PSN connectivity services
Updated 16 March 2016
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/public-services-network-psn-connectivity-services/psn-connectivity-services
PSN connectivity services are essential to creating and maintaining the effect of a single network. These are the services on which many or all customers depend for access to business services. The importance of connectivity services means that we apply a greater level of compliance assurance to them.
The operational teams that support connectivity services are essential to the delivery of the effect of a single network. We need these teams to work together, respond quickly and share relevant information with one another - even across contractual boundaries - to help all public sector end-users resolve any operational issues that arise. The compliance conditions that apply in the Public Services Network (PSN) obligations for connectivity services are there to support this.
Connectivity services include network services. Network services are:
- the Government Conveyance Network (GCN)
- the Direct Network Service Provider services (DNSPs)
- encrypted overlays, including the Inter-Provider Encryption Domain (IPED) and supplier Encryption Domains (EDs)
- Public Key infrastructures (PKI) for encrypted overlays
- any other network shared by more than one customer
Other connectivity services are:
- Domain Name Services (DNS) shared by more than one customer
- Network Time Protocol (NTP) services shared by more than one customer
- Firewall Services shared by more than one customer
- interconnects to other government networks or the internet email relay services
A management or security service that supports a connectivity service is also a connectivity service, such as:
- service and security operations services that support any of the above services
- patching and protective monitoring services that support any of the above services
- anti-malware/ anti-virus services that support any of the above services
If you are in any doubt about whether your service is a connectivity service, please email public-services-network@digital.cabinet-office.gov.uk for guidance.