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ICT Services Delivery Plan 2016/17ICT Services Performance Report – Scrutiny Report 2016

ContentsPurpose ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 4

Recommendations .....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................4

Background ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 5

Progress...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 6

Cloud First .............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 6

Customer First ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................6

Projects and Service Improvements.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................7

Service Redesign.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................7

ICT Strategy Implementation Plan..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................8

Projects that are Complete ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................9

MyWard ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 9

Digital Signage ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................9

CRM Phase 1........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 9

Customer Services Contact Centre.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................10

Mobile Device Management System (Interim) ....................................................................................................................................................................................................10

Office 365 Email ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................10

Service Desk ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 10

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Office 365 Skype for Business ..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................11

Business Continuity Centre ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................11

Telephony Business Continuance.........................................................................................................................................................................................................................11

Uninterruptable Power Supplies ..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................11

Server and Data Virtualisation .............................................................................................................................................................................................................................11

Cloud - VPN .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 12

Information Management........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................13

Internet Website ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................13

Unified Threat Management Solution..................................................................................................................................................................................................................14

Print Solution........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................14

Paperless Councillors (NEW) ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................15

Consolidation and Rationalisation........................................................................................................................................................................................................................15

Land and Property Solution..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................15

Elections Management Solution ..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................16

Engage Migration .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................16

Inspire Phase 2 .....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................16

Land Charges Automation....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................17

NLPG Program ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................17

Upgrade of Payment Card Solution......................................................................................................................................................................................................................17

Customer Access and Partnership Working .............................................................................................................................................................................................................18

Public Access Facilities .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................18

ICT to Support Members, Staff and Agile Working ..................................................................................................................................................................................................19

Enterprise Mobility Management ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................19

Enterprise Mobility Management (Active Directory Premium) ...........................................................................................................................................................................20

Enterprise Mobility Management Azure Rights Management.............................................................................................................................................................................21

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Azure Log Analytics ..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................22

Azure Authenticate ..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................23

Unified Communications......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................24

Desktop and Application Deployment Services....................................................................................................................................................................................................25

Device Encryption.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................26

Windows 10.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 27

Device Convergence.............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................27

Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery .............................................................................................................................................................................................................28

Office 365 Additional Applications (NEW)............................................................................................................................................................................................................28

Cloud Services ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................29

Office 365 OneDrive and Sharepoint ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................30

Wide Area Network..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................31

Applications Portal ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................32

System Monitoring Services .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................32

Local Area Network ..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................33

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PurposeThe Council updated its ICT Strategy in 2014 to cover the 2014 to 2018 period. This report sets out progress currently being made against the plan. The report will provide information regarding improvements that have been implemented and that are ongoing.

The report includes a programme of works that are being undertaken within the services to improve not only the services provided by ICT but enable the delivery of many of the Council’s improvement strategies

RecommendationsThe Scrutiny Committee are asked to;

Note the progress on implementation of the ICT Strategy

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BackgroundAllerdale Borough Council is determined to drive a sustainable future to ensure that the people of Allerdale receive the best possible and valued services.

The years of austerity measures have led the Council to review the way it delivers service, this has led to a more commercially focused organisation committed to the delivery of high quality, sustainable services to the people and businesses of Allerdale and West Cumbria.

A key enabler to these strategies is the effective use of ICT technologies. ICT will play an increasing role in helping Allerdale operates its services at lower cost. ICT will enable the way service improvements can be made in the most cost effective way.

Strategic and tactical use of ICT through the lifecycle of business change projects will enable the business to utilise and drive forward change in the most efficient and cost effective manner.

To enable the business to move forwards a new ICT strategy was developed that was built around the following themes that are aligned with the strategic drivers of the Council;

Commercially focused organisation

Serving our community

Business partnering

Increasing opportunities for self service

Smarter and more efficient ways of working

Robust and secure infrastructure

Building a best practice information service

Consolidating and rationalising applications

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ProgressIn order to deliver the requirements of the ICT Strategy, ICT have undertaken a significant number of initiatives that will enable improvements to the service that it delivers, and enable the Council to deliver its wider strategies.

