“We didn’t need to build a massive IT department or stress over system licenses ever again. Everything just works.”
In today’s fast-moving education sector, institutions must deliver seamless digital experiences at scale, without letting technology costs spiral out of control. While many providers still wrestle with outdated systems and bloated operations, others have embraced smarter solutions—like Federation Academy, a leading national institution known for its innovation and scale in education.
With enormous number of students, diverse faculty teams, and an expansive digital curriculum, Federation Academy needed an IT infrastructure that could match its size and ambition. Their decision to partner with FIRSTPOINT IT didn’t just save them time and money—it became a cornerstone of their digital transformation strategy.
The Challenge: Powering a Large Institution Without the Overhead
As a high-profile institution with national reach, Federation Academy required enterprise-grade systems from day one. But instead of hiring an internal IT department—at a projected cost of over $200,000 per year—they made a bold move: outsource to managed service experts.
With FIRSTPOINT IT, they avoided the all-too-common pitfalls of scaling tech in-house:
- A robust online presence was essential. Their enterprise website and LMS had to handle high traffic, integrated learning tools, secure logins, and fast course enrolment—without hiring an in-house web and DevOps team.
- Their national reach meant complex communication workflows. FIRSTPOINT IT eliminated the need for fragmented spreadsheets, emails, and enrolment systems with streamlined automation and unified platforms.
- Federation Academy couldn’t afford tech downtime. Outages, login errors, or unpatched software would impact thousands of users. Proactive support became mission critical.
- With frequent procurement decisions, their teams were stretched. FIRSTPOINT provided guidance on hardware, licensing, and vendor management—removing the guesswork and maximizing budget efficiency.
In short, FIRSTPOINT IT supported Federation Academy launch and scale with a comprehensive IT foundation—customized, reliable, and built to grow.
The Real Cost of Internal IT for Large Institutions
Hiring just a few full-time IT staff may seem manageable—but at scale, costs escalate quickly. Here’s a breakdown of what Federation Academy would have faced building their infrastructure for basic small team internally:
| Category | Estimated Annual Cost (AUD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Website redevelopment & hosting | $15,000 | High-performance, secure, scalable infrastructure |
| LMS setup & customization | $30,000 | Enterprise LMS with integrations and automation |
| Full-time IT Support Engineer (Level 1) | $70,000 | Needed to manage day-to-day issues across departments |
| LMS Admin / Tech Coordinator | $75,000 | To oversee platform management and user experience |
| Software Licensing | $15,000 | Microsoft 365, security tools, and learning platforms |
| Systems Integration | $10,000 (one-off) | API connectivity, data dashboards, and syncing |
Total: Over $215,000 in Year 1—before factoring in downtime, recruitment, or error recovery.
And that’s not counting:
- The time lost recruiting, training, and retaining tech staff
- Hidden productivity losses from system misfires
- Brand reputation damage from poor digital experiences
- Decision fatigue from evaluating countless IT options
For an institution of Federation Academy’s size, the internal route simply didn’t scale.
The Solution: Fully Managed IT, Tailored for Growth
By choosing Firstpoint IT, Federation Academy secured an elite, end-to-end service model—without building a 10-person tech team in-house.
Here’s what Firstpoint delivered:
- Enterprise-Grade Website & LMS
A fully custom Moodle LMS with real-time dashboards, email automation, and seamless integrations. Their website featured mobile-first design, optimized SEO, and live enrollment tools—all hosted securely with daily backups. - Smart Procurement & Licensing
Software and hardware licensing was centralized and benchmarked, reducing redundant tools and slashing costs by up to 20%. No more expired antivirus or overlapping subscriptions. - Full-Spectrum IT Support
Around-the-clock monitoring, proactive maintenance, and a dedicated account team ensured zero downtime and continuous improvement. - Digital Marketing & Growth Enablement
From branded email templates to social media scheduling, FIRSTPOINT IT boosted Federation Academy’s visibility and engagement with measurable impact.
“What we value most is peace of mind. No IT fires to fight, no second-guessing. Our academic teams stay focused on teaching and innovation.”
— Operations Director, Federation Academy
Final Thoughts: IT Outsourcing Is a Strategic Advantage—Not a Shortcut
For institutions with the size and scope of Federation Academy or any other business, building internal tech capacity might seem like the traditional approach. But the reality is: managing IT at scale takes time, experience, and serious investment. Outsourcing to trusted experts isn’t just cost-effective—it’s how ambitious institutions future-proof their operations.
At FIRSTPOINT IT, we help businesses across all industries:
• Build resilient, scalable IT environments
• Reduce total cost of ownership
• Eliminate downtime and technology bottlenecks
• Free internal teams to focus on strategic goals
Whether you’re expanding operations, launching new initiatives, or embracing digital transformation, we ensure your technology drives progress—not holds it back.
Contact us today for a tailored consultation or explore our services to see how we help institutions grow smarter.
