Most UK police forces are still managing their data and application on-premise despite an intent to make more use of the cloud, according to a new survey.
Software and networks company Citrix has produced the snapshot from a series of freedom of information requests to UK police forces, with 24 of the 43 providing responses.
It found that, despite the Government’s Cloud First policy for the public sector, 71% of police forces currently store less than a quarter of their data and applications in the cloud, 13% do not use cloud systems at all, and only 29% use public cloud services. 75% are still using on-premise solutions.
Most expressed an intent to make more of cloud services, with 88% saying they are considering spending more in the area in the next 12 months, and 67% are planning to downsize their physical IT infrastructure – but only 25% had already done so.
Alongside this, 79% are enabling their officers to access data and applications while on the beat.
Challenging exercise
Dominic Fields, managing director UK and Ireland for Citrix, said: “Many police forces across the UK are held back by legacy IT systems – making it a challenging exercise to consolidate and transition data and applications to the cloud.
“However, the cloud will inevitably become integral to service delivery – due to solutions typically being cost effective, scalable, secure and flexible – and is likely to become an indispensable asset for police forces in the year ahead.”
Image: iStock by Bridget-McGill
