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States IT “catastrophe” report due out in June

States IT “catastrophe” report due out in June

Friday 19 May 2023

States IT “catastrophe” report due out in June

Friday 19 May 2023


A report probing into the causes of weeks of major disruption in public IT systems late last year is expected to be released next month.

Everything connected to government servers, from benefit payments, online customs declarations, and the tills at Beau Sejour café, went offline when a server room inside Frossard House overheated due to a faulty air conditioning unit on 25 November.

An emergency switchover to secondary servers located at Edward T Wheadon House also failed. It took weeks for some services to be restored, including within schools.

An overnight power cut in St. Peter Port on January 3 again affected States IT systems.

Policy & Resources have reiterated to Express that “the States of Guernsey is committed to publishing the findings of the review".

It is a thorough and detailed report which includes a significant amount of sensitive information on public sector IT, including that which has security considerations.

P&R added that efforts are being made to ensure the published report is “comprehensive and accurate” without creating “a risk to the Bailiwick”, a process which will “take time to complete”. 

It was recently reported that millions of pounds worth of additional investment is likely to be needed to rectify the issues. 

Peter_Ferbrache_smiling.jpg

Pictured: Deputy Peter Ferbrache previously called for a full and frank assessment of the issues, in easily understandable language.

Deputy Peter Ferbrache, President of Policy & Resources, the committee which holds responsibility for States corporate services, told deputies in late March that the report “should be with the States in the next four or five weeks”.

He added that he and Mark de Garis, the States’ Head of the Public Service, met with PwC the previous week to discuss the findings. 

He claimed the report would “address what happened in November and December etc. and what steps we can take going forward”. 

The States initially committed to carrying out an internal review, but pressure from other deputies convinced P&R to solicit independent advice.

PwC were appointed to produce an independent report at a cost of around £70,000.

The findings of that report, and the internal review conducted by the States, will be collated into a fresh document. 

READ MORE…

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