Secure workflow and open-data systems for local government using secure device and identity management
Secure enterprise workflow and IoT management, born from webinos.
The Challenge
Enterprises and public bodies in the early 2010s struggled to manage applications, data and connected devices across a fast-fragmenting estate of mobiles, PCs and operating systems — and had no secure way to share data and services peer-to-peer between organisations. Local councils in particular needed open-data systems that could publish and exchange data securely while managing diverse endpoint devices.
The Solution
NQM developed UbiApps, a secure workflow system that was unique in the market in combining the features of Enterprise Workflow Platforms with Asset Tracking System capabilities. It contained state-of-the-art security technology to manage devices, services, applications and user identities, an integrated Internet of Things module to securely manage data and services from connected things, secure peer-to-peer sharing between organisations, and GUI development environments for creating new data visualisations and processes. Much of the core technology came from the webinos Open Source Foundation (a €15m industry/EU collective investment involving Sony, Samsung, Telefónica, Deutsche Telekom, DOCOMO, Telecom Italia and W3C) in which NQM took a leading role.
Outcomes
The work was delivered across two UKRI/Innovate UK grant phases and taken to formal product launch at CeBIT 2014. UbiApps gained commercial traction: NQM won a UK government contract to develop Open Data Systems for local government and ran trials with a number of local councils, with UbiApps’ endpoint management, secure peer-to-peer sharing and visualisation tooling seen as key for that market.
Features
Enterprise workflow platform combined with asset-tracking capabilities (unique combination in the market at launch).
Management of devices, services, applications and user identities with state-of-the-art security.
Integrated IoT module for securely managing data and services from connected devices.
Secure peer-to-peer data/service sharing between organisations.
GUI development environments for building data visualisations and processes.
Mobiles, PCs and multiple operating systems.
Benefits
Taken to formal product launch at CeBIT 2014 (see UbiApps product launch announcement).
Won a UK government contract to develop Open Data Systems for local government; trials run with a number of local councils.
Carried the webinos open-source security architecture into NQM's commercial product line, seeding later NQM trusted-data products.
Volt features used
distributed design on open identity standards
Human in and on the loop
wrap third-party / legacy systems that lack a mature API
lightweight; embedded Pi or smaller
true end-to-end encryption, peer-to-peer, no intermediate server
advanced NIST compliant security
News
Related Sectors
Cyber Security
The cyber security sector protects systems, networks and data from digital attack. From securing connected devices to establishing trust in software supply chains, it underpins the safe operation of every modern organisation.
Public Sector
The public sector spans central and local government, councils and public services. Data-driven decision making helps these organisations plan services, allocate resources and improve outcomes for the communities they serve.