NSW Govt pushes ICT reuse mindset

The NSW Government has begun pushing agencies to share IT assets instead of buying or building out new infrastructure.

The strategy is one of a number laid out in draft framework document released by the State Government this week.

The framework overwhelmingly emphasises establishing common systems and standards that apply across agency boundaries.

"Government ICT will increasingly move towards common technologies, applications and infrastructure," the draft noted.

The state is already in the process of scoping a consolidation of data centre environments but the draft makes clear "consolidation of duplicated ICT infrastructure and solutions across government" is now a key focus.

Though opportunities would emerge from a revamp of existing shared service arrangements in the state, the Government is most interested in changing the mindset of agencies around IT procurement.

It plans to develop a set of ICT investment principles that will compel departments to "identify practical opportunities for sharing and consolidating business process and systems".

"The investment principles will include adopting a 'share, buy, build' order of preference for sourcing the preferred ICT solution," the draft stated.

It is hoped that departments will talk to each other more and adopt a mindset of ICT reuse rather than duplicate investments in the same tools and infrastructure.

The investment principles will also make it easier for departments to consider and evaluate cloud computes and open source technology, the draft stated.

The Government has laid out plans to develop a "whole-of-government approach for agencies on the appropriate utilisation of the cloud".

"This will maximise the benefits of new sourcing strategies while ensuring the security and
sustainability of government information and services," it noted.

Working groups established this month are to prepare draft implementation plans for submission to an ICT Leadership Group by March next year. The leadership group consists of agency chief information officers and executives.

Final implementation plans will then be recommended to the Minister for Finance and Services, Greg Pearce, the same month.

Other themes of the draft plan are improving citizen-focused services, service availability, collaboration with industry and managing performance.