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As a pan-government funded programme led by DWP, Government Connect (GC) is a recognised, accredited and trusted secure government network for all LAs in England and Wales. The network is called GCSx and it enables secure data sharing up to RESTRICTED level across government.
Through the partnership of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), Communities and Local Government (CLG), the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) and the local government community, GC has already enabled direct secure access to the DWP Customer Information Service (CIS) over GCSx and have an agreed process in place for enabling access to other government applications as required.
A letter from the permanent secretaries highlighted key changes to the Government Connect programme include:
- A £33m funding package to complete the delivery and operation of GCSx to 31st March 2011 with lead responsibility for delivery passing to DWP.
- Designation by DWP, CLG and DCSF of GCSx as their preferred method of connection and secure data exchange with English and Welsh local authorities.
- A target of 100% English and Welsh local authority connectivity by 31st March 2009.
- Confirmation that Government Connect infrastructure (GCSx) would enable the strategic replacement of the interim data encryption solution recently provided by DWP.
- Confirmation that from April 2009 the three Departments (DWP, DCSF and CLG) will begin phasing out less efficient, robust or secure internet or postal based methods of communication. DWP have since announced that the provision for RESTRICTED data to local authorities will cease as 31st March 2009.
[see letter from 7 July 2008]
The Government Connect network (Government Connect Secure Extranet – GCSx) is a key enabler in the drive to transform services, with particular focus on joined-up working, shared services, identity management and efficiency gains via solutions that provide secure communication capabilities.
The GCSx network enables local government to work more easily with other government departments and agencies that are already part of a “community of trust”, for example the Government Secure Intranet for Central Government Departments, the Criminal Justice Extranet for the police and criminal justice and the network for the NHS. Local authorities will be able to join this community and will help deliver secure electronic services to the public.
Government Connect is working with a growing list of planned efficiency savings projects including, In and Out of Work, E-Transfers, Contact Point and Tell Us Once for change of circumstances to name a few …more info
©2008 Government Connect |