Cloud FirstOne of the approaches undertaken within the service is that of Cloud First. This approach has required ICT to alter the way in which it works in that it is rapidly becoming a consumer of services rather than a building and provider of technologies.

This shift changes the technological knowledge requirements within the service, in that rather than having to know how to build an environment, the ICT service requires much more of a business understanding, i.e. how the business will benefit from the solution, and then have the skills to ensure that application properly deployed and adopted within the organisation.

Such an approach reduces the time to deliver change, enabling the business to take advantage of new systems and enabling business change much more rapidly.

The purpose of this approach is to enable

Rapid Implementation of Solutions

Higher Levels of Availability

Access anywhere enabling more flexible and smarter ways of working

Improvements for Business Continuity

Customer FirstAnother approach being undertaken within the Service is that of Customer First.

ICT have undertaken changes to better understand the requirements of our customers, of how ICT is perceived within the organisation and then to enable changes and response to customers within acceptable timelines.

A business partnering approach has been implemented. Regular meetings are being attended between service management and ICT, where information relating to new initiative, new technological solutions, and performance requirements and improvements are discussed

Service Descriptions are in preparation that will set expectations to the customers of the service. To enable effective service delivery, ICT are evaluating a number of service management solutions that will enable improved management of finance, contracts, change requests, incidents and problems. Additionally, the solution will enable a range of self service and automated functions enabling improved access to services, and the delivery of applications without the intervention from staff.

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The development of the ICT Service into brokers for change will enable the service to then expand its barriers and offer regulated services to other organisations;

Projects and Service ImprovementsOne of the approaches undertaken within the service is that of Cloud First. This approach has required ICT to alter the way in which it works in that it is rapidly becoming a consumer of services rather than a building and provider of technologies.

ICT have undertaken a review of the way in which it delivers service to the Council, and to gain an understanding of the maturity of the technology and processes in place.

The review looks at the use of technology, the use of automation, the skills of the staff, the structure of the service and the ongoing processes that enable the delivery of the service.

Following on from the review, a number of service changes and technological projects have been undertaken.

A new service desk has been implemented to support the service changes, and the results have been positive. Incremental service level agreement adherence improvements have been recorded month on month. Overall presenting an improvement of service adherence from 50% this time last year through to 97% in the most recent monthly return.

Service RedesignICT has recognised that the changes in the way ICT Service is delivered, affects the manner in which the service should be structured. ICT have started the process to restructure the Department to meet current and future needs.

At this point a proposed structure has been developed. The proposal is soon to be presented to SMT, following which the unit undergo change. The restructure is expected to complete early in the next calendar year.

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ICT Strategy Implementation PlanThe progress of the projects to support the delivery of the ICT Strategy 2014 – 2018 is shown here. The projects are grouped into 4 main categories

Information Management

Customer Access and Partnership Working

ICT to Support Members, Staff and Agile Working

Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery

Definitions

Progress against plan Performance

Black Complete

RedThere are significant concerns over achieving outputs / there is serious slippage in the timetable / there are major issues to rectify

Significantly worse than target (>10%) – urgent action required to improve performance

AmberThere are concerns over achieving deadlines or outputs / there are issues to rectify, but plans are in place to get the project back on track

Slightly below target (between 0.01% and 9.99% worse than target) - some action required to improve performance

Green Everything is on target / satisfactory progress is being made / no action required

On, or better than, target

Direction of travel arrows indicate whether performance since the last period has become:

Better Worse Stayed the same

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Projects that are Complete

Project Name Description Due Date Status

My-Ward Implementation of a web based application to support Council members in carrying out their duties. The application provides Council members with extensive information relating to current activities and issues within their ward.

