Guidance

PSN: IP address allocation terms and conditions

Published 26 May 2015

© Crown copyright 2015

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/public-services-network-psn-ip-address-allocation/psn-ip-address-allocation-terms-and-conditions

Any valid IPv4 address may be used on PSN, which means that the IP addresses on PSN may come from either Public Sector or Private Sector stocks. PSN has not yet moved to IPv6. The PSN team has a very limited number of IPv4 addresses. This stock can be allocated to PSN customers or service providers who can present a justifiable need.

When the PSN team considers a request for an allocation, we think about the:

  • overall demand against the limited stock available
  • number of addresses requested, and the evidence provided to * support your application for this number
  • the user need for the connection
  • intended purposes of the IP addresses requested

If your application is successful, we will provide the allocation details for you to implement.

We will reject applications if they:

  • do not provide enough information for us to properly assess your request
  • request an excessively large IP address allocation

You must accept that:

  1. The IP addresses we give you are for end-points reachable on the PSN and must not be used for any other network.
  2. The allocation is for public sector end points, or for services that public sector organisations need.
  3. All allocated PSN IP addresses will be used for the purposes for which they are allocated. You must allow the PSN team to access your environment and service information to verify this.
  4. The PSN team will revoke the allocation of addresses if it believes they are not being used in accordance with your application.
  5. If we have allocated you a block of IP addresses for you to further distribute amongst your PSN customers (or other organisations) to access services, you must provide us quarterly with a list of which organisations you have given these addresses to, along with the contact details of an individual within that organisation who has taken responsibility for the addresses, and confirmation that each organisation have accepted these terms and conditions. These organisations are not permitted to further distribute the IP addresses they have been provided with.
  6. Should any significant amount of space be unused within an allocation after a period of 6 months, the PSN team may revoke any unused address ranges and allocate an appropriate subnet based on known requirements.
  7. Allocated addresses will remain under the administration of the PSN team, in accordance with the criteria set out by the ultimate owner of the addresses, unless the PSN team has given specific authority for you to administer them.
  8. Allocated addresses will be returned to the PSN team upon the cessation of service, unless a specific agreement is reached to vary this.
  9. It is your responsibility to correctly configure the allocated address range as defined in the supporting documentation received at the time of the request.
  10. You must report incorrect configurations to the PSN team and rectify any problems. If you are unable to resolve the problem within a reasonable timeframe the IP address allocation will be revoked.
  11. You are responsible for testing any PSN public IP address range(s) allocated as a result of this application to satisfy itself there is no duplication.
  12. Neither PSN team nor the Cabinet Office shall be liable for any loss, damage, cost or expense howsoever arising out of or in connection with the use or failure of any PSN Public address range(s) allocated as a result of this application, or the revocation of any such address range(s) by the PSN team (save to the extent that such an exclusion of liability is not permitted by law).
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