Central Scotland Police, which pioneered the use of open source,
including Linux desktops, has begun implementing a major
Microsoft-based IT overhaul.
The force is to replace much of its open source infrastructure,
which was introduced from 2000, with Microsoft technology,
including Windows Server 2003, Windows XP and Microsoft Office.
The decision to shift to proprietary technology for the force’s
1,000 staff, was made after a best value review in March 2005.
Central Scotland Police has now signed a three-year enterprise
agreement with Microsoft. Nick McGrath, head of platform strategy
for Microsoft said the company had offered no special inducements
for the force to switch platforms.
The company had not provided free consultancy services to the
police, as they did two years ago to Newham Council in east London,
where a trial of open source technology was taking place.
The police signed a contract under a standard Office of
Government Commerce framework agreement, with Microsoft offering
the force advice on how to get the best value under the framework
agreement, said McGrath.
“Central Scotland Police estimates that it could save 30% on IT
maintenance costs and 25% of IT staff’s time by using Microsoft
technology,” he added.
David Stirling, head of ICT for Central Scotland Police said,
“Although an open-source solution met our needs in the past, it was
becoming more difficult to maintain. “As the need for increased
integration and compatibility with other criminal justice agencies
and community partners grows, the value of similar infrastructures
becomes more important.” Open source installations will be retained
in some areas, the force said.
Central Scotland Police will use Microsoft platforms to build a
new electronic document management system for better response to
requests under the Freedom of Information Act, and document sharing
for police staff.
They will also create effective “hot desking” for front line
police staff, enabling them to log in to core systems from a range
of police buildings, rather than having to return to their own
office to access systems.
A survey by analyst group Gartner of delegates to its
conferences in the US and Europe, found that just 1% of enterprise
IT users run any Linux desktops.
It also estimated that the proportion of enterprise users with
some Linux desktops would increase to just 3.2% by 2008.