UK government encourages public sector organisations to use Office 365

[Arthur]

Source: Microsoft (via Neowin)

 

Microsoft has announced that the UK government has begun encouraging the use of Office 365 in the public sector. By moving to Office 365, public sector workers will be able to access emails and work documents from one online service and collaborate more easily. As an example, Microsoft said that the move would allow nurses, police, and social workers to communicate and work more closely together. It also said Office 365 will offer more security and save the government money.

 

Accompanying the news, Microsoft announced that it has released two documents to help public sector organisations with their on-boarding process. The first document is called Office 365 Security and Compliance Blueprint and the second is called Office 365 Secure Configuration Alignment. The first document details each of the cloud security principles employed by Office 365 while the second offers step-by-step guidance on how to maximise security on Office 365.

 

Discussing the newly released documents, Microsoft UK Chief Technology Officer, Michael Wignall, said:

 

"This documentation provides a thoughtful and detailed outline of how to secure your Office 365 tenant in line with the Government’s security principles and offers practical guidance to ensure users stay safe right now, and helps support organisations compliance efforts with GDPR."

 

At the moment, public sector workers can use the Public Services Network to collaborate, however, by incorporating Office 365, they'll have an alternate method to collaborate. Additionally, organisations using in-house software solutions may be able to cease using that software and use Office 365 instead, potentially saving a lot of money.

Edited January 7, 2019 by Arthur

[TwistedHelixis]

It was my understanding that large chucks of the Government had already moved to G Suite - https://www.theregister.co.uk/2015/06/05/hmrc_is_going_google/

[Arthur]

It was my understanding that large chunks of the Government had already moved to G Suite

I remember reading that Register article too, which makes Microsoft's announcement a bit surprising.

 

Surely it would be better if the government was all on the same system (G Suite)?

[MatthewL]

Parliament is O365 from work I have done with MP's.

[k-strider]

i'm a city councillor as well as my day job in a school and our council is o365

[TwistedHelixis]

i'm a city councillor as well as my day job in a school and our council is o365

 

Our LA is also o365 but most of the schools in the area are Google.

[supportman]

You can still collaborate between systems, its not like you have to choose one or the other to work together