StrategyICTEast Suffolk Council's ICT Strategy

East Suffolk Council’s ICT Strategy 2016-2019

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Introduction and AimsThe aim of the ICT strategy is to provide a strategic vision and framework for the direction ofEast Suffolk ICT and will ensure that delivery and development of ICT is fully aligned withbusiness priorities. The strategy is designed to support the delivery of the East SuffolkBusiness Plan and reflects the role of ICT as a key enabler of corporate objectives. Inparticular, ICT supports the three pronged approach of the Business Plan around EnablingCommunities, Economic Growth and Financial Self Sufficiency – a more detailed analysis ofthis approach can be found at Appendix A.

The emphasis and aims of this strategy are focussed on delivering an ICT environment which is:

resilient, secure and compliant

flexible to support changing needs and expectations

cost effective and fit for purpose

effectively governed

supports business and digital transformation

up to date with technology development

A key part of the implementation of the strategy will be to collaborate with users, partnersand suppliers to deliver solutions which enable service improvements, financial savings andsupport our digital transformation. It recognises that technology alone will not deliver all ofthe required change and therefore will effectively support the organisational, cultural andprocess changes necessary for success.

Achievements 2010 - 2015The following key points summarise the achievements leading up to the development of thisStrategy:

Design and implementation of a single East Suffolk network and solutions which haveenabled increased joint working and flexibility across the partnership

Build and deployment of ICT solutions that underpin a more mobile workforce andprovided a platform for digital transformation and customer channel shift

Deployment of standardised technology solutions based on industry best practice whichhave delivered improved connectivity, performance and availability

Increased operational efficiencies and reduced environmental impact through removalof legacy systems and outdated infrastructure together with improved alignment ofbusiness applications

Review and implementation of new ICT organisational structure and servicemanagement support processes together with refreshed hardware technology havedelivered improved reliability and user productivity.

Delivered improved security of council assets and information through implementation of new infrastructure and support processes which ensure continued compliance with statutory and industry security requirements

Enhanced resilience and disaster recovery capability through implementation ofvirtualisation and back up technologies

East Suffolk Council’s ICT Strategy 2016-2019

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1 – Infrastructure and Business SystemsICT services are vital for the delivery of council services. The provision of these critical services requires a solid, resilient and dependable technology infrastructure that is maintained and managed. It also requires the flexibility to quickly and effectively adapt to changing organisational needs and priorities.

Outcomes and success measures:

Comprehensive register and contract management of all applications with furtherconsolidation to reduce the number of line of business systems across the partnership

Improved mobile access to systems to deliver increased user productivity

Successful management of desktop computing as evidenced by user satisfaction

All systems and productivity software maintained at supportable versions

The development of local-area and wide-area networks to provide cost effectivecapacity and connectivity required by accommodation programme

The continued adoption of virtualised server technology to improve capacity,performance and availability

The development and strengthening of the councils’ ICT security framework to achieve annual approval and accreditation as well as mitigate known security threats

Improved ICT business continuity plans and associated testing to provide appropriatelevels of assurance

Assessment and consideration of alternative technologies and delivery models wherecost effective and beneficial.

Commitment to green IT with energy efficiency a key consideration for selection andprocurement of new technology.

2 – ICT ResourceFacilities and hardware are of little value unless we have a knowledgeable and motivatedworkforce. Specialist technical skills are key to the development and support of ICT facilitiesand therefore coordinated training and support, together with specialist support contracts,will be aligned with the objectives and needs of the organisation.

Outcomes and success measures:

Continue the development of single ICT workforce ensuring it has the correct skills andexpertise to support the ongoing development of East Suffolk ICT

Commitment to development of service management and support processes to delivercontinuous improvement of operational support

Continuous review of ICT levels of resourcing to meet changing needs andcommitments of the partnership and inform annual ICT resource plans

ICT Strategic ThemesThere are five Strategic Themes to delivery of the ICT Strategy:

East Suffolk Council’s ICT Strategy 2016-2019

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3 – Information Management and SecurityModern public services require greater access and sharing of information. This theme of theICT strategy outlines the main information principles which will be used to guide futureimprovements to the Councils information management and reporting.

Information Principles:

Information is a valued asset – information must be effectively managed as a valuedresource which is essential to accurate, well informed decision making

Information is managed – all data and information must be appropriately managed sothat it can be trusted and retrieved as and when required

Information is ‘fit for purpose’ – information must be appropriate and applicable to thebusiness requirement

Information is secure – appropriate policies, processes and technical controls must be inplace to protect the confidentiality, integrity and availability of information assets as wellas demonstrate compliance with Data Protection Act, all information assets should havenamed information owners

Information is available – all open data will be published and made available via EastSuffolk website and Suffolk Data Observatory; information structure & processes willsupport requirements of Freedom of Information Act

4 – Business TransformationICT has a key role in the success of business transformation. The past few years have seen theadoption of new ways of working and changes in the requirement for ways in which ICTservices are delivered. These changes and demands will continue as further new and modernapproaches to delivering services are adopted.

Outcomes and success measures:

Projects and operational service delivery support the principles of the Digital Strategyand Transformation programme

All services promote mobile and flexible working

Provision of technology and business solutions which suit all staff, work styles andlocations

The ongoing development of enterprise systems to optimise staff collaboration andproductivity, to reduce travel and increase efficiency.

East Suffolk Council’s ICT Strategy 2016-2019

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y5 – ICT GovernanceThe ICT Strategy is owned by the Head of ICT Services and is formally approved by the SeniorManagement Team (SMT) and Members.

It is the responsibility of the Head of ICT to ensure it aligns with business priorities and industry/technological developments.

Outcomes and success measures:

Demonstrate compliance to agreed ICT standards and procedures

ICT Roadmap (a supporting document to this strategy detailing the ICT technical portfolio current and future direction) maintained and reviewed regularly

Corporate and service delivery programmes are informed by ICT advice and guidance

Projects and organisational changes are delivered in line with corporate project andprogramme management methodology

ImplementationImplementation of the ICT Strategy will be achieved through specific projects as well asdevelopment of operational services. Significant changes will be introduced on a phased basistaking account of business capacity, technical dependencies and impact on front line services.

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Enablingcommunities

Economicgrowth

Financial selfsufficiency

Improvedsolutions forinformationsharing withpartners

applicationof technology toenable businesstransformation

Maximisinginformationassets and

supporting wellinformed business

decisions

Technologyto automateand drive

business processefficiencies

improvedtools for assetmanagementand trading

increasingresilience of ICT

architecturereduceprinting

through digital by default andmanaged print

services

Exploitemerging

products andservices that willenhance ability to deliver serviceimprovements &efficiencies

improvementsto disaster

recovery provisionto reduce recoverytimescales in eventof major loss of

service

Enableservice

transformationand change

Realisingfull benefits

from investment in ICT

socialdigital tools to support

collaboration &communication

Mobileand flexibleworking

technologies to improve productivity

integratedsolutions

which deliverefficiencies

digitalapproachesto reducedemand

technicalcollaboration andintegration acrosspublic services to provide better outcomes for

communities andindividuals

customercentric/self-service access to services &

information (anytime,anywhere, any channel)

Appendix AICT Strategy supporting the East Suffolk Business Plan