Scotland's Digital Future: High Level Operating Framework Version 2

3 Generic Services Model

The high level categories of Services at Figure 2 below represent a combination of models currently being used across the Scottish Public Sector to provide a common vocabulary for strategic ICT Planning.

Figure 2 - Generic Services Model

Each of the components is outlined in the following paragraphs and expanded at Section 4 to describe what these components might look like in an 'Ideal Services Model'.

3.1 Business Services

Business Services are fully integrated into the ICT service delivery model, relying on all aspects of the services. While internal and external customer service is provided through the channels, business processes are supported at all layers of the architecture. This model represents the two-way relationship between ICT and Business architectural strategies.

3.2 Channels

Business processes are integrated into the applications that are supported by ICT and are delivered through the many channels available. Applications and services have a potentially large and diverse client-base both internal and external customers, that may choose or need to employ a variety of access channels e.g. PC/Mac/Linux devices, secure kiosk, thin client, smartphone or other mobile device. Common standards and approaches will support the delivery of services over these channels in as efficient means as possible.

3.3 Identity & Access Management Services

Security needs to be central to how modern business operates. Within the public sector specifically, there is a need to:

• support the concept of "The Citizen" nationally, across sectors and locally
• share information more readily ( e.g. within the health, social services and criminal justice domains)
• enable public or citizen access to an increasingly diverse service base in a uniform and consistent manner

Common security and ID management processes, services and tools are essential elements to enable all of these aspirations.

3.4 Applications Services

3.4.1 Office Productivity Applications Services

Standard office productivity applications like Word, Excel and email are widely prevalent in the user community today. Their interoperability and the incorporation of new 'standard applications', such as emerging social media platforms, are vastly common across the Scottish Public Sector. Where there is a perceived unique requirement in this tier, this should be considered the exception rather than the rule.

3.4.2 Common Business Applications Services

In some sectors, organisations can operate similar to independent businesses having their own individual employment processes, payroll, finance, facilities management etc. Therefore there are a number of business services, payroll, HR, etc. which are similar in their application across all organisations and sectors. As noted in the national and draft sectoral strategies, organisations are expected to standardise and re-use across these services rather than buy or build, compromising on business process fit to allow standardisation to take place.

3.4.3 Line of Business Applications Services

Line of Business Applications can in some cases by definition, be specific to the agency/public body that requires them. In a number of cases they may be bespoke applications. However, even at this level, there will be opportunities to share data, or perhaps compromise on process to allow for standardisation of applications.

3.5 Data Management Services

The Data Management Services category includes ICT services to enable information sharing and re-use, via the standard description and discovery of common data and the promotion of uniform data management practices. It includes 4 major areas where provides a standard means by which data may be described, categorised and shared.

Within the model there are four standardisation areas:

• Data Description: provides a means to describe data uniformly, thereby supporting its discovery and sharing
• Data Context: facilitates discovery of data through an approach to the categorisation of data according to taxonomies
• Data Sharing: supports the access and exchange of data where access consists of ad hoc requests (such as a query of a data asset) and exchange consists of fixed, recurring transactions between parties. It is enabled by capabilities provided by both the Data Context and Data Description standardisation areas
• Data Ownership: Data is owned by the business and accountability for its quality lies with business owners

3.6 Infrastructure - Servers, Storage, Data Centres, Cloud Enabled Services

The deployment of physical ICT assets has evolved dramatically in recent years. Critical business applications, for example ones which impact the safety of the public or employees, require high availability, which can best be delivered through modern data centres. Public Sector organisations should refer to the guidance in the Scottish Public Sector Data Hosting and Data Centre Strategy and Scottish Public Sector Guidance on Cloud Computing, Virtualisation and Co-location when assessing how and where to host their data Infrastructure - Servers, Storage, Data Centres and Cloud Enabled Services.

3.7 Infrastructure - Communications Services

This high level category contains services relating to the provision of data and voice telecommunications.

3.8 Security Services

Security Services are required by all other services and provide the means by which information is secured, made available and integrity is maintained. Security Services is a blend of process and technology to provide assurance that the value of public information is sustained throughout its usable life.