Govt introduces new cloud service for agencies

A new all-of-government information management service will help agencies create better public services in a digital world, according to Government Chief Information Officer Colin MacDonald.

"The new service will improve the ability of agencies to create, store, share, protect and manage their digital information," MacDonald says.

"This will help us to unlock the value of the information held across government to design and deliver new services and support evidence-based policy-making.

“Better information management leads to better decision-making, and better services for all New Zealanders.”

New Zealand firm Intergen and international companies Team Informatics and Open Text have been selected for a supplier panel which will provide Enterprise Content Management as a Service (ECMS) to government agencies.

Agencies can use the services of a company on the ECMS panel to modernise their information management systems.

A cloud-based offering, ECMS supports initiatives to improve information management in government, outlined in the Government ICT Strategy and Action Plan to 2017 announced in June. Delivery of ECMS is a specific action in the Plan.

MacDonald claims the panel will reduce procurement and purchasing costs for agencies, and the government will benefit over time from economies of scale created by volume discounts. Services include document and records management, workflow and collaboration tools, and efficient access to information through mobile devices.

MacDonald says that privacy was a key consideration during the procurement process: “ECMS allows agencies to set and control who has access to information stored in the ECMS; this information can be audited by each agency.”

ECMS is one of a suite of cloud-based offerings intended to simplify ICT management in government agencies, help them work together, and make them more efficient and effective.

An all-of-government desktop management service was announced recently, and an office productivity service that will standardise the approach to email is expected soon.

The Ministry of Primary Industries led the ECMS procurement process working closely with the Department of Internal Affairs, the Department of Conservation, the Ministry of Social Development and NZ Police. The Department of Internal Affairs will be responsible for the ongoing management of the panel.

“This is a great example of agencies working together for the good of the entire State sector," MacDonald adds.