ capacity to deliver cleared, technically proficient professionals who design, remediate and transition complex ICT environments under active operational conditions, contributing to Defence’s objective of secure, modern and flexible ICT foundations for joint training and operational preparedness.