IT Security in Government Departments

This report focuses on progress in IT security in government departments since the previous Committee last reviewed this subject in 1991. The report is structured around the Committee's conclusions and recommendations, the Treasury's response to them and developments since then.

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Government departments and agencies are increasingly reliant on information technology (IT) for the efficient and effective delivery of public services. It is vital that departments and agencies take steps to preserve the confidentiality, integrity and availability of their valuable IT systems and data. Until recently, responsibility for promulgating and promoting good standards in IT security for systems processing unclassified but sensitive data rested with CCTA, the Government Centre for Information Systems, now part of the Office of Public Service and Science. Individual departments and agencies are responsible for applying these standards. This report focuses on progress since the previous Committee last reviewed this subject in 1991. The report is structured around the Committee's conclusions and recommendations, the Treasury's response to them, and trends and developments since then.