GDS says simplified process takes over after going through successful beta phase
The new process for public authorities to hook up to the Public Services Network (PSN) has gone fully live following several weeks in beta phase.
The Government Digital Service said in a blogpost that it originally hoped to fully launch the service in April after it went to beta in early March, but that it then wanted longer to ensure it was fully tested and feedback incorporated into the guidance and documents.
It said the new process is now mandatory for new compliance certificates and the renewal of old ones. Exceptions will be made for organisations part-way through a submission, although they must be completed by 30 June.
Simplification
It concludes an initiative, first flagged up by the GDS in 2014, to simplify compliance with the PSN - the 'network of networks' for public authorities - after some organisations and suppliers said they had struggled with the initial arrangements. Meeting the compliance requirements, notably the Code of Connection, has been a source of frustration for some local authorities.
Development of the new process has involved rewriting the code template and allowing any organisation to use the Code of Connection, and taking feedback from organisations using the alpha service.
Work began on the PSN in 2005 and public authorities began to obtain the certification for their networks to link up in 2012.
