Open Source in Government

Government Open Source Adoption

Governments around the World are adopting Open Source at a staggering rate.

Why? Because it's a natural fit...

Open Source, along with Open Standards and Open Data form the very bedrock of the move towards Open Government across the Globe. Yes it is an enabler of transparent, effective and accountable Government, but you don't need to be an idealist to see the simple reality of massive cost reduction is also a powerful incentive in an age where Government everywhere is seeking to shrink the size of the state, pay down public borrowing and do more with less.

UK Government Open Source

The UK Government has, from a late start, rapidly become a leader in Open Source policy and has leapfrogged to the front in terms of Open Standards and Open Data policy and practise too.

Guidance from the Cabinet Office is clear, and is laid out in the Government ICT Strategy. Government strategy around Open Source is:

"Where appropriate, government will procure Open Source solutions. When used in conjunction with compulsory Open Standards, Open Source presents significant opportunities for the design and delivery of interoperable solutions".

In addition the Cabinet Office commits in the strategy document to create a level playing field for Open Source software, and has made an Open Source Procurement Toolkit available for Public Sector buyers.

Government policy for Open Source is central to the main thrust of UK Government policy for ICT as a whole, and is complementary and related to the Government SME policy and the G-Cloud initiative.

Cabinet Office practises what it preaches and the Government Digital Service (GDS), the unit established to consolidate existing and ultimately put all Government services online, is built entirely from Open Source software.

In terms of Government ICT Open Source is very much the way of the future...

Government Open Source and Sirius

Sirius continues to play a central role in the adoption of Open Source by the UK Government:

• Sirius was the first Open Source company awarded a place on a Government Procurement Service procurement list.
• Mark Taylor, Sirius CEO, is a strategic advisor on Open Source to the UK Government and Cabinet Office.
• Sirius is the natural partner for Government Open Source projects, including the Government Digital Service.
• Executives and employees speak regularly at events, roundtables and in the press on Government Open Source.
• Sirius provides the full range of Open Source products and services to the UK Public Sector through the Government G-Cloud.

Open Source Government and You

For more information about Government, Open Source, Sirius and how we can help you:

• Get Open Source through the G-Cloud Cloudstore.
• Read some of our Public Sector case studies.
• Find out who we've helped in Government and other sectors.
• Discover our Open Source solutions for Government.
• Discover our Open Source services.
• Come to one of our Open Source Open Days
• Get in touch with us by webform or by phone.