Norfolk County Council announces cloud-based storage network

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Norfolk County Council has announced that it is to launch a £26 million cloud-based data sharing system, which will be used to link up information from various service providers, including district councils

The announcement will see the introduction of a desktop, data centre and collaboration infrastructure, which it hopes will enable more efficient working.

Chief information officer Tom Baker said the installation of the £26 million system would save the council around £10 million on data storage, hardware maintenance and staffing levels.

He told PT.net: “The system will contribute to the economic, social and environmental sustainability of the county by enabling multiple agencies to effectively participate in joint service delivery.

“The creation of a platform for more joined-up collaboration between NCC and other partners will make it possible to get a single view.”

Mr Baker also said that council staff would be provided with new desktop and mobile devices through which they can access the main hub.

The council has chosen HP as one of its partners, with the company announcing that it plans to help support a new degree course at the University of East Anglia specialising in big data and informatics, with graduates working on the hub through internships and placements.

Such an agreement will also see academics at the university offer their expertise in helping to enhance data security.

The council has also claimed that once set up, this will be the first project of its kind to have been implemented in the UK, with the only other similar project operating in Flanders, Belgium.

George Nobbs, leader of Norfolk County Council, said: “It means we would not get this problem of people saying ‘I told so-and-so about this and now I have to tell someone else again.

“That’s the beauty of this. All this information is available instantly to all these agencies. That’s how the men and women in the street would see their life differently.”

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”. Norfolk County Council announces cloud-based storage network. December 11, 2013. Storetec.