Oct 2015 Complete

Digital Signage Introduction of Digital Signage display boards across Council offices to provide information relating to council events, services and local community news

Mar 2016 Complete

CRM Phase 1 Implementation of a new CRM solution that will become the conduit for improvements in the way in which the council delivers services

The system will enable

Mobile Phone access to Council Services, including notification of events, news and progress of any reported issues

Enable Smarter ways of working providing officers with access to Council systems via mobile technologies and removing the requirements to return to HQ in order to obtain work tasks.

Jun 2016 Complete

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Customer Services Contact Centre

The current customer contact solution is somewhat aged, and is no longer supported by the vendor.

A new solution is to be implemented that will provide the Council with the following;

Highest Levels of Availability

Anytime Anywhere Access

Multi-Channel Support – including voice, webchat, email, call back and forms delivery

Omni Channel support – i.e. single queue facility

Aug 2016 Complete

Mobile Device Management System (Interim)

While developing a long term roadmap, immediate need was recognised to facilitate the management and delivery of electronic services to mobile devices in a manner that ensures the council meets its regulatory requirements

Dec 2016 Complete

Office 365 Email Office 365 comprises of an extensive range of products. The first phase of the implementation of Office 365 is to migrate the on premise email service to the cloud and enable service provision through O365

Mar 2016 Complete

Service Desk Key to the long term development of the IT Service will be the implementation of a new Service Desk

The solution will provide improved management of incidents, problems and changes, and will enable users with a range of self service facilities

The solution will also provide the service with improved business intelligence enabling them to understand issue and user incident trends, and enabling proactive approaches rather than the purely reactive approach

Sep 2016 Complete

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Office 365 Skype for Business

Office 365 comprises of an extensive range of products. As such the process to implement the entire suite is being staggered so as to not confuse staff.

Skype for Business is to be deployed to all PC’s across the organisation. Skype for Business will provide staff with an online real time communications facility that include video voice, instant messaging and screen sharing facilities

Mar 2016 Complete

Business Continuity Centre

Solway House has been identified as a Business Continuity Centre, a project was instigated to develop the infrastructure of the building to support such facilities when required

Feb 2016 Complete

Telephony Business Continuance

An interim cloud based telephony solution has been implemented that enables telephony services to continue if an issue should occur with the legacy system, while waiting for the new environment to be agreed and developed.

Mar 2016 Complete

Uninterruptable Power Supplies

Implement Uninterruptable Power Supplies to improve the life expectancy of the server estate and potentially more importantly protect and provide the server estate with an electrical current to maintain service or in the event of a lengthy outage allow for the servers to be cleanly close down

Life expectancy is improved as the solution regulates the power intake and then provides the server estate with a steady supply which reduces the impact of any power surges.

Dec 2016 Complete

Server and Data Virtualisation

Virtualise the server estate to improve hardware utilisation, business continuity and response to change May 2015 Complete

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Cloud - VPN Implementation of a foundation requirement of the move to cloud services is the ability of the cloud based network to communicate and provide access to the on premise environment. Such a solution enables users with access to applications and data directly from within their Office 365 environment or other cloud based applications

Aug 2016 Complete

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Information Management

Project Name Description Due Date Status Progress Direction of Travel

Internet Website Develop a new customer centred website interface, include more transactional services, increase accessibility and make the site more interactive through the use of social media

March 2017 – to be confirmed when project plan is complete

Procurement of a new Content Management Solution is complete.

The project is currently being developed within the Project Management Unit.

In the meantime, ICT are prototyping new website designs. The expectation is that this work should be complete towards the end of October following which the prototypes will be reviewed by business

The prototypes comprise of a homepage, typical landing page and a typical content page to demonstrate the flow of a customer through the website as they carry out their tasks.

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Unified Threat Management Solution

Replace the firewall estate used within the Council with a threat management solution that will be the conduit to enabling a range of electronic services as the Council moves forwards with its business objectives

Sep 2016 Migration of services to the new firewalls are almost complete.

