Watford Borough Council launches flexible home working initiative
Printer friendly
Watford Borough Council has deployed a network security solution from AppGate, enabling council employees to work from home or remotely with secure remote access to key applications including email, file directories and bespoke customer management systems to ensure the smooth running of council services in any eventuality and to increase overall efficiency in working practice.
Lieven Hermans, Head of Business Information Systems at Watford Borough Council said: 'With AppGate, we now have a proven mobile access solution, which represents a significant part of our business continuity plans. The council has the reassurance that should employees be unable to come into the council offices, services will nevertheless continue to run as normal.
'Flexible working also improves choice and working options for council employees whilst boosting productivity and helping us to achieve maximum efficiency and best value as set out in the Gershon efficiency agenda.'
Remote network access is controlled by the IT department, ensuring staff have access to the designated files and programmes necessary to work effectively and productively from any location.
With users accessing the corporate network via wireless connections, laptops and home PCs, the AppGate solution ensures the network remains secure, with personal firewalls installed on every PC and laptop, and council acceptable usage policy automatically enforced to help prevent malware such as spyware and Trojans from entering the network. Client-check functionality also ensures remote PCs are running the latest anti-virus software before any connection is made to the network.
The AppGate solution is a scalable one, and Watford hopes to extend the remote access to additional departments within the authority, to develop a wide-reaching business continuity strategy for the whole borough and promote flexible, home-working on a larger operational scale.
Related links to this article:
Watford Borough Council
AppGate
Attend the e-Government National Conference: Learn what Local Authorities plan to do with Shared Services in 07-08
Results of the Local Authority National Survey are being unveiled at the e-Government National Conference on 17th January at the Savoy Hotel in London. This, the largest 2006 survey of UK Local Authority CEOs, heads of service and Councillors detailed their plans for investment in shared services to deliver the vision in the Local Government White Paper. Tickets are just £160 (includes Savoy lunch). Book at this link.
On the evening of 17th January, winners from among 89 finalists in 11 categories will be announced in the e-Government National Awards 2006. The Awards recognise and praise the best strategies, achievements, teams and individuals in UK e-Government.
Platinum sponsor is KPMG, and also a sponsor are SunGard and O2.
The Awards are supported by the Cabinet Office e-Government Unit, the Office of Government Commerce, the Society of Information Technology Management (Socitm), and SOLACE (Society of Local Authority Chief Executives and Senior Managers).
- Login or Register to comment
- Add to a social bookmarking site
Editor's Manifesto: Tales of the entirely expected
"Several weeks into the new era of Coaltiion Government and certain key themes are emerging. First up, it's clear that the battle of the 'who can get their memoirs out the door quick enough to steal a march in the revisionist history stakes' has been triumphantly won by M'Lord Mandelson (Weren't those TV ads scary – the velvet smoking jacket, the leather fireside chair, all that Brillcream! The only thing missing was the theme tune to Tales of the Unexpected and the accompanying prancing sillouette of Harriet Harman or Diane Abbott dancing!)” Read more
The Dispatch Box: Data quality and the public sector
Colin Rickard, managing director EMEA at SAS subsidiary Dataflux, argues public sector data must be of high quality if the efficiencies promised with ICT and infrastructure is to be realised.
"Tackling the public sector’s data integration and data quality challenges is a tough prospect. The challenge may require more effort than a comparative project in a large private company. Data must be governed according to a strategy that necessitates bringing interested parties together.” Read more
Innovation: A step too far in the austerity age?
Complete and enter our draw to win a free seat at the e-Government Awards. The public sector is already perceived to be lacking in innovation, but is that a fair assessment, and what role could it play in helping the government meet efficiency targets? What do people working on the frontline of ICT in public sector organisations think? Take part and share your views
James Gardner, CTO at the Department for Work and Pensions discusses his thoughts on innovation in the public and commercial sectors.
Source: K2 Advisory