'Bring Your Own Device' (BYOD) in the public sector: SSAC FOI response
Updated 28 February 2020
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Information request
I am pursuing a Masters degree in Digital Health Leadership and am conducting a research study for my dissertation.
My study aims to examine how to improve the implementation of Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) in the public sector.
I am writing to you under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to request the following information from Social Security Advisory Committee:
1. Does Social Security Advisory Committee allow staff to use their own devices to access work email? Please answer Yes or No.
2. Does Social Security Advisory Committee allow staff to use their own devices for any other work-related activities? Please answer Yes or No.
3. If you answered yes to question 2 please provide a list of the types of systems that staff can access from personally owned devices?
4. Does Social Security Advisory Committee have a policy that covers BYOD or the use of personal devices at work? Please answer Yes or No.
5. If you answered yes to question 4 please could you provide a copy of your policy that covers BYOD or personal device usage at work?
If you have any queries please don’t hesitate to contact me via email and I will be very happy to clarify what I am asking for and discuss the request, my details are outlined below.
Response
It may be helpful if I explain the role of the Freedom of Information Act. The Act provides a legal right of access to recorded information held by a public authority like DWP, subject to certain exemptions that may apply. The Act does not oblige a public authority to create new information to answer questions; nor does it require a public authority to give advice, opinion or explanation, generate answers to questions, or create or obtain information we do not hold.
As you have asked a series of questions, rather than requesting recorded information, we will provide you with the recorded information that best answers the question to meet our obligations under the Act.
The Social Security Advisory Committee is a statutory independent non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). It is supported by a small secretariat, all of whom access their work emails through information technology (IT) equipment provided by DWP.
The Committee is required to comply with DWP’s policies and guidance on the use of IT, and the handling of official information. We do not operate any independent policies on the use of personal devices for work related activities.