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Microsoft’s cloud computing platform is now accredited to store and communicate data securely up to the UK Government’s Impact Level 2 classification. Reading, UK. — 04/04/13 — Microsoft’s cloud computing platform, Windows Azure, has been awarded Impact Level 2 (IL2)...

The Metropolitan Police Service in London required easily accessible email for extra police officers during the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. To avoid costly capital expenditure on its existing infrastructure, the Met wanted to quickly provision these users and then remove the service when no longer...

We have come across some great news from our colleagues in the US which we simply had to mention on our UK Government blog! OK, it's a story from Texas but the solution and result will appeal hugely with those working in UK Government. A massive 100,000 employees have been switched to the cloud-based...

Cliff Evans, Private Cloud Lead at Microsoft UK, attended a recent CIO roundtable to discuss the role that private cloud can play in large organisations and the opportunities and challenges it presents for IT leaders. Everyone talks about the cloud but, really, there are several types of cloud. Most...

In the past week or so, it seems we at Microsoft have had more launches than NASA. The latest tasty offering is Windows Phone 8! Windows Phone puts the office in the hands of the business user. It makes mobile working even more seamless, collaborative and secure, and gets employees up and running...

Government employees: get ready, because the way you work may never be the same. There’s a new operating system on the way that will support your flexible work style and ease the burden of using multiple devices, all while keeping your data secure. Its name is Windows 8, and today I’m thrilled...

This is a guest post by Patrick O’Rourke, director within the strategy, planning and communications team in Microsoft IT. If you’ve read this blog before then you know that one of the roles of Microsoft IT is to be the first customer of Microsoft’s commercial products and services...

As CIO for Microsoft UK, Annemarie Duffy, not only has to kit out over three and a half thousand workers with the technology to be able to work anywhere, anytime, but also ensure that vital corporate systems are secured - always, and without exception. As one of "the most attempted hack" companies in...

With the recent Police National Database (PND) and Identity and Access Management (IAM) initiatives a number of Police forces chose to deploy local IAM technologies, integrated with the Central Services PKI infrastructure and accredited by the ‘Scheme for Police’ standard, instead of the...

As UK citizens increasingly carry out their lives online — from maintaining social networks to making purchases to running businesses — unfortunately, many are also falling victim to cybercrime. And, it comes at a great cost. In fact, one recent report estimated that the total cost of cybercrime...

This weekend in Manchester, the Blue Light Camp unconference took place and was reported to have been very a unique and refreshing day. The emergency services event was the brain child of Sasha Taylor , Paul Coxon and David White and provided a fantastic networking opportunity for those interested in...

It's less than a month to go now until the huge Worldwide Government Solutions Forum in London (24th-25th April). We thought we'd share the latest agenda with you - it's packed full fantastic speakers and chances to do some great networking. Just see for yourself below... More soon - don't forget, you...

Local Authorities and Police Forces are increasingly looking at Cloud services to increase efficiency and collaboration, whilst reducing the cost and burden of delivering integrated and collaborative applications to their users. However, there are understandable questions about Cloud services over potential...

We’ve recently blogged on two topics currently close to UK Government’s heart: firstly, Annemarie Duffy wrote about how internal IT within Microsoft is embracing opportunities presented by cloud, and by the Consumerisation of IT (CoIT). Then Nick Umney posted the first in his “ Why...

Microsoft is perhaps unique, in that it is both consumer and enterprise technology provider, as well as being a major enterprise technology consumer. This unique perspective brings great value to the organisation - not least in its ability to comprehensively test out and use new product developments...

Love it or hate it, it's that time of year again when the world goes all lovey-dubby. Valentine's Day is upon us and it's a time for reminding that special someone in your life how much you love them. Some would say a love for tech (or in this case software), can almost rival love for another human being...

Happy Safe Internet Day! It's a subject we take very seriously and it forms a central element to our business best practises. As well as it being a core responsibility for our company, many of us are parents and care deeply about online safety for our children. The tools Microsoft produce provide excellent...

Recently, at the ITU Telecom World 2011 in Geneva, Microsoft, along with several partners including Neul , the University of Strathclyde , Steepest Ascent , and Inveneo , demonstrated innovative new wireless technology. Described as “Super Wi-Fi” by some, it shows how unused TV and other...

The Microsoft System Center 2012 Virtual Summit is your opportunity to find out about all the latest developments in Microsoft’s systems management suite of technologies. It is taking place on November 30th and, as it is an online event, you can attend from the comfort of your own office. ...

We are running a series of ‘Microsoft in Public Sector’ Live Meetings (webinars) that will relate the application of Microsoft technology to key ICT drivers in the public sector – saving money, innovating with ICT-enabled public services and enabling more effective and secure collaboration...

The Information Commissioner (ICO) is increasingly proactive in publicising organisations that are in serious breach of data protection and privacy and can now levy fines of up to £500,000 for each serious breach of data protection. The news section of the ICO website identifies a variety of public...

Earlier this month, Microsoft’s Trustworthy Computing Group announced the BlueHat Prize , an incentive for researchers to develop original ideas to help protect customers, computers, and devices. The top three winners* in the BlueHat Prize competition will earn a total approximate retail...

Our colleagues in the Microsoft Corporate Government team have been busy producing a series of eBooks on Cloud Computing in Government that I thought were well worth bringing to your attention. They do carry the minor ‘health warning’ that they are written with USA State and Federal Government...

As well as improving individual productivity and reducing carbon footprint, providing the technology to enable remote working also supports government agencies and local authorities in reducing the requirement for office real estate and can deliver cashable savings. One of the concerns of many organisations...

The Microsoft IT environment is probably one of the most complicated and rapidly changing environments you will find. Dealing with 190,000 plus users, all with their own administration rights is a challenge in itself. When you add the extra complexity of rolling out a new operating system you quickly...