Request
1. When was your last networking (LAN, Core & Edge refresh, and when is the next refresh planned?
1a. What would you like to improve upon in your next refresh?
1b. Could you please confirm the supplier for your current contract and the vendor that you are using?
2. When was your last Wi-Fi refresh, and when is the next refresh planned?
2a. What would you like to improve upon in your next refresh?
2b. Could you please confirm the supplier for your current contract and the vendor that you are using?
3. When was your last telephony or Unified Communications refresh, and when is the next refresh planned?
3a. What would you like to improve upon in your next refresh?
3b. Could you please confirm the supplier for your current contract and the vendor that you are using?
4. Do you currently use SD-WAN or SASE, if not it this something that you are planning to do?
4a. If yes, could you please confirm the supplier for your current contract and the vendor that you are using?
5. How many users do you currently have in your contact centre?
5a. What would you like to improve upon with your contact centre.
5b. Could you please confirm the supplier for your current contract and the vendor that you are using?’
Outcome
Some information provided.
Response
1. When was your last networking (LAN, Core & Edge refresh, and when is the next refresh planned?
We do not hold this information. Our LAN is made up of many components and there is no single date for renewal or refresh.
1a. What would you like to improve upon in your next refresh?
We do not hold this information.
1b. Could you please confirm the supplier for your current contract and the vendor that you are using?
Our LAN is made up of many components and there is no single supplier or vendor. Disclosing suppliers and vendors may reveal information that would prejudice the prevention or detection of crime and is exempt under section 31 (1) (a) of the FOI Act.
2. When was your last Wi-Fi refresh, and when is the next refresh planned?
We do not hold this information. Our Wi-Fi is made up of many components and there is no single date for renewal or refresh.
2a. What would you like to improve upon in your next refresh?
We do not hold this information.
2b. Could you please confirm the supplier for your current contract and the vendor that you are using?
Our Wi-Fi is made up of many components and there is no single supplier or vendor. Disclosing suppliers and vendors may reveal information that would prejudice the prevention or detection of crime and is exempt under section 31 (1) (a) of the FOI Act.
3. When was your last telephony or Unified Communications refresh, and when is the next refresh planned?
The last technology refresh of our telephony service was completed in 2021.
We do not hold information about any change to the current telephony service.
3a. What would you like to improve upon in your next refresh?
We do not hold this information.
3b. Could you please confirm the supplier for your current contract and the vendor that you are using?
Disclosing suppliers and vendors may reveal information that would prejudice the prevention or detection of crime and is exempt under section 31 (1) (a) of the FOI Act.
4. Do you currently use SD-WAN or SASE, if not it this something that you are planning to do?
We do not currently use SD-WAN or SASE. There is no current plan to change this.
4a. If yes, could you please confirm the supplier for your current contract and the vendor that you are using?
N/A.
5. How many users do you currently have in your contact centre?
The National Archives does not have a contact centre.
5a. What would you like to improve upon with your contact centre
N/A.
5b. Could you please confirm the supplier for your current contract and the vendor that you are using?
N/A.
Explanatory annexe
Exemptions applied
Section 31: Law Enforcement
We are unable to provide you with information regarding suppliers and vendors because this information is exempt from disclosure under section 31(1) (a) of the FOI Act. Section 31(1) (a) exempts information if its disclosure would or would be likely to prejudice the prevention or detection of crime.
Section 31 is a qualified exemption and we are required to conduct a public interest test when applying any qualified exemption. This means that after it has been decided that the exemption is engaged, the public interest in releasing the information must be considered. If the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in withholding it then the exemption does not apply and the information must be released. In the FOI Act there is a presumption that information should be released unless there are compelling reasons to withhold it.
The public interest has now been concluded and the balance of the public interest has been found to fall in favour of withholding information covered by the section 31(1)(a) exemption. Considerations in favour of the release of the information included the principle that there is a public interest in transparency and accountability in disclosing information about government cyber security. However, release of this information would make The National Archives more vulnerable to crime. The crime in question here would be a malicious attack on The National Archives’ computer systems. As such release of this information would be seen to prejudice the prevention or detection of crime by making The National Archives’ computer system more vulnerable to hacking. There is an overwhelming public interest in keeping government computer systems secure which would be served by non-disclosure. This would outweigh any benefits of release. It has therefore been decided that the balance of the public interest lies clearly in favour of withholding the material on this occasion.
Further guidance on section 31 can be found here: Law enforcement – section 31 | ICO