Brighton & Hove City Council Presents Joined-up Approach as it Connects to National Public Services Network

LONDON, July 29, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --

Brighton & Hove City Council has successfully migrated to the Public Services Network (PSN) with the help of MDNX, Europe's largest independent network and hosting integrator. The Council was formerly connected to the Government Secure Connect Extranet, but now government departments and organisations across the wider public sector are transitioning to PSN connectivity so they can drive savings and provide new, improved shared services to its citizens.

MDNX is an independent integrator providing critical managed networks and cloud computing infrastructure to major UK enterprise, local government and channel partners. For Brighton & Hove council, this provides increased choice and reduced costs.  

The PSN is a 'network of networks', and is part of the government's drive to save taxpayers £500 million in 2014 by improving efficiencies in its IT spending. It also forms part of the government's commitment to making the UK the 'most digital government' in the G8 by 2015. Integrating with the PSN provides new opportunities for voice, data and secure information sharing, and suits today's 'anytime, anywhere' communication requirements. Now Brighton & Hove can provide its staff with better, faster, secure access to a diversity of joined-up digital services including the Department of Work and Pensions, the Department of Health N3 service and the Government Secure Intranet service.

PSN brings with it a greater sharing of services and with it the need to meet PSN security standards to facilitate trust across the infrastructure. Organisations need to demonstrate compliance with these standards. MDNX delivers all its networks to the standards required for the PSN, giving local authorities peace-of-mind and helping them become compliant. MDNX uses the same technology and support systems to deliver services to all its customers, removing the costs that public sector have in the past incurred for requiring bespoke services and sharing the economies of scale across public and private sector customers.

Leader of Brighton & Hove Council, Councillor Jason Kitcat said: "Migrating to the Public Services Network positions Brighton & Hove Council as a trailblazer for joined-up digital services. The network MDNX has integrated will give a tremendous boost to council staff and will improve efficiencies and create cost savings". He continued, "We've worked closely with MDNX throughout this time. The team demonstrated energy, professionalism and attention to detail every step of the way."

Brighton & Hove City Council is part of the Sussex LINK network, the shared network for public sector organisations in the Sussex area. Schools, libraries and council buildings are using the LINK for connectivity, benefitting from superfast broadband whilst saving costs. MDNX can quickly extend the PSN to any site on the LINK network as required, creating even more joined-up services for the Council and its residents.

Simon Holmyard is Head of Public Sector for MDNX and Easynet, which was acquired by MDNX in December 2013. He stated: "This is a milestone for both Brighton & Hove City Council and its residents, and for MDNX. Transitioning to the PSN will see local citizens benefitting from new shared services in all areas of their lives". He continued, "Now the restrictive single service provider model on the GCi Convergence Framework has been broken, public sector organisations have a wider choice, and can work with more agile and innovative service providers which allows for cost-effective services that meets the demands of modern public sector service delivery. PSN compliance gives them security, confidence and flexibility. MDNX is proud to be one of the new service providers, and we've made sure we adhere to the stringent PSN standards to give our customers confidence in the alternative services now available to them".

Following its acquisition of Easynet, MDNX will shortly trade under the Easynet name. This newly integrated business is fully committed to the PSN.

Notes to Editors  

About MDNX 

MDNX is approved by the Government Procurement Service to provide critical managed networks, cloud, hosting and IT services to organisations on the PSN framework.  

Committed to the quality and discipline brought about by standards compliance, MDNX is accredited to the following standards: ISO 9001 (Quality), ISO 27001 (Security), ISO 20000 (Service Management) ISO 18001 (Heath and Safety), ITIL and CAS(T).

MDNX acquired Easynet in December 2013. The new organisation brings together the innovative product portfolios and shared customer service commitments of both Easynet and MDNX, and combines the organisations' technical expertise and strong track records in the industry. The organisation is clearly structured to deliver a portfolio of IT services which will help customers drive growth and profitability, and gain a competitive edge in their markets. Easynet and MDNX are passionate about serving the needs of their customers, and this service ethos runs throughout the new organisation.

From September 2014, MDNX will be known as Easynet.

About Easynet  

A global managed service provider, Easynet has 20 years' experience delivering managed services to national and multinational businesses. With customers, employees and offices across the world, it combines global reach with local expertise. Delivering a managed network of networks, Easynet is proud to be on both PSN and G-Cloud.

Easynet offers customers a portfolio of network, hosting and unified communications solutions enhanced by a range of 'over the top' solutions including security, voice, videoconferencing and application performance management. Its Public Sector customers include Transport for London, Anglian Water, and JANET.

Follow us on Twitter: @EasynetGS. Connect with us on LinkedIn: Easynet Global Services

For more information visit http://www.easynet.com