Software suppliers to the latest iteration of the G-Cloud will be expected to do more to strengthen the cyber security of their offerings.
The Crown Commercial Service (CCS) has included the indication in its procurement notice for companies wishing to be on the G-Cloud 11 framework when it goes live in August.
In its attachment highlighting the differences with the previous version, it goes beyond the existing requirement to “use all reasonable endeavours to prevent viruses and malware”. It now defines the need to “use all reasonable endeavours, software and the most up-to-date antivirus definitions available from an industry accepted antivirus software seller to minimise the impact of malicious software”.
CCS has valued the framework at £1.95 billion over three years.
The move reflects a recent announcement by Business Secretary Greg Clark that the Government is making an effort to “design out” security threats to online services, including a £30 million programme named Ensuring the Security of Digital Technology at the Periphery.
Image by Kai Stachowiak, CC0 via Wikimedia Commons
