What we’re doing : Modernizing the way we replace, build, and manage major IT systems
What we’re doing: Modernizing the way we replace, build, and manage major IT systems
By designing major IT systems to be adaptable, resilient and secure, we will continue to ensure safe and efficient government services for the Canadians and businesses that rely on them.
Network and security are the very foundations of digital government and the basis for all government services. There are currently 50 Government of Canada (GC) networks across the country. These networks are aging, complex and costly to maintain. Foundational IT components of Digital Government, like networks and cyber security, must continue to be modernized so that Canadians have reliable and secure digital access to government services.
Our number one priority is to ensure reliable network access that is secure, reliable, fast and that can adapt to changing needs. The GC plans to transition away from single departmental networks to a modern network strategy that focuses on dependable, consistent and secure access across the government, regardless of where people are working. Leveraging new technologies and approaches to security will ensure that the government’s networks can support a changing economic landscape and existing and emerging government programs and services for Canadians. Budget 2021 supports this objective directly with an investment of $155 million over 3 years for SSC to accelerate through a Networks Modernization Implementation Fund.
Through these efforts, the (GC) will be more responsive to Canadians’ demands for trusted and convenient services. An updated network will use the latest security measures that better protect personal information, connect seamlessly to cloud and enterprise data centres, and move at a speed and scale that gives users the connectivity they need to do their work.
By the numbers
- It’s estimated that nearly 80% of the GC’s roughly 8,000 IT services are housed in aging data centres that are at risk of service outages that could affect millions of Canadians
To correct this, the GC is making significant investments to modernize and replace aging IT infrastructure and have adopted a “cloud-first” policy for government applications.
Specifically, Budget 2021 announced $300 million of additional investments over 3 years for SSC to continue to continue work to repair and replace critical IT infrastructure.
At the same time, the GC is working to identify, modernize and migrate key applications out of aging data centres and onto more secure and efficient modern hosting solutions, either on the cloud or in consolidated enterprise data centres. The government will be dedicating attention and will be ensuring the success of the highest‑impact legacy modernization projects for key services like Old Age Security and Employment Insurance benefits or immigration and border case management, and implementing the Next Generation HR and Pay initiative for federal public servants. Consolidating and modernizing is reducing the GC’s carbon footprint and the GC is focusing on state-of-the-art data centres with built-in green technology and energy efficiency.
What this means for Canadians
The shift to cloud-based services and cross government data centres will reduce the risk of major IT failure, ensure safe and efficient services, save taxpayers money, and reduce the GC’s carbon footprint.
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