The government intends to compel all public service providers to use a common communications infrastructure, facilitating the sharing of data and software and encouraging joined-up thinking. Joshua Chambers reports.
Government used to have an infrastructure project called the Public Sector Network, but the coalition is keen that many public services be delivered by non-governmental bodies. Since the election, therefore, the project’s name has been changed to the Public Services Network, reflecting the fact that any public service provider can in principle access the network. This small but significant change also has the advantage that the project can keep the same acronym (PSN).
The idea underpinning the PSN is that all delivery organisations should use a common communications infrastructure. Rather than having departments struggle to connect to their peers through IT systems with different security and connection settings, under the PSN a centrally determined set of standards and requirements will make communications between those who deliver public services much more straightforward.
Kenny Robertson is the PSN delivery director in the Cabinet Office and, speaking at Civil Service Live last month, he explained the concept: “The Public Services Network is a secure network of networks. We’re intending to join up networks to ensure you can deliver a service from any place across the length and breadth of the UK.”
There are clear benefits. Departments will be better able to communicate with one another and share data on common platforms, using common security settings. The Cabinet Office also believes that it will allow niche products to expand across the public sector without needing to be purchased and installed on multiple systems.
There is a strict deadline for 80 per cent of public sector organisations to be involved in the PSN by 2014. The overall strategy is “to have all public services on the Public Services Network”, Robertson said.
The idea is getting traction – within central government, at least. “Each central government department is now at least a part of the conversation on PSN, and the vast majority of them are actually engaged quite significantly, working on their plans,” Robertson said.
However, there is more reluctance among local authorities. According to research commissioned by network supplier Kcom, 76 per cent of local government budget-holders say that bureaucratic barriers are holding them back, while 64 per cent cite security concerns. The research was conducted in June by interviewing 50 IT budget-holders in local government, 10 of whom said they’re not even considering joining the PSN.
Public sector reluctance doesn’t faze Robertson, however. It’s natural that busy chief executives and permanent secretaries fret about the pressures and complexities of working to the PSN targets, he said. But Robertson is also clear that they will have to comply: “My assertion is that saying: ‘We’re different and need our own system’ doesn’t fly,” he said.
Indeed, public sector organisations are being forced to comply. “There is going to be mandation that is going to come on this – so no network contract, for example, will be signed or approved unless it is PSN-compliant,” Robertson said.
While the project sets centralised standards, PSN will allow a competitive market to develop between suppliers. “It’s intended to create a competitive market in our supply community,” Robertson said, adding that “our supply community need to make a profit, because that’s how we encourage them to get the outcomes that we need.”