Federal govt cloud panellist sinks into administration

Microsoft gold partner Digital Digest Data Design has fallen into administration after more than two decades in business.

The Canberra company, registered in 1993, appointed administrators Frank Lo Pilato and Peter William Marsden of RSM Bird Cameron Partners on 23 April. The first meeting of creditors is scheduled for 5 May.

“Digital Digest Data Design Pty Ltd (4D) is under administration," read the website of 4D, as the company is known. "After 21 years of trading 4D, it has come time for 4D to make some changes. Whilst 4D make these changes, the Management has elected to go into voluntary administration."

"4D is continuing to trade, and is looking forward to a rebuild and rebrand following the administration period.”

In February, 4D earned a place on the federal government’s new Cloud Service Panel, and is a supplier on the government's Data Centre as a Service Multi-Use List which will expire in October.

According to the 4D web site, the company has plenty of runs on the board in Canberra. 4D lists membership of Australia’s Defence Industrial Security Program (DISP), a requirement for government contractors working with certain types of information.

As well as being a Microsoft Gold Data Centre Partner and Microsoft Gold Midmarket Solution Provider, 4D is also a Microsoft Silver Hosting Partner, according to the vendor's partner site. 4D also lists as a partner Microsoft ISV Layer 2, which provides software for connecting external business data to Sharepoint.

The company’s beginnings were in the geographic information system (GIS) field, supplying to defence, before it grew into IT infrastructure support, project management, helpdesk support and managed services.

The website cites the Department of Defence and Department of Health and Aging as previous customers.

Before 4D appointed administrators, an application to wind up the company had previously been commenced by the Deputy Commissioner of Taxation on 20 April. That application was to be heard in court on 24 April, but CRN was told the hearing did not go ahead as the company had gone into administration.

A spokesperson for 4D declined to comment.