All standard user communication is now via the new firewall solution, only some payment card information and hosting services remain

Print Solution Further enhancement of the current Print environment, including the enablement of a production facility that will have collating, finishing and binding capabilities

The solution will also enable the redirection of large print from other print facilities to ensure that print is being produced using the most cost effective methods

Mar 2017 Print requirements have been merged into a larger print management review for the Council.

MFD devices are to be replaced, and documentation for tender is currently being prepared.

Mail print is also being piloted, a solution that will improve the efficiency and cost of large mail drops

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Paperless Councillors (NEW)

Part of the wider print review project.

Project to ascertain as to whether Councillors can be better served using electronic devices, and at the same time improve the council’s environmental outputs

Mar 2017 Initial research has been undertaken to ascertain how other councils have approached electronic delivery of council papers

Potential solutions have been tested, and now pilots are being arranged.

The proposed solution comprises of tablet devices utilising Modern.Gov as a solution, whereby Councillors can annotate documents for later user

Consolidation and Rationalisation

Audit and understand the applications currently in use within the Council. Review and rationalise applications into Enterprise Applications

Mar 2018 Tools to manage the consolidation and rationalisation programme have been developed.

Applications are now being documented with their purpose, contract length, etc. being evaluated

Land and Property Solution

Review of Land and Property, Planning and Gazetteer solutions used within the Council

Dec 2018 Following review of the next generation version of the current solution, the Council has decided to start to look at options for the future delivery of solutions that will support Land and Property, Planning, Gazetteer etc.

A requirements list is being developed that will be used to evaluate other products

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Elections Management Solution

Exploration of options as to continue with current provider or replace the Elections Management Solution

Apr 2017 No Further Progress

Engage Migration Update of the Engage System to enable the consolidation of suites of software into a more simplified solution. Solution also enables upgrades of associated systems to meet regulatory controls

Apr 2018 The test environment is now complete with user acceptance testing being undertaken. The solution is soon to be signed off and upgraded in line with Project Plans.

Inspire Phase 2 Implementation of new solutions to meet EU directives. Phase 1 requirements were met during the implementation phase of the Open Source GIS Strategy. To meet phase 2 requirements data has to be converted to a new format to meet regulation. Phase 3 is significant but not required until 2020

Apr 2020 At recent workshop working in partnership with Copeland, the first data sets were converted to phase 2 compliance and will be uploaded to the geo-portal as an additional service

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Land Charges Automation

Comprehensive upgrade of the Land and Property solution to enable efficiency gains within Licensing and Land Charges

Mar 2018 Upgrade of RME, an element of the wider solution has enabled integration between GIS and the Land and Property Solution. This will enable areas of missing information to be more easily identified enabling more accurate licensing and liability for charges.

NLPG Program Annual project to maintain the quality of information within the Gazetteer

On Going Schedule of works have been developed. Information Quality works have begun.

Upgrade of Payment Card Solution

Upgrade of Payment Card Solution

Mar 2017 An order has been placed to upgrade the current payment card solution to version 16.

This upgrade not only meets current PCI compliance requirements but also those that are to be introduced in the next financial year.

The solution will further consolidate our move to cloud services as version 16 is an entirely hosted system. The solution also has the advantage that it removes the Councils network from evaluation for PCI compliance.

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Customer Access and Partnership Working

Project Name Description Due Date Status Progress Direction of Travel

Public Access Facilities

The purpose of this project is to enable opportunity for members of the public to gain improved access to the internet.

Access will be provided through the provision of Open Access Wi-Fi as well as the deployment of Public Access PCs will be deployed to enable those without their own technology to gain electronic access to the internet.

Sep 2016 ICT have introduced Public Access Wi-Fi and Public Access PCs within the Allerdale House Building.

