Contents

Summary

This standard covers the cloud computing hosting platform used for the development, operation and maintenance of all bespoke, DfE-developed products.

Categories

The categories applicable to this standard are:

Architecture
  • Solution Architecture
  • Technical Architecture
Technical
  • Security Management

Purpose

It is relevant whether the product is developed and maintained in-house or by a 3rd party entity. It applies to the full delivery lifecycle, through scope, discover, deliver, run and maintain.

Software as a Service (SaaS) products e.g. AWS Route 53, Splunk, Microsoft 365 are not within the scope of this standard.

It describes the permitted public cloud platform for hosting applications, storing data and running services - offering access, management and development of applications and services through global data centres, providing a range of resources and capabilities, including Platform as a Service (PaaS) and Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS).

DfE operates a single cloud computing provider to:

  • streamline operations and reduce complexity
  • achieve cost savings, through volume discounts and bundled services
  • enable use of a single, consistent set of tools and management interfaces
  • simplify the orchestration of management processes, for easier oversight and tighter control of data security and compliance
  • reduce the risk of errors and make it easier to manage integration, by taking advantage of the seamless interoperability between the cloud services offered by a single vendor
  • enhance efficiency, expertise and the management of transferable skills and capability within the organisation, to optimise training, recruitment and retention activity

How to meet this standard

Follow the DfE Azure Platforms guidance and data decommissioning guidance (DfE Intranet).

Approved products

Approved product or service

Product or service
Azure
Vendor
Microsoft
Version
Evergreen
Use-case
DfE centrally-managed environments, tenants and landing zones only

Declaring conformance with this standard

Conformance with the standard must be recorded every 12 months.

Owner and contacts

Standard owner
Huw Evans
Head of IT Infrastructure Services
Other point of contact
Angie Paylor
Infrastructure Operations Lead
Other point of contact
Ritesh Patel
Lead Infrastructure Engineer