Southwark Council is transitioning its Modern Data Platform (MDP) to Microsoft Fabric, according to a report presented at the Joint IT Committee (Brent, Lewisham and Southwark) meeting on Tuesday, July 8, 2025.
The move is part of a broader effort to modernise the council's digital infrastructure and improve data-driven services. The transition aligns with the council's Technology, Digital and Data Strategy (TDS) goals for 2025-2026, which focus on expanding automation, enhancing service delivery, and reducing costs. More information can be found in the Public reports pack.
As part of the transition, the council is prioritising the replacement of Access Databases with PowerApps, coinciding with the rollout of Windows 11 laptops.
The council has also strengthened its cybersecurity measures by implementing a formal third-party supplier assurance framework and introducing Risk Ledger for continuous monitoring.
In addition to these measures, the council is undertaking a Laptop Refresh Programme, replacing ageing Lenovo laptops with Microsoft Surface devices and upgrading from Windows 10 to Windows 11 across all departments.
Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) is being positioned to replace the legacy F5 VPN, which has been flagged as inadequate and a cyber risk. While the specific vulnerabilities of the F5 VPN were not detailed in the meeting information, the council has deemed it necessary to replace it with a more secure solution. A proof-of-value exercise is underway, with full rollout of ZTNA expected by December 2025. The decommissioning timeline for the F5 VPN system was not specified in the meeting information.