New encryption service for PSN
The Cabinet Office has developed a new encryption service to enable the most sensitive data to be shared over the public services network (PSN).
Inter Provider Encryption Domain (IPED) has been developed in partnership with leading industry specialists. It will allow RESTRICTED information at Impact Level 3 (IL3) to be safely shared across the PSN.
This service will help extend the reach of PSN to organisations that provide citizen-focused services and need to access information from areas such as criminal justice and social services.
Sharing this sort of information needs more encryption and identity protection than the agreed PSN standards in use across the public sector. Making IL3 PSN services available will extend and speed up the growth of PSN so that departments can work together more effectively, said the Cabinet Office.
IPED builds on the existing PSN services that currently operate at the lower security level of IL2 (PROTECT).
The Cabinet Office said 588 public sector organisations were currently transitioning from the old GSi/GCSX Government Secure Network infrastructure to the new PSN network.
PSN standards enable the sharing of services while ensuring a consistent level of information assurance.
The first suppliers of IPED-enabled IL3 PSN services are BT and Vodafone. Both have achieved IPED PSN certification. The IPED will eventually consist of services from at least six PSN-compliant service providers.