How do government shared services work?

Government shared services refer to the consolidation of IT services across different government agencies or departments in order to reduce costs and increase efficiency. This model allows agencies and departments to share resources and expertise, rather than each of them having to maintain their own IT infrastructure, staff and costs.

There are several benefits to using a government shared services model:

Cost Savings: By sharing IT resources, agencies and departments can reduce duplication and lower costs. This can be especially beneficial for smaller agencies that may not have the budget to maintain their own IT infrastructure.

Increased Efficiency: Shared services allow agencies to access the expertise and resources of a larger organisation, thereby improving the efficiency of their own IT operations.

Improved Service: Shared services can provide a higher level of service than a department or agency may be able to achieve on its own. This can be especially important for mission-critical IT systems that need to be available 24/7.

Standardisation: Shared services can help to standardise IT systems and processes across different departments and agencies, making it easier to share data and collaborate.

Security: Shared services can provide enhanced security measures, such as central monitoring and incident response, to protect against cyber threats.

Overall, government shared services for IT can provide cost savings, increased efficiency, improved service, standardisation, and enhanced security. If your department or agency is considering implementing shared services for IT, it’s important to carefully assess your needs and ensure that a technology roadmap is in place to ensure long-term strategic goals are guiding the decision making.