Live Q&A highlights: Can problems with the PSN be overcome?

Earlier this month, Guardian Government Computing ran a live Q&A on the subject of 'can the problems with the PSN be overcome?' Here are some of the highlights from our expert panel. To read our full Q&A on the PSN, click here . What are the difficulties facing the PSN? In order to satisfy all the security requirements across a mix of users is there a danger that PSN will create a 'highest common denominator' requirement for network security, which in turn increases costs for the majority of the users? - Richard Brandon, director, Stalking Horse Networks There are many misunderstandings about the purpose and drivers for PSN compliance. Many are unfounded. It has become obvious to me through the Unicorn Partner engagement that non-local authorities are very wary of PSN participation because of the perception that they need to sign up to a security model that is inappropriate to their business and will levy additional unwanted costs.... There is a long way to go [to dispel these myths] and the message isn't travelling very quickly. Indeed, it's fair to say that some of the recent messages about PSN and non-PSN provision via the framework are a world away from where the framework discussions began. I welcome the change. - Nick Roberts, IMT group manager for customer services and partnerships, Surrey county council The PSN will move forward, and yes the degree of success will be uncertain unless there is a realisation across public services that, if we want to achieve improvements in service delivery at all levels, then we need to work more closely together. The first stepping stone in this is network and infrastructure services. If we can not work at these levels together, then providing better more coherent services to the public will be difficult. The stated cost savings will be difficult to achieve unless there is a major step change in all tiers of government working together. This has been a problem for many years now, but we finally have a step on the ladder to start. - Jeff Wallbank, KPSN partnership development manager, Kent county council Has the PSN reached the tipping point? I am not sure we are at the tipping point quite yet. I think that in the local authority and supplier space we are virtually there. Central government departments may be, but information and evidence that they are starting to take up PSN is not clear. I may be doing them a disservice, but unless we can actually see progress at a central government level then we still have some way to go, not far, but some way. - Jeff Wallbank, KPSN partnership development manager, Kent county council Central government departments are moving to PSN whether they are enthusiastic about it or not! Reprocurements are certainly driving moves to PSN, but many are also looking to transition to PSN mid-contract rather than wait for a re-procurement opportunity. I appreciate that the momentum gathered in central government is more recent and does need to be articulated and communicated more widely than Whitehall. - Patrick Clark, head of PSN transition (non-central government public sector), Cabinet Office The communication of what PSN is going to sometimes not hit the mark straight away, but there are, as in any marketing opportunity, different audiences for the message. Also since the PSN marketplace is being created with terminology, standards, value propositions, buyers and multiple sellers, it may at times seem a bit bewildering. But so do all new markets at this stage. I do feel that the package of messages for different stakeholders is improving, and will improve as the suppliers participate further this year in shaping the market. - Michael Eaton, director for networks and collaboration, PSBA I think there are many misunderstandings about the purpose and drivers for PSN compliance. Many are unfounded... There is a long way to go [to dispel the myths around the PSN] and the message isn't travelling very quickly. Indeed, it's fair to say that some of the recent messages about PSN and non-PSN provision via the framework are a world away from where the framework discussions began. I welcome the change. - Nick Roberts, IMT group manager for customer services and partnerships, Surrey county council How is the NHS approaching the PSN? PSN discussions with Connecting for Health (CfH) and the Department of Health (DH) regarding N3 have moved forward significantly in recent months. The DH and CfH are now committed to a PSN roadmap, and have already started work to make N3 services compliant and available over PSN during the course of the year. Exactly how the information assurance governance and commercials relating to that will work is still being looked at, but this is a transformation programme and health is a hugely complex area. - Patrick Clark, head of PSN transition (non-central government public sector), Cabinet Office Engagement with the NHS seems rather patchy. We are actively working with some local health organisations to enable them to procure PSN services through our existing PSN framework. Other parts of health are content with the direct links already have in place locally. - Jane Stedman, network and desktop services manager, Hampshire county council N3 reprovisions will enable a reduction in the IT budgets for health establishments of perhaps 30%. The IT budget of most health establishments is around 1% total budget. PSN will enable fundamentally different ways of provisioning services, from subcontracting services between public service bodies, to joint teams and collaboration deep into core business areas. This has the potential to impact savings on the 99% of the business budget - a whole different proposition. - Nick Roberts, IMT group manager for customer services and partnerships, Surrey county council What role does the PSN play in stimulating local broadband provision? I think there is a significant difference between the two areas of superfast broadband and PSN, but both complement with each other… If superfast broadband comes in quickly enough there is no reason why the infrastructure cannot be used to build PSN connectivity services to public service sites. But the two are different and have different drivers and supplier bases. To mix the two in a procurement could be anti-competitive to both provisions. - Nick Roberts, IMT group manager for customer services and partnerships, Surrey county council If there is no fibre infrastructure available in an area then that affects both consumers and public sector offices alike. Investing in Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) projects will benefit both, but there is no need to reverse the process by using the PSN as the infill infrastructure. - Richard Brandon, director, Stalking Horse Networks I'd say it's wiser to keep citizen broadband and public service PSN as two separate, but related activities. In Coventry, Warwickshire and Solihull, we initially began with a combined project for broadband (BDUK) and PSN development. Our model was to have the public service organisations as 'anchor tenants' for the BDUK providers. However, it quickly became apparent that the benefits were small and the complexities large, so we have disengaged and have two very separate PSN and BDUK projects. - Steve Halliday, head of ICT, Solihull council and VP, Socitm Where does the third sector fit in? All public sector service providers are in scope of the PSN programme and there is a recognition that the third sector is increasingly becoming a key player in the provision of more integrated public services, but I think it is fair to say we have not yet devised a specific PSN strategy for charities. This is something I will certainly be looking at this coming year. It may be that in the meantime there are regional solutions to enabling improved information and service sharing with charities. - Patrick Clark, head of PSN transition (non-central government public sector), Cabinet Office This article is published by Guardian Professional. 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