Norfolk County Council has announced a £26 million cloud-based data sharing system to improve collaboration between various service providers, aiming to save £10 million on data storage and maintenance. This project, the first of its kind in the UK, is set to enhance economic, social, and environmental sustainability by providing immediate access to shared information. The initiative will also include partnerships with HP and the University of East Anglia to support education in big data and informatics.

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Norfolk County Council announces cloud-based storage network
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.

2. 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.

3. “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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. “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.”
Storetec News/Blogs “http://www.storetec.net/news-blog/norfolkcounty-council-announces-cloudbased-storage-network”. Norfolk
County Council announces cloud-based storage network.
December 11, 2013. Storetec.

7. “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.”
Storetec News/Blogs “http://www.storetec.net/news-blog/norfolkcounty-council-announces-cloudbased-storage-network”. Norfolk
County Council announces cloud-based storage network.
December 11, 2013. Storetec.