Ip.Glass modernises Baiada Poultry's network with Fortinet
Ip.Glass has completed a modernisation of Baiada Poultry's national network infrastructure in partnership with Fortinet, spanning operations across Baiada's vertically integrated supply chain.
One of Australia's largest poultry producers, Baiada operates around the clock across breeding farms, feed mills, processing plants and distribution facilities. Even short periods of downtime can disrupt production, logistics and supply continuity, driving a broader overhaul of its network and security environment.
The work began with a network segmentation and security program designed to isolate critical systems and maintain business continuity. It was followed by a broader upgrade that included Fortinet Secure SD-WAN, next-generation firewalls, upgraded switching and a wireless refresh across both IT and operational technology environments.
Under the new arrangement, Baiada has consolidated firewall, SD-WAN, switching and wireless infrastructure into a centrally managed architecture using Fortinet's Security Fabric. It also introduced a security operations function using FortiAnalyser to improve network visibility.
The changes have helped Baiada's IT team shift from reactive issue management to monitoring and optimisation. The network can also now be segmented during a cyber incident, reducing the risk of costly operational disruption if a compromise occurs.
Wayne Ellison, chief information officer at Baiada, outlined the operational demands behind the project.
"Baiada Poultry is a seconds and minutes business; continuity of supply is everything to us. We need a partner that can move quickly, understand our operations, and deliver technology that will stand up to harsh operational environments. Ip.Glass has the agility, speed, and expertise to help us achieve that," Ellison said.
Baiada's operating model links multiple stages of poultry production, from breeding and feed to processing and distribution. As a result, outages in one part of the network can have knock-on effects across the wider supply chain.
Operational focus
John Saba, head of IT infrastructure at Baiada Poultry, said the project was partly aimed at easing pressure on internal resources while improving oversight.
"Ip.Glass understands Baiada Poultry's environment and works with us to recommend the right solutions. Together with Fortinet, Ip.Glass helped us reduce management overheads and pressure on our small team while giving us greater control and visibility across the network to prevent any possible downtime," Saba said.
For Ip.Glass, the engagement adds to its work in cybersecurity and network services in Australia. The Baiada project depended on understanding the day-to-day realities of industrial operations rather than applying a standard design.
"The success of the project reflects a deep, collaborative partnership built on operational understanding rather than a transactional approach. Baiada Poultry's business is complex, fast-moving, and unforgiving of downtime. By spending time on-site and understanding how its operations run, we have been able to design and support a network that delivers resilience today while providing a base for future automation, growth, and innovation," Taskin said.
Fortinet also pointed to the challenge of combining networking and cybersecurity in businesses that rely on continuous production. The Baiada project shows how partner-led work can bring together operational resilience and stronger security controls in mixed IT and OT environments.
"Organisations like Baiada Poultry operate in highly time-sensitive environments where resilience, visibility, and control are critical to maintaining continuity across complex supply chains. This project highlights the value of strong partner collaboration in delivering integrated networking and cybersecurity outcomes, helping customers simplify operations, strengthen security posture, and confidently support ongoing transformation in complex IT and OT environments," Milionis said.
Baiada Poultry is also progressing expansion projects, including new processing and automated facilities, as it builds on the upgraded network platform.