These facilities enable members of the public with free access to internet based services, allowing members of the public to carry out business with the council, but also enable opportunity for them to apply for jobs or carry out other internet related business.

Public access PCs have been deployed, the PCs are protected using a cloud based management tool that protects the devices configuration from being changed. This solution protects customer’s information by returning the PC to a factory default position upon reboot, removing anything that a customer may have left on the device inadvertently.

At the new network is rolled out, the services both WI-FI and PCs will be deployed across all sites of the Council.

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ICT to Support Members, Staff and Agile Working

Project Name Description Due Date Status Progress Direction of Travel

Enterprise Mobility Management

The Enterprise Mobility Management Suite, is a suite of products that when fully implemented will ease management of user’s device and data when used within a modern working environment.

Microsoft Intune provides the hardware management element of the environment, managing hardware including PC’s, and Mobile Devices, and enabling the remote deployment of software and applications.

Dec 2016 Intune is the Microsoft Cloud Based Device Management Solution.

The solution was originally configured only to talk to PC devices and was then extended to talk to Windows Mobile devices. The solution has now been extended to manage Android and Apple Devices.

It is now deployed as the default management solution across the estate.

During the implementation of the new telephony solution, the MDM was used to speed up the configuration of all of the devices, automatically installing required software and configuring the device with WIFI and security settings

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Enterprise Mobility Management (Active Directory Premium)

The Enterprise Mobility Management Suite, is a suite of products that when fully implemented will ease management of user’s device and data when used within a modern working environment.

Active Directory Premium provides the User Management element of the solution. The solution enables cloud management of all users, enabling them to reset passwords when online and offline. The solution also provides Single Sign On capabilities to a huge range of products easing user’s interaction with Council solution

Dec 2016 We now have a synchronised copy of Active Directory within the Cloud. This means that as we build applications using cloud services, we will be able to utilise a common authentication mechanism to enable access.

Single sign on services have been enabled, and a number of applications such as the new service desk have been enabled to take advantage of the service.

The next phase of works with Azure will be to enable devices to automatically authenticate against the cloud service rather than the on premise facility.

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Enterprise Mobility Management Azure Rights Management

The Enterprise Mobility Management Suite, is a suite of products that when fully implemented will ease management of user’s device and data when used within a modern working environment.

Azure Rights Management provides the Data Management element of the Solution, Azure Rights Management provides an easy to use solution to secure data from leaving the organisation, being changed or copied

Dec 2016 No Further progress.

Azure RMS has been enabled with the following security templates

Allerdale Staff Only – Read Only Allerdale Staff Only - Print Allowed

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Azure Log Analytics

Traditional monitoring solutions provide information only relating to a subset of the products used within the IT environment.

With the development of Cloud Services, not only do we need to verify the health of on premise equipment but that also of cloud based services.

Azure Log Analytics will provide us with insight as to the health of applications and services on site and in the cloud

Dec 2016 Further configuration of Azure Analytics has now been undertaken. The solution is increasingly being deployed to monitor the health of the Councils IT Systems.

The solution has been configured to report issues directly into the ICT Service Desk, so that all staff are able to have sight of issues at the earliest opportunity.

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Azure Authenticate

Regulations state that secure remote access to certain applications must be provided using what is known as Multi Factor Authentication.

Currently MFA is provided through a fob based technology that is expensive to use and deploy. With the implementation of a mobile PABX, we are able to take advantage of using the phones as multi factor authentication devices.

Azure Authenticate is integrated with Azure Active Directory and provides the Council with a secure means to access services while reducing the resource overhead and management required

Dec 2016 The solution is still in development within the Council.

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Unified Communications

Implementation of a new Telephony Solution that will meet current and future needs.

Key objectives of the new system will be to provide improved business continuity and enable flexibility allowing users to access the system from any location, using mobile technologies

The solution will also enable a ‘one number’ facility allowing officers to receive calls via their device no matter their location, while reducing the number of phone devices across the organization

September 2016 A new unified and converged telephony solution has been deployed across the council.

The solution brings together mobile and land line technologies into a single solution which is then presented via the use of mobile technologies.

Implementation of the solution includes a deployment of a private mobile network into Council premises. The implementation included the deployment of Microcells. These are used to provide a high quality signal throughout the building.

We have configured and deployed mobile phones to all staff, enabling them with Email, Office and Internet Functionality as well as telephony services.

Mobile and Landline numbers have all been migrated to the BT solution

We have now migrated out of the Cisco solution and are operating in the cloud.

Staff have been trained.

We are now in the adoption stage, mopping up users that have been on vacation and carrying out any system modifications that are requested by users

We are now decommissioning the legacy telephony system.

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Desktop and Application Deployment Services

Traditional delivery of desktop services is being replaced with more agile and flexible on-demand facilities

The solution will introduce a number of technology management solutions that will enable;

Inventory Information Operating System

preparation and configuration enabling numbers of devices to be prepared simultaneously with very little intervention

Software Deployment Capabilities that enable low touch deployment of applications

Remote Control Functionality

Malware Protection Disk Encryption and

USB Management

Sep 2017 Azure Intune is now used to asset track and remotely install software to devices across the Council.

A pc deployment solution has been prepared, this solution enables ICT to configure pcs on mass to a base standard required by the council, following which Azure Intune takes over.

Moving forwards we wish to make applications device agnostic, and have carried out proof of concept where the phone was being used as the client device, but presenting the solution to a large screen.

Further works are being progressed within this area to enable the council to take a very radical approach to application access in the foreseeable future

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Device Encryption

Project to implement a new corporate Device Encryption System to replace the prior solution ensuring the Council has compliance with the requirements of the Cabinet Office

During our PSN re-evaluation we were informed that we would have to migrate away from our current disk encryption and USB device control solution as it was no longer compliant with the requirements of the Cabinet Office.

A project has been instigated to implement a new device encryption system which will ensure that our compliance with PSN requirements remains

Sep 2016 The solution is now being deployed on all new laptops.

An agreed work schedule with cabinet office is being prepared that will enable device to be converted over to the new system in a controlled manner

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Windows 10 Design and Implementation of Windows 10 Based Services

Apr 2017 Windows 10 Devices are being deployed as standard across the organisation. Applications are being deployed using a combination of technologies with Intune applying local applications and presentation technologies (Citrix) being utilised to deploy applications that are of a legacy nature

Device Convergence

Investigation into potential alternative refresh of ICT device estate utilising a single device to support all requirements

Objectives are to enable users with the minimal number of devices required in order to carry out their activities, reducing costs to the council, while enabling improvements in business continuity

Dec 2016 The device convergence project is very much dependent on improvements in Application Delivery

A proof of concept has been undertaken where the theory of accessing corporate applications from a cloud based portal using a mobile phone as the device has been proven

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Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery

Project Name Description Due Date Status Progress Direction of Travel

Office 365 Additional Applications (NEW)

Introduction and adoption of the wider range of applications provided within Office 365

Dec 2016 Small project to promote and enable the use of the wider range of applications within Office 365, including Planner and OneNote.

Lunchtime sessions are being arranged in where both solutions will be presented to users, and to show how the systems can be easily utilised to improve communications, collaboration and project management.

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Cloud Services The utilisation of Cloud based technologies will remove the reliance on server solutions within Council premises and will provide higher levels of availability and enable more flexible ways of working.

Dec 2018 A cloud based content management system, and the ICT Service Management Solution have now been added to the growing number of services provided to the council from the cloud.

The Payment Card Solution used by the Council will soon be added to the range of applications that will be migrated.

In addition to the above, the council cloud based services include;

Network Management System, Contact Centre Solution, Telephony and Mobile Phone Solution, Office 365, the new CRM Solution, a Digital Signage Solution, a Mobile and PC Device Management Solution.

