PSI implements Google Mini

Wednesday 23 August 2006

The State Services Commission has implemented the Google Mini search appliance to index the Public Sector Intranet (PSI).

PSI is a secure web site through which all government employees can easily and securely collaborate and share information. It launched as a full production system in mid-June 2006.

"To achieve our goal of a Networked State Services, we need tools which support and promote cross-agency collaboration. PSI is a valuable resource for State servants, it enables a sense of community, shared interests, and acts as a knowledge bank for the State Services."

"PSI will also contribute towards achievement of the Coordinated State Agencies and Excellent State Servants development goals,” Laurence Millar, Deputy Commissioner Information and Communications Technology, said.

Following an evaluation process, the PSI team approached Google seeking a replacement solution for its legacy search tool in May 2006.

"Google Mini suited our business and budget requirements. We needed a product to replace our legacy search tool, it had to be simple to integrate with the SharePoint Services sites which make up the PSI, and be as user friendly as possible," said Laurence Millar.

An excellent search function is vital to the PSI and the Google Mini functionality fulfilled all the criteria. The PSI only needs to index a secure, defined set of web-based information of less than 500,000 pages – the database indexing facilities available with the Enterprise appliance were not required.

"The installation of Google Mini is an entirely separate project to the www.govt.nz Search RFP which is still in progress," Laurence Millar said.