FOI request (FOIR-514821618)

Various IT Equipment

Requested Thu 11 May 2023
Responded  Mon 22 May 2023

We would be grateful if you could help in answering our request for information for the following questions, answering questions (1) to (8) for categories (a) to (j).

a. Photocopiers/MFDs (Multi-Functional Device)

b. Printers

c. Print room / reprographic

d. Desktops

e. Laptops

f. Displays

g. Network

h. Cyber security

i. Audio visual

j. Infrastructure

1. Please name all the IT resellers that you have contacts with and buy from.

2. What is the length of the contracts, more specifically their end date, with the named IT resellers in question 1.

3. What year and month is the next hardware refresh due?

4. Please name the number of devices deployed by the council.

5. In reply to question 4, in which department/facility are those located?

6. Please name the brand and model of the devices mentioned and the spend for each product.

7. Details on how these were procured. If Framework, please state which one.

8. Do you normally purchase equipment as services or as a capital?

9. What is your annual print/copy volume and spend?

10. Who is the person(s) within your organization responsible for the MFD's, print hardware, and supplies contract(s)? Please provide their title and their contact details.

11. Who is responsible for purchasing end user devices such as laptops, desktops, networking, infrastructure, cyber security, displays and accessories? Please provide their title, and their contact details.

Response

Notice of Refusal

Disclosure of information relating to ICT systems, infrastructure and security constitutes a security risk as it would leave the Council's computer assets more vulnerable to a malicious hacking attack. This means that disclosure would:

• Make the Council more vulnerable to crime (Section 31)

• Risk harming the systems on which the day-to-day business of the Council relies (Section 43)

Section 31 (Law Enforcement)

Section 31(1)(a) states that information is exempt if its disclosure is likely to prejudice the prevention or detection of crime. ICO guidance states that this can be used to protect information on a public authority's systems which would make it more vulnerable to crime. This exemption can be used by a public authority that has no law enforcement function:

• To protect the work of one that does

• To withhold information that would make anyone, including the public authority itself, more vulnerable to crime

The crime in question would be a malicious attack on the Council's computer systems. Since the disclosure of the withheld information would make the Council's systems more vulnerable to such crime, the exemption is engaged.

The exemption is subject to the public interest test. There is an overwhelming public interest in keeping the Council's computer systems secure which would be served by non-disclosure. This outweighs the public interest in accountability and transparency that would be served by disclosure.

Section 43 (Commercial Interests)

Section 43(2) states that information is exempt if its disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the commercial interests of any person (including the public authority holding it).

Disclosure of information relating to ICT systems, infrastructure and security puts the council at risk of a malicious hacking attack.

This would compromise the Council's ability to provide its services and carry out 'business-as-usual' should our systems be compromised. Were our systems to be compromise, the cost of a system recovery would be detrimental to the Council's commercial interests.

The exemption is subject to the public interest test. There is an overwhelming public interest in keeping the Council's computer systems secure which would be served by non-disclosure. This outweighs the public interest in accountability and transparency that would be served by disclosure.