The project began with a comprehensive problem analysis of the legacy system, which lacked adequate documentation. Our team identified critical gaps, undocumented functionality, and essential requirements. Adopting an agile project management framework allowed us to tackle the challenges iteratively. We planned and executed development cycles that were flexible and responsive to evolving requirements. Tasks were prioritised through collaborative sprint planning sessions with stakeholders, ensuring that high-impact deliverables were addressed first. This approach not only kept the project on schedule but also allowed for rapid adjustments as priorities shifted. x-RD established open and frequent communication channels with integral stakeholders to clarify objectives, confirm milestones, and provide consistent updates on progress. By facilitating collaboration between technical teams and end-users, we ensured that expectations were aligned and that the delivered solution addressed real-world operational needs. With security cleared personnel, x-RD was able to work closely and transparently with Defence experts with the assurance that Australia’s defence activities remained confidential. We proactively identified potential risks, including integration challenges and infrastructure dependencies, and developed detailed mitigation plans to ensure project continuity, reinforced by our cATO (continuous Authority to Operate) practices. Skilled personnel were strategically deployed to maximise efficiency, while resources were allocated to minimise downtime. Bringing in the right experts at the right time resulted in minimised disruptions and keeping the project on track despite the complexities involved. Built on an industry-standard technology stack, the revised solution replaced the outdated text terminal interface with an intuitive web-based design, vastly improving usability and accessibility. By integrating security into every stage of development, we ensured the system met rigorous compliance standards and included robust access controls, encryption, and continuous monitoring. Comprehensive documentation provided clear guidelines for maintainability, and a self-contained development environment supported future adaptability. Defence announced the national launch to users directly, informing them of the upgraded classified mission-critical system. Post-launch, the duration of hypercare was short, with minimal issues raised. Additionally, an approach for additional work has been made by Defence for x-RD’s services.

x-RD's secd3v platform provided an IRAP PROTECTED DevSecOps applications-as-a-service solution, leveraging GitLab’s robust software development framework. This deployment enabled secure end-to-end visibility, code collaboration, and automated security testing, all hosted within a protected, compliant cloud environment. This implementation strengthened the department’s ability to manage secure DevSecOps operations, facilitated team collaboration, and maintained an agile environment in a high-security context.

This work identified an initial set of technology principles and a technology model to drive experimentation and project activities, with low overhead. This work was later shared with the Defence entity for process integration and was used as an example for an Agile approach for lowside development.x-RD provided systems integration (IT and AV), cyber security, technology governance, and Agile ITSM processes to assist with operationalisation of the entity and to support flexible and secure technology experimentation and innovation. x-RD were involved in the establishment and operations of similar technology collaboration and innovation facilities including the ASD ANU Collab and the Defence Information Security Hub (DISH) in national security agency roles.