Australia’s researchers rely on digital infrastructure, data, computing and specialist services located across universities, research organisations and facilities, nationally and around the world. The Australian Access Federation (AAF) provides the trusted digital access that helps connect researchers to these resources securely, along with protecting this valuable knowledge.
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Australia’s researchers rely on digital infrastructure, data, computing and specialist services located across universities, research organisations and facilities, nationally and around the world. The Australian Access Federation (AAF) provides the trusted digital access that helps connect researchers to these resources securely, along with protecting this valuable knowledge.
By providing a shared national service for identity and access through the Federation, the AAF removes the need for organisations and research services to repeatedly create and manage separate user accounts. Researchers can spend less time navigating access requirements and more time collaborating, discovering and solving complex problems. It also means that only the people we trust have access to our valuable and sensitive data and compute.
The value is significant. Independent analysis by Lateral Economics estimates AAF generates $58 million in annual benefits from $6.8 million in costs, with every dollar invested delivering between $5.40 and $12.30 in benefits to the Australian community.
Access that creates opportunities
AAF helps researchers move securely beyond organisational and geographic boundaries, connecting them with research infrastructure, data, expertise and collaborators in Australia and internationally.
This shared approach also creates benefits across the wider research sector. Universities and research organisations are estimated to save $8–17 million each year in IT staffing and account management, while researchers and teachers gain $5–8 million annually through time savings. The sector also avoids an estimated $1–6 million in duplicated research activity.
The result is a more connected research environment where infrastructure can be shared more effectively, collaboration is easier and more of Australia's investment can be directed towards research, discovery and innovation.
Why investment in trust and identity infrastructure matters
Research infrastructure creates the greatest value when people can discover it, access it and use it.
AAF's trusted access services reduce barriers between institutions, making secure collaboration easier across the research sector. Supported by NCRIS funding for Trust and Identity Australia, this work helps unlock the full value of the Australian Government’s investment in national research infrastructure.
Like the physical and digital research facilities it connects, AAF is part of the infrastructure that enables research to happen. By making Australia's research assets easier and more secure to access, AAF helps turn investment into access, access into collaboration, and collaboration into impact.
Australia connected through a national network of collaboration and innovation.
Ultimately, investment in the AAF builds a national research ecosystem that is more connected, efficient and cyber secure, delivering economic, research and social benefits well beyond any single organisation or research project.