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FOI request (FOIR-563291104)
Secure Communication
Requested Mon 20 November 2023
Responded Mon 11 December 2023I am writing to request information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. Specifically, I am seeking information regarding your secure communication.
Please provide me with the following information:
1. What is your current email provider (e.g. Outlook or G-suite)?
2. Do you have a solution for secure email in place (Y/N)?
3. Who is your current email security provider (e.g. Egress)?
4. When is the contract up for renewal?
5. Typically what is the chosen duration of these contracts 12, 24, or 36 Months?
6. Name and contact details of the person responsible?
7. Current annual spend for this contract?
8. Current number of licences for this contract?
9. Did you purchase via a reseller (if yes, please specify who)?
Budget & procurement
10. Are you planning on assigning specific budgets for securing email communication in 2023?
11. Do you procure through the G-Cloud framework (if not, how do you procure & plan to procure secure email in the future)?
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.
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Freedom of Information
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