About Government Connect

Government Connect is a pan-government programme providing an accredited and secure network between central government and every local authority in England and Wales.  The network is known as GCSX (Government Connect Secure Extranet).  GCSX is part of the wider Government Secure Intranet (GSi) and provides connectivity to nearly all central departments (Scottish local authorities have already established a similar network known as the Government Secure Extranet (GSx).

As a pan-government funded programme led by DWP, Government Connect (GC) is a recognised, accredited and trusted secure government network for all LAs in England and Wales. The network is called GCSX and it enables secure data sharing up to RESTRICTED level across government.

The Government Connect network (Government Connect Secure Extranet – GCSX) is a key enabler in the drive to transform services, with particular focus on joined-up working, shared services, identity management and efficiency gains via solutions that provide secure communication capabilities.

The GCSX network enables local government to work more easily with other government departments and agencies that are already part of a “community of trust”, for example the Government Secure Intranet for Central Government Departments, the Criminal Justice Extranet for the police and criminal justice and the network for the NHS. Local authorities will be able to join this community and will help deliver secure electronic services to the public.