Half of local government bodies said they’ve been affected by ransomware in the past year, with 76 percent hit by cyber attacks
News Public Sector IT
Jisc ‘Govroam’ Aims To Simplify Public Sector Wi-Fi Connectivity
The service, which has formally launched after months of testing, automatically signs users into compatible Wi-Fi networks
DefCon: Hackers Find Voting Machine Security Flaws
Five voting machines, most of which are currently in use in the US, were found to be easily hackable at the first event of its kind
Government Delays Controversial Digital Tax Plans
The Making Tax Digital system will be voluntary for smaller organisations, while larger groups will only have to use it for VAT filings until at least 2020
UK Government Tech Market ‘To Be Worth £20bn By 2025’
The UK is in a position to lead the world’s public sector IT market due to government reforms and broad public acceptance of digital, argues a new study
Canterbury Council To Move 85 Percent Of Services Online By 2019
Two-year, £200,000 contract with Jadu intended to create ‘Amazon-like’ user experience for Canterbury’s 160,000 residents
Poll: Why Use New Technologies In The Public Sector?
Tech was absent from the 2017 General Election but how can it benefit the public sector?
Tech Quiz: Government & Public Sector IT
What do you know about the government’s relationship with technology, the failures and great innovations?
Edinburgh University System Error Sends Out ‘Failed Degree’ Emails
The panic causing glitch indicates that human oversight of tech is still needed
Trump’s Cyber Security Executive Order Is A Good First Step
Executive Order includes efforts to modernise IT systems and protect critical infrastructure
Common Technology Services Head Iain Patterson Quits GDS
Patterson, who worked to help government bodies exit onerous IT contracts, is the latest to leave the Government Digital Service
UKCloud Targets Health Sector With New Division
The public-sector cloud provider says shifting NHS trusts, private health companies and research institutions to the cloud can boost ‘appropriate’ collaboration
London To Get ‘Office Of Technology And Innovation’
The centralised body is intended to coordinate digital programmes across the city and promote a culture of technology preparedness
Trump Vows To ‘Transform’ US Government IT
The presidential administration has invited dozens of tech executives to advise the American Technology Council at a June meeting
Barts Health Trust Cancels Operations Due To IT Failure
A ‘major’ computer failure beginning on 20 April has led to a number of systems being inaccessible to clinical staff
Brexit ‘Forces’ Government To Automatically Renew Massive IT Contracts
The civil service has reportedly been forced to push the renegotiation of IT contracts down its list of priorities, meaning expensive renewals
NAO: Government Digital Service ‘Struggling To Adapt’
After carrying out its initial objectives, the Cabinet Office’s GDS has found it difficult to define its place in managing digital change, according to the NAO
Munich May Ditch Linux Desktops For Windows
A proposal set for a vote this week would see council workers shifting to a Windows client with ‘industry-standard’ applications
Government Must Use AI To Cut 250,000 Jobs, Says Reform
Think tank Reform urges the use of artificial intelligence, chat bots and drones to automate everything from public-sector administration to policing
HMRC Takes Over Government Gateway Phase-Out
HMRC said it may extend its own in-house identity verification scheme to other departments once the Government Gateway is terminated
GDS: Public Services Network On The Way Out As G-Cloud 9 Nears
Government cancels PSN’s long-term future while announcing schedule for upcoming G-Cloud procurement framework
Government Blames Brexit For Digital Strategy Delay
The government said it is working with digital sectors to be able to represent their interests following the EU vote
MPs ‘Disappointed’ At Lack Of Government Digital Strategy
The Science and Technology Committee has criticised the continued delays to the government’s long-promised digital strategy
Yorkshire Local Council Systems Hit By Extended Outage
The email, web and phone services of Kirklees Council were knocked offline on Boxing Day and are yet to be fully restored
Labour Ridiculed For Wanting To Regulate Algorithms
Companies algorithms should be made transparent to government for industrial regulation to be effective, the party argues
Home Office Grants Another £26m For Police Cloud And Data Transformation
The funding is to support a cloud data-access programme, DNA database, data analytics lab and other schemes
San Francisco Public Transport Hit By Ransomware Attack
Passengers ride for free after ransomware shuts down Muni staff computers in San Francisco
‘Test Messages’ Sent To 1.2m Staff Downs NHSmail Email System
A test message mistakenly sent to the entire NHS restricted access to the email system
Microsoft Lambasts UK Organisations’ Digital Caution
British businesses and public-sector organisations need to cast aside concerns about digital tech and be more aggressive, Microsoft says
Government Digital Service Faces NAO Review Over ‘Failures’
The spending watchdog is to probe GDS following ‘senior management failures’ over a Defra project last year