New mobile service providers likely for public sector staff

The govt. is set to allow new mobile service providers for the staff in public sector. Until now, Blackberry has been the sole approved mobile service provider for the public sector employees in the depts. that function in impact level 3 (encompassing information that may compromise the functioning of the govt.) environment. However, this development comes in the wake of increasing stress to push ahead “bring your own device” schemes in govt. departments.

Director of IT at the Home Office, Denise McDonagh, revealed that Apple and Android were involved in security discussions than they ever had been earlier. She stressed that since availing trustworthy end-devices seem possible now, the govt. can be more lax in allowing the staff to make use of their own devices for personal as well as professional work.

In October, govt. had published the end user device strategy as part of its ICT strategy. It aims to introduce more flexibility and cost effectiveness in using laptops and smartphones in the public depts. It intends to broaden the market for many more suppliers.

Cabinet office minister, Francis Maude, had said that this strategy would give the public sector staff the flexibility to work from anywhere using any suitable government or non-govt. instrument.