WIREDGOV

A Socitm and Local Public Services CIO Council led initiative has resulted in a revised compliance regime and greater Cabinet Office support for councils and others seeking connection to the PSN.

The Public Services Network will enable widespread sharing of local public services as well as collaboration between different authorities working across local areas. Using the PSN will not only bring cost savings to the public purse, but will also enable better ways of sharing information, a matter of particular importance for the care of vulnerable people by local agencies.

However, under Cabinet Office rules, no organisation will be allowed to transition to PSN without a valid certificate of compliance, and non-compliant councils were being threatened with disconnection from key information exchanges, such as with the DWP benefits processing system.

Following dialogue initiated by Socitm, in response to concerns from its members in local authorities about the level of information security compliance requirements and the pace of their implementation, the Cabinet Office's PSN lead Karen Cleale has written (October 4) to local authorities to inform them of a revised compliance regime and to detail further support that will be forthcoming to ease transition to PSN.