Modern Infrastructure for Northern Minerals

Client Overview

Northern Minerals is a leading Australian mining company, focused on rare earth extraction at its Browns Range site in Western Australia. With a focus on supporting sustainable operations, Northern Minerals plays a critical role in the global supply chain for electric vehicle components and modern energy technologies.

Challenge: Critical Infrastructure Modernisation in a Remote Mining Environment

As Northern Minerals approached commercial-scale operations, the company faced multiple challenges tied to its remote location and legacy infrastructure:

• Unreliable Communication Infrastructure: The remote nature of the Browns Range site made establishing reliable communication difficult, impeding operational efficiency and real-time data transfer.
• Outdated Security Architecture: Existing legacy network investments lacked modern security features, increasing the risk of cyber threats.
• Need for Strategic Technology Modernisation: The shift from exploration to full-scale production required future-proof technology investments to ensure scalability and operational resilience.

“Addressing legacy architecture required careful planning around modernisation efforts, adopting newer technologies, and gradually phasing out legacy investments which lacked modern security features, making them more vulnerable to cyber-attacks.”
— Ryan Strauch, CIO, Northern Minerals

Solution: Transforming Network and Cyber Security

Northern Minerals partnered with Orro for a strategic overhaul of their network, security, and cyber infrastructure, ensuring their operations were secure, scalable, and capable of supporting long-term growth. Key solutions implemented included:

Enhanced Network Infrastructure

• Implementation of LEO satellite technology through SatOne, with additional Starlink capacity, improving bandwidth and reducing network latency from 600ms to under 80ms.
• Deployment of Fortinet SD-WAN technology to optimise multiple carriage links, dynamically routing traffic based on real-time conditions such as congestion or link degradation.

Streamlined Network Management

• Adoption of a design-led approach to project management, ensuring streamlined operations and reducing administrative overhead by simplifying network management and stakeholder collaboration.

Advanced Cyber Security Services

• Introduction of Managed Extended Detection and Response (XDR) powered by SentinelOne, providing centralized visibility across multiple security layers, enhanced threat detection, and automated responses.
• Engagement of Orro’s Incident Response Retainer (IRR) service, offering pre-paid hours for expert cyber support, ensuring rapid access to cybersecurity specialists for both minor breaches and major incidents.

Centralised Network Control

• Integration of Orro’s One Touch Control (OTC) platform, providing a single source of truth for all devices and network components, simplifying monitoring and management across the entire ecosystem.

“In collaboration with Orro, we streamlined our technology stack by consolidating to Fortinet to take advantage of their high performance and scalability. Their solutions not only meet our current needs but are also designed to scale with our projected growth.”
— Ryan Strauch, CIO, Northern Minerals

Outcome: Stronger Communication, Security, and Long-Term Confidence

The strategic Critical Infrastructure Modernisation partnership with Orro delivered substantial operational improvements for Northern Minerals, including:

• Significant Communication Improvements: Latency reduced from 600ms to under 80ms, supporting better real-time data exchange and remote site efficiency.
• Enhanced Cyber Security Posture: Strengthened threat detection and faster response times, ensuring proactive protection against evolving threats.
• Streamlined Operations: Simplified network management and stakeholder collaboration, reducing administrative overhead.
• Future-Ready Infrastructure: Modernised technology foundation capable of supporting Northern Minerals’ future digital transformation initiatives as part of their ongoing digital roadmap.

Ongoing Collaboration

Northern Minerals continues to work closely with Orro on further projects to ensure increased reliability, capacity, and security across their expanding network infrastructure.

“Orro’s team are local, responsive, and have focused expertise in the fields of network and cyber security, providing real confidence that they are the right strategic partner for the long term.”
— Ryan Strauch, CIO, Northern Minerals

To learn more about the technologies used in this case study, explore our SD-WAN solutions and our Managed Detection and Response services.