The
Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) is hoping to save time and
increase security with a single sign-on system.
The MPA's 50,000 employees were given access to six core systems
using one password, after the full roll out was completed in
March.
The authority's IT infrastructure plays a large part in
day-to-day policing, but the volume and complexity of log-on
details can lower efficiency.
Ailsa Beaton, director of information at the MPS, said, "One of
my main aims is to eliminate unproductive use of officers' time,
and the system also offers increased security.
"It is a key component of our long-term security and efficiency
strategy, and ultimately benefits the people we serve."
Inefficient logging-on is a common problem in police forces, and
one person can often end up signed-on all day while different
people use the computer. This reduces security and means there is
no audit trail, so it cannot be seen who has accessed what.
The MPS said the ActivIdentity system, implemented by Capgemini,
is compatible with systems in the organisation's IT
infrastructure.
The system is also capable of integrating with smart card
technologies, if the MPS decides to implement them. Also, it is
based on open standards, so can integrate into the planned Unified
Police Security Architecture (UPSA). The aim of the UPSA will be to
create a national identification and authorisation system for the
UK police service, criminal justice system and public safety
organisations, and forces will need to link their own
infrastructure into it.