sponsored by EfficientIP
Awarded to the local authority or central government deaprtment that can demonstrate an effective partnership approach to delivering IT related services, and in turn better value to citizens.

2011 Winner: Department for Education - Employee Authentication Service
The Employee Authentication Services (EAS) was created to provide a sector-wide solution to enable employees to securely access multiple children’s services and educational information sharing systems using a single token. It provides a strong authentication solution for central and local government employees to enable them to securely access multiple government applications and systems by using a single token. EAS was designed as a shared service to be used across government where ever secure authentication was needed with the capacity to handle two million concurrent users. Currently three major government led services are engaged in trialling and rolling out the service with a combined user base of between 75,000–100,000 users in addition to a number of smaller scale services already using the service. The project was developed as a strategic partnership between DfE, DWP and DCLG, in collaboration with local authorities and other partners.

Commended: e@SY Connects Partnership
e@SY Connects is a partnership across South Yorkshire that brings together councils, health, emergency, voluntary groups, transport and investment agencies. Partners share the workload, costs and benefits. Some of the projects and technologies e@SY Connects is working with include ‘Digital Region’ broadband, video conferencing, broadband access to sheltered housing, digital interactive TV, authorisation and authentication technologies, micropayments, secure messaging, data sharing protocols, e-participation platforms, and basic training in digital technologies. A key project is a Neighbourhood Watch solution that allows sensitive information to be communicated between the police and neighbourhood watch co-ordinators, using an innovative secure communications mechanism using digital signatures and encryption. e@SY Connects has developed a Good Neighbours Scheme, which involves mobilising volunteers to provide basic care for their neighbours when required.

Commended: PSBA Network - Public Sector Broadband project
The PSBA network is a Welsh Assembly Government led project which is creating a national information and communications platform. A single high speed connectivity network, PSBA supports the delivery of a wide range of voice, video and data services, enabling increased efficiency and collaboration within and across the public sector. Conceived and delivered as a collaborative project with key stakeholders in local government, health and education, the network is now used by a growing number of organisations including unitary authorities, hospitals, general practitioners, universities, further education colleges, and emergency services. It connects to existing public sector networks including JANET and N3, joins Wales to the wider UK public sector and meets all relevant security classifications and certifications. Public sector employees at more than 2,000 public service sites across Wales are already connected to PSBA. Eventually all 350,000 public sector workers in Wales, including home-based staff, will be able to access the network.