In today’s climate of global uncertainty, cyber threats and rising geopolitical risk, where your data lives — and who controls it — matters more than ever.
For organisations across Australia and New Zealand, particularly in government, infrastructure, utilities and community services, digital engagement platforms are no longer just communication tools. They are critical record systems, holding sensitive stakeholder data, consultation feedback, strategic planning inputs and community sentiment.
That’s why Engagement Hub’s Australian ownership and local hosting isn’t just a technical feature — it’s a strategic advantage.
Digital Sovereignty Is No Longer Optional
Data sovereignty refers to the idea that information is governed by the laws of the country in which it is collected and stored.
In an era of:
- Increasing cyber threats
- Global political instability
- Rising regulatory complexity
- Growing public scrutiny around data privacy
Organisations are rightly asking:
Who owns our platform, where is our data stored, and who ultimately controls access?
Many engagement platforms used in Australia and New Zealand are owned by overseas corporations, with data hosted offshore, often in jurisdictions with very different legal, surveillance and privacy frameworks.
That creates real risk — operational, reputational and regulatory.
Australian-Owned. Australian-Hosted. Purpose-Built for Trust.
Engagement Hub is the only online engagement and SRM platform that is both owned and hosted in Australia.
Our platform is hosted in Sydney using Amazon Web Services (AWS) infrastructure that is:
- ISO 27001:2022 certified – the international gold standard for information security management
- CSA STAR Level 2 certified – independently audited against rigorous global cloud security standards
Protected by:
- End-to-end encryption
- Continuous monitoring (24/7/365)
- Daily encrypted backups
- Intrusion prevention and detection
- Penetration testing and DDOS protection
All data is stored exclusively in Australia, under Australian jurisdiction and privacy law.
For our clients, this means:
- Stronger regulatory alignment
- Reduced legal complexity
- Lower risk exposure
- Greater confidence in public-facing engagement
Find out full details on our Security & Compliance page or contact us for our comprehensive Security Statement.
Why This Matters for Government and Public Sector Organisations
Government agencies, councils and infrastructure providers manage some of the most sensitive engagement processes in Australia and New Zealand.
This includes:
- Community consultation
- Infrastructure planning
- Environmental and land-use engagement
- Health and social services consultation
- Deliberative engagement
In these environments, trust, transparency and compliance are non-negotiable.
Australian ownership and local hosting provide:
- Clear alignment with Australian privacy legislation
- Reduced exposure to foreign government data access laws
- Simpler compliance and procurement processes
- Increased confidence for stakeholders participating in engagement activities
When communities are asked to share views, experiences and personal information, where that data lives directly affects trust and participation.
Beyond Hosting: True Stakeholder Data Ownership
At Engagement Hub, clients own and fully control their data.
Our platform is designed so:
- Only authorised client administrators can access stakeholder information
- Engagement Hub staff can only access data if explicitly granted permission
- Access or permission levels can be customised with 15 different settings e.g. add specific project access only, restrict access to stakeholder data
- All activity is securely logged, encrypted and monitored
This ensures:
- Clear governance
- Strong accountability
- Reduced data risk
Our secure, un-editable Governance Log records all administrative and user activity, ensuring total transparency, traceability and audit readiness.
Designed for the ANZ Regulatory Landscape
As an Australian company, Engagement Hub is built specifically for Australian and New Zealand regulatory environments, including:
- Australian Privacy Act compliance
- Accessibility compliance (WCAG 2.2 Level AA)
- Government-grade procurement expectations
- Infrastructure-scale reliability
This local-first design is fundamentally different from global SaaS platforms built for generic markets and retrofitted for ANZ compliance.
In a World of Growing Risk, Local Control Matters
Digital engagement platforms sit at the intersection of:
- Public trust
- Data security
- Regulatory compliance
- Reputation management
In today’s environment, digital sovereignty is not just an IT decision — it’s a governance decision.
Choosing an Australian-owned and hosted platform provides:
- Confidence
- Compliance
- Security
- Long-term resilience
And for organisations responsible for engaging communities and stakeholders, that matters.
Engagement Hub — Australian owned. Australian hosted. Government grade. Built for trust.
Find out more about the organisation and team behind Engagement Hub here.
For more detailed software information or to chat to our team about your organisational needs, book a demo with one of our team.