The foundations for a cloud based environment have also been developed, include the directory service, a rights management solution and a single sign on solution

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Office 365 OneDrive and SharePoint

Implementation of the range of services provided by Office 365

Office 365 comprises of an extensive suite of productivity products that enable officers both on site and on the move to collaborate and interact with one another

This range of cloud based services will enable email, instant messaging, video and voice conferencing, document management and workspace collaboration when fully implemented.

SharePoint Team Sites, and Groups in conjunction with OneDrive will provide the Council with an online secure platform to replace current file storage locations, as well as provide online communication and collaboration improvements.

Dec 2016 Plans for the rollout and adoption of SharePoint and OneDrive are being prepared. Workshops will be undertaken with staff to explain how to make best use of the system.

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Wide Area Network

The Wide Area Network provides the links that support the interconnectivity between buildings and provide facilities such as the internet and telephony services

The Councils network provision was delivered by a Radio based connectivity solution. This solution was both costly and unreliable especially when there was inclement weather.

Advances in technology have enabled the solution to be upgraded to a combination of private fibre technologies. The outcome of which is a more reliable solution but one that is costly to enable.

To improve things further, ICT have invested in a cloud managed network service.

Sep 2016 The timetable for migration to the BT network has fallen significantly behind. The project’s schedule which was being managed by Carlisle was affected by long term staff absences.

During the past month significant progress has been made.

The main link between Carlisle and Allerdale has now been fully implemented, following which we have verified the configuration of all site links and have started migration of services onto the new network.

At the same time, we have implemented new cloud managed network switches into all sites, which will allow the Council to proactively manage all network facilities.

Migration to the network is due for completion by the end of the first week in October.

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Wide Area Network

This solution will provide similar or improved speed circuits, but instead of being direct point to point where there is no resilience in the event of an issue between the end points, the solution provides what is known as last mile connectivity to the BT National Network, that then complete the circuits through virtual circuits across the BT Network.

The result is improved reliability, improved circuit speed, improved agility (to ramp up the speed or add additional functionality) and also significant cost reductions.

As part of the solution ICT have enable a 1Gb fibre circuit but only enabled 1/10th of the solution, allowing it to quickly provision the remaining bandwidth for new functions or solutions as they are required.

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Applications Portal

With an ever growing mobile workforce, gaining access to line of business application using any form of device is a growing challenge to the ICT Service. To enable such facilities are to investigate the delivery of an application portal that will enable staff access to services from any location, using any device at any time.

Mar 2017 Proof of concept was successfully undertaken. The solution enables applications to be delivered via one of the two application portals within the Azure Platform.

System Monitoring Services

It is vital that ICT understand the Health of the ICT environment being used by the user Community. To this end a cloud based monitoring tool is to be implemented that will provide analytical information to ICT with regards availability and health of all ICT Services

Dec 2016 The cloud based systems monitoring solution has been configured initially to monitor directory services, and office 365. This solution provides ICT with valuable information as to the health of these products

The solution will be expanded over a period of time to include a number of on premise and in cloud solutions

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Local Area Network

The Local Area Network across the Council sites is now somewhat aged. The solution is now 10 years old, and since implementation Networking technologies have moved on. ICT are proposing to replace the current facility with an easy to use, manage and deploy suite of network technologies that will enable improve performance, availability and access to services.

Dec 2016 New networking facilities are being rolled out across the Council estate.

In conjunction with the BT WAN migration, we have implemented new cloud managed switches at all remote sites. This will enable ICT to make changes remotely and proactively manage the estate

New Homeworker facilities have been managed using the Cloud network stack.

A mesh VPN has been developed between sites over the internet which will be used as a backup WAN in the event of a failure on the BT network

The next phase will be to upgrade the network within Allerdale House. Process plans are being developed so that such works can be undertaken with the least disruption