Computers running Windows XP

Dear Department for Business, Innovation and Skills,

In your department:
How many computers are still running Windows XP?

When do you anticipate you will transition all of these XP machines
to a new operating system? Which operating system are you switching
these machines to?

What parts of the department are these machines mainly used in?

How are you securing the XP machines in the interim period before
their operating system is replaced?

Have you taken out an Extended Support deal with Microsoft to
update these XP machines?

What is the cost of this Extended Support deal?

When does this Extended Support deal expire?

Yours faithfully,

Nick Heath

correspondence@ecase-bis.fcos.gsi.gov.uk on behalf of FOI Requests,

BIS ref: FOI2015/08218

Dear Mr Heath

Thank you for your request for information which was received on 1st May.
Your request has been passed on to the appropriate official at the
Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) to deal with.

Your request is being considered under the terms of the Freedom of
Information Act 2000 and we will reply at the latest by 2nd June.

If you have any queries about this email, please contact the Information
Rights Unit at BIS. Please remember to quote the reference number above in
any future communications.

Kind regards,

Information Rights Unit

Information Rights Unit | Department for Business, Innovation & Skills | 1
Victoria Street, London, SW1H 0ET | www.gov.uk/bis |
[email address] |

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) is making a
difference by supporting sustained growth and higher skills across the
economy. BIS: working together for growth

FOI Requests, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

1 Attachment

Dear Mr Heath

Please see the attached reply from BIS to your FOI request - BIS ref FOI2015/08218.

If you have any queries about this email, please contact the Information Rights Unit at BIS.
Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future communications.

Kind regards,
Information Rights Unit;

Information Rights Unit
Department for Business, Innovation & Skills
Orchard 1, 6th Floor
1 Victoria Street
London
SW1H 0ET
www.gov.uk/bis

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Dear Department for Business, Innovation and Skills,

Please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of Information reviews.

I am writing to request an internal review of BIS's handling of my FOI request 'Computers running Windows XP' - Ref No: FOI2015/08218.

Several other central government departments have not claimed an exemption under section 31(1) (a) of the FOI Act in response to exactly these questions. The Metropolitan Police Service also
provided answers without claiming this exemption, see
http://motherboard.vice.com/read/londons...
Given that this exemption was not relevant in the case of these other central government departments and one of the UK's largest police forces, I don't believe it to be relevant in the case of BIS.
Furthermore the argument that "public confirmation of the version of operating system in use would provide information useful to those wishing to harm the Department's IT systems" does not stand up, as such information would be easily discovered by anyone with the technical expertise to carry out a hack.
A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is available on the Internet at this address:
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/c...
Yours faithfully,
Nick Heath

correspondence@ecase-bis.fcos.gsi.gov.uk on behalf of FOI Requests,

BIS ref: FOI2015/08218

Dear Mr Heath

Thank you for your request for an internal review which was received on
2nd June. Your request has been passed on to the appropriate official at
the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) to deal with.

In line with the Information Commissioners guidance, internal reviews
should be responded to within 20 working days unless they are complex, in
which case a response should be sent within 40 working days. Please be
aware that this does not include weekends and bank holidays. The
Department aims to respond to requests for internal reviews as quickly as
possible. We hope to be in contact with you again shortly with a decision
on your request.

If you have any queries about this email, please contact the Information
Rights Unit at BIS. Please remember to quote the reference number above in
any future communications.

Kind regards,
Information Rights Unit

Information Rights Unit | Department for Business, Innovation & Skills | 1
Victoria Street, London, SW1H 0ET | www.gov.uk/bis |
[email address] |

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) is making a
difference by supporting sustained growth and higher skills across the
economy. BIS: working together for growth

FOI Requests, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

1 Attachment

Dear Mr Heath

Please see the attached reply to your request for an internal review - FOI2015/08218.

Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future communications.

Kind