Meeting the requirements to join the UK public sector secure network

The GSi is the primary secure IP network connecting UK government departments with other UK public sector bodies involved for example, in education, local government / local authorities and a host of public services and organisations and their private sector partners. Managed by Buying Solutions and delivered through a partnership with cable and Wireless UK the GSi also provides for onward secure communication to other networks including the criminal justice department, police and NHS.

The GSi is an umbrella for a number of interconnected communities and provides a highly available, secure connection via email, secure websites, intranet sites and database. Each organisation can choose different connection communities depending upon their needs;

The GSE Community is for sponsored private sector organisations supplying services to government.

The GCSX Community is for organisations such as English and Welsh Local Authorities who's processes and procedures comply with commercial best practice equivalent to impact level 2 (IL2 'Protect').

The GSX Community is for organisations working with impact level 2 and occasionally impact level 3 data (IL2 'Protect' and IL3 'Restricted').

To be able to connect to the GSi resource organisations must complete the relevant Code of Connection document to confirm they have the correct IT security and procedures in place to be able to keep data accesses via the network secure within their own IT infrastructure. Organisations need to be sure that having accessed secure data that it remains secure.

DESlock+ Pro and the GSE, GCSX and GSX communities

The code of connection for these communities states that computers, laptops and portable devices used for mobile / home working with data at rest or in transit must be encrypted and that a CCTM approved or a FIPS-140-2 certified product is acceptable for this. Policy guidance from CESG also recommends the use of CCTM products combined with FIPS-140 cryptographic protection for data considered as IL1 'Private' and IL2 'Protect'.

Approved to FIPS-140-2 and as a CCTM certified product DESlock+ Pro will meet the needs of those organisations who are, or wish to be part of the GSC, GCSX and GSX communities operating with data up to IL2 and occasional L3 ('Restricted').

DESlock+ features such as full disk and removable media encryption along with the use of highly secure industry standard encryption algorithms will ensure data security for those using laptops and removable media such as USB memory sticks and portable hard drives.