Government Moves to Ease Security Restrictions Stifling Cloud and Open Source

The electronics and computing arm of GCHQ has begun reforming its accreditations of IT suppliers to prevent CESG becoming an obstacle to the G-Cloud, through which the Cabinet Office intends to introduce a more liberal procurement regime.

The organisation has also agreed to meet open source experts and industry representatives to discuss how to stop its security precautions preventing government pursuing its policy to use more open source software in government.

Bill McCluggage, Cabinet Office director of ICT policy, told Computer Weekly: "CESG is changing its processes. We are working with it. CESG recognises there needs to be a way for new companies to offer services in the G-Cloud. CESG has been working hard on a set of new accreditation policies for the cloud."...