The recent announcement of the launch of a consultation on the government’s data strategy marks an important step in the United Kingdom’s evolution of its services industry.
The opportunity from digital is clear
The government states that they “need a data strategy that reflects the opportunities and challenges of our new hyper-digital world, one that ensures we weigh
the priorities and potential trade-offs of data in a deliberate and evidence-based way, and, above all, one that drives growth in the UK economy and powers our recovery from
the coronavirus pandemic.”
The Digital Secretary states that “this means asking fundamental questions about what data should and should not be made available across the UK. It means maintaining a regulatory regime that is not overly burdensome for smaller businesses and that supports responsible innovation.”
The benefits from embracing data in a wider sense are clear with recent EU studies showing that the data economy in the UK is the largest in Europe, and in the top three globally.
Is the network relevant?
So, what does this have to do with an industry association that represents the largest community of network service providers to the UK public sector?
In a period where two key programmes are delivering the next-generation network approaches for healthcare (Internet First) and central government (Future Networks for Government), it may be perceived that there is nothing more to do and that the merely the data is paramount.
However, the disruption of the network platform through Software-Defined services means that that the delivery against the network principles from government have never been more important.
The addressing of datasets for better modern networks is key
The network principles correctly state that the needs of the application should define the network need yet, despite the UK being a world-leader in data, there are key data challenges to delivering the resilient networks needed.
The wholesale move to encrypted data flows within applications now means that the visibility of data is missing unless the systems are understood. The move towards remote working means that understanding where data is being consumed is crucial, and the potential for data adequacy not being granted to the UK post-Schrems II judgement cannot be ruled out from being a realistic outcome (at least in the short-term) which will require better understanding of network flows.
Better data means better networks
The challenge with a move to software-defined networks which operate across borders is that there is little understand what data is being processed and where it goes.
With IPv4 networks being exhausted, planning complexities causing issue with upgrading infrastructure and limited understanding of application needs to deliver on the potential of the modern network strategies of government, better use of data is crucial.
Reducing the burden of compliance on suppliers
It’s not just the use of data though, as the recent DCMS supply chain review of telecoms makes it clear that there is more regulatory burden on the horizon, during an pandemic when government data shows that less than 5% of organisations across the UK aligning to basics for cyber security and data protection.
Setting a foundation of basic requirements for cyber security and data protection and building on them in a manner that creates the opportunity for continual improvement and meeting the stated goal of the Secretary of State for “the UK to be a nation of digital entrepreneurs, innovators and investors, the best place in the world to start and grow a digital business, as well as the safest place in the world to go online.”