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UK E-CUSTOMS PROGRAMME FOUND LACKING
The UK’s e-customs programme has been found lacking in a scathing public accounts review. While acknowledging that such a programme was ‘an innovative step forward in using new technology to deliver better quality public services, streamline current processes, and achieve savings’ – the report goes on to say that it is unsatisfactory that Customs has so far spent over £100 million on its e-programme without a rigorous business case. The report calls on Customs to complete a full business case, including all the e-programme costs and supported by sensitivity analyses of benefits and cost. The report also says that Customs has made slow progress in providing an e-VAT service. There was very low take up of the first electronic VAT return service because it did not offer businesses any tangible benefits. Customs is only now considering a strategy to achieve the 50% level of take-up (some 700,000 businesses) needed in the new e-VAT service to make it viable. Customs is also considering whether to compel certain sizes of business to submit VAT returns electronically. www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200304/cmselect/cmpubacc/138/13802.htm
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UK TO TRIAL CITIZEN INFORMATION PROJECT
The UK’s Office for National Statistics (ONS) has released a tender for its Citizen Information Project (CIP), which is aimed at establishing a UK-wide population register. The register would form the basis for an IT system to share certain contact data about citizens across the public sector. The type of data to be shared is described as “non-sensitive contact data,” such as name, address, and reference number. The first phase of the project will involve a data analysis and matching trial, which will assess the feasibility of automatically matching citizen records held across a number of government agencies. The ONS said it hopes that the trial can take place by the end of 2004 using samples of real data from selected agencies. Some analysts have observed that the register could form the basis for the government’s planned ID card scheme, although there is currently no official connection between the two schemes. Critics of the CIP have complained that it is invasive of citizens’ privacy, with one group, known as Privacy International, nominating the scheme in its so-called Big Brother Awards. Source: ENN eGovernment News, www.enn.ie/frontpage/news-9542476.html. More information – UK Government: www.statistics.gov.uk/cip/default.asp; Privacy International: www.privacyinternational.org/
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STUDY FINDS 41% OF SOFTWARE IN USE IN IRELAND IS PIRATED
The Business Software Alliance (BSA) has published the results of its 2003 Global Piracy Study conducted by IDC, which reveals a software piracy rate in Ireland of 41 percent. This means that almost one in every two software programs installed in Ireland is an illegal copy. The same study found that 37 percent of software in use in the European Union is pirated. The cost to national and international software publishers in the region was also revealed with pirated software valued at over EUR8billion. In response, BSA has announced a strategic five point plan to tackle the issue of software piracy in the European Union: 1. Respect: engender respect for IP, starting from an early age in all European schools, universities and businesses; 2. Confidence: increase confidence in the industry to encourage continued R&D fuel the investment and growth of the digital economy in Europe; 3. Security: ensure all businesses understand the potential implications of lax security and the importance of creating a safe and legal working environment; 4. Growth and innovation: encourage effective and speedy implementation of policies and laws designed to create a healthy software industry and a strong environment for innovation; 5. SAM central: increase appreciation of software as a fundamental business asset resulting in improved Software Asset Management (SAM) practices. The results confirm that software piracy continues to be a major challenge in Ireland. More: www.bsa.org and www.idc.com
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TENDERS FOR SCHOOL BROADBAND NETWORK ISSUED
The tender notice for the provision of broadband access to over 4,000 schools by September 2005 has been issued. The tender notice seeks responses from all broadband service providers for the provision of broadband connections and services at a minimum of 512 kbps between school premises and a central network for a period of three years. Broadband providers may bid to provide services to some or all schools. The deadline for the receipt of responses is Tuesday, 24 August, 2004. It is anticipated that the tender evaluation and contract negotiation process will be completed by November 2004, and that rollout to schools will commence in December 2004 and will conclude by end September 2005. Tender details are available at www.etenders.gov.ie
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WATERFORD IT DELIVERS GIGABIT TO THE DESKTOP
Waterford Institute of Technology has installed Gigabit Ethernet to the desktop for students in what is believed to be a first for Ireland. Installed over the latest cabling technology provided by Kedington, the solution allows the 672 desktops and servers access over the network at unparalleled speeds. The solution was installed in the newly-constructed IT Building on the main Cork Road campus. Building began in 2001 and was completed at the end of 2003. www.wit.ie or www.kedington.ie
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DSL CONNECTIONS AT GREATER RISK FROM HACKERS
The advent of Digital Subscriber Line (DSL), the information security community has warned that anyone, be they home user, remote office or business with always-on Internet connections, is at great risk of having their systems hacked – far greater than those with a simple dial-up connection. The Irish Honeynet project took some time to test this theory and concluded that, in reality, the truth, as usual, is somewhere in between. A simple Windows 2000 honeypot was placed at the end of a DSL line connected to a reputable Irish ISP for a seven-day period. Research has indicated that a computer, or a network of computers, connected by DSL is 5 times more likely to be affected by online attacks than those using dial-up connections and right from the outset The Irish Honeynet Project saw startling evidence to support this. Worms, Viruses, Trojan Horses, manual hacking attempts, automated scans, and more, were a constant feature in the daily logs of the DSL Honeynet. DSL connections do significantly increase security risks because of their always-on nature but the kinds of attacks detected on the honeypot don’t differ in any way from any other kind of Internet connection, be that a simple dial-up modem or a high-end expensive leased line connection. The Irish Honeynet Project recommends that you treat your DSL connections no differently from any other Internet connection and ensure that all the necessary security precautions are taken, such as firewalls, antivirus software, Intrusion Prevention Systems, and content filtering tools. www.honeynet.ie
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FUJITSU ‘INDUSTRY STRENGTH’ SECURITY FOR ECABINET
Access and control of confidential information is a major issue facing the Irish Government today and specifically the Department of the Taoiseach. Fujitsu today announced that the new eCabinet Application technical infrastructure, which is helping the Department of the Taoiseach tackle the issue of keeping confidential Cabinet documents safe, will be secured using “industry strength” security countermeasures. Fujitsu was chosen by the Department of the Taoiseach to review risks associated with the eCabinet infrastructure and to define a technical security policy. Subsequent to this risk assessment and policy development, Fujitsu worked with the Department to implement various technical security countermeasures to protect the information contained in the eCabinet application from an infrastructure perspective. http://ie.fujitsu.com
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€55 MILLION FOR NEW BROADBAND ROLLOUT
The next phase of the Regional Broadband Programme has been announced. A further 41 towns are to be targeted as part of the Metropolitan Area Networks programme which so far has delivered broadband to 26 large cities and towns around the country. The new programme will cost €55 million, funded 90% by the Government in partnership with local authorities. The initial programme has led to the installation of communications links, which are seen as a major driver of inward investment. The 41 towns are: Athenry, Ballinasloe, Ballybofey, Bantry, Blarney, Bundoran, Carrigaline, Castleblaney, Castleisland, Castlerea, Claremorris, Clifden, Clones, Cobh, Cahir, Dingle, Donabate, Dunshaughlin, Enniskerry, Furbo, Kenmare, Kilcoole, Kildare, Kinsale, Knock, Longford, Maynooth, Midleton, Mitchelstown, Mountmellick, Nenagh, Newbridge, Rathangan, Ratoath, Sallins, Skerries, Skibereen, Sligo, Tramore, Trim and Youghal. It is expected that the first construction work will commence in the autumn. Projects will be completed within 12 months. www.dcmnr.gov.ie
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15YR CONTRACT FOR MANAGEMENT OF METROPOLITAN BROADBAND NETWORKS
The contract for management of the Government and local authority Regional Metropolitan Broadband Networks has been awarded to E-Net. E-Net is a Limerick company and is expected to employ 120 people both directly and indirectly – with 65 jobs located in Limerick – to manage the 26 metropolitan broadband rings. The construction costs of these Networks are in the region of €80m and were funded by the Government and the Local Authorities. The term of the contract is 15 years and e-Net will begin operations straight away. E-Net will operate as a wholesaler of access to the metropolitan area networks and will offer a full suite of products including ducting, sub-ducting, dark fibre, high level managed capacity, collocation facilities and relevant auxiliary services. www.dcmnr.gov.ie
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EXPERT GROUP TO REPORT ON PUBLIC SERVICE CARDS
Access to public services provided by Government and other bodies will be streamlined and made easier under a new initiative to cut red tape. A top level expert group is being established to report to Government within six months under the eGovernment initiative to introduce a standardised framework for a Public Service Card (PSC). The aim is to develop a standard for Public Service Cards that acts as a key for access to services, identifying and authenticating individuals as appropriate and where required. www.reach.ie/new.htm#pscard