Kent Fire and Rescue Service
Business Change, Information and Technology Strategy 2021-2025

Audio visual equipment on stations will be replaced where we need to, to provide a better way to consume online learning.

Products will be regularly replaced to improve reliability and take advantage of new functionality.

We will procure a new managed print service, moving away from a lease arrangement.

We will support the re-procurement of the wide area network (in conjunction with Kent County Council and the wider partnership).

To better manage redundant devices, we will develop a disposal contract which recycles or destroys devices in compliance with our legal duties, without contributing to landfill.

We will continue with our Cloud first strategy, replacing applications with software as a service as this has the potential to free up vital resources from essential maintenance.

As COVID restrictions ease and a new way of working emerges, we will adapt our technology solutions to the new ways of working, enhancing solutions used at home so they are as resilient as when working in the office.

We will look to convert paper files to digital to enable remote access to key information and securely enable access to documents from personal devices.

We will help people change their behaviour so that they do not feel the need to print and store paper copies of documents.

We will be providing technology that enables colleagues to maintain connection with each other when working at home or in the office to improve work life balance.

We will continue to follow National Cyber Security Centre guidelines and seek validation from a 3rd party that we have effective controls and tools in place to reduce the risk of a cyber-attack. This includes achieving the Cyber Essentials Plus accreditation in readiness for the new Emergency Services Network. 

We will continue to protect data by implementing appropriate information security practices. 

A single helpdesk service for all technology queries will be implemented, to enable better customer service.

We will develop further our approach to the ethical use of data, reflecting best practise from the university sector when it conducts primary research into behaviour and motivations of our customers. 

Wherever we can, we will draw in data from partners to inform how we should develop our services.

We will further develop our data capabilities to bring data together across the Service in order to improve business intelligence.