UK - Government Connect Secure Extranet (GCSx)

GCSx stands for Government Connect Secure Extranet. It is a pan-government funded programme to provide a secure private Wide-Area Network (WAN) which enables secure interactions between connected Local Authorities and organisations.  The Government Connect network (Government Connect Secure Extranet – GCSx) is a key enabler in the drive to transform services, with particular focus on joined-up working, shared services, identity management and efficiency gains via solutions that provide secure communication capabilities.
 
GCSx is connected to the Government Secure Intranet (GSI), which also enables secure interactions between local authorities and central government departments and national bodies. GCSx provides a range of connectivity options to enable access the GSI network and its hosted services; GCSx does not use the Internet or any other public networks.
 
GCSx provides secure access from connected Local Authorities to many other secure networks such as:

    * Government Secure Extranet (GSX)
    * Government Secure Intranet (GSI)
    * National Health Service (NHS)
    * Criminal Justice Extranet (CJX)
    * Police National Network (PNN)

On 31st March 2009, DWP will cease the provision of RESTRICTED data to local authorities and the receipt of “sensitive personal data” from local authorities through means other than a government approved secure IT communications channel.  This essential measure means that all local authorities (LAs) need to make information security a top priority and to commit to completing the Government Connect implementation process without delay.  
   
Get the facts you need to know about how the collection, management and analysis of log data are integral to meeting many GCSx requirements.

The provision of a national secure network with connectivity to the wider local and central government community will be of huge benefit to local authorities. Key reasons are that GCSx:

• Provides a mechanism to join up English local authorities with central government, the NHS, the Scottish local authorities and the Criminal Justice Community into a trusted secure community
• Supports a secure email service with antivirus checking
• Supports secure data sharing
• Is scalable
• Is cost effective
• Supports aggregated network connectivity into the secure community so that several local authorities
can share a single connection onto GCSx (provided that the appropriate security is in place)
• Supports the creation of closed user groups
• Enables collaboration and joint working
• Can carry data, voice and video traffic
• Enables outbound web browsing
• Will be a launch pad for transforming government within local authorities

GCSx is provided by a managed service provider (Cable and Wireless). The service will be hosted from two geographically separate data centres, ensuring back-up is available at all times. No single point of failure in the system would be capable of bringing the core network down. The diagram below shows how GCSx interacts with GSi and the internet to deliver a secure communication network to local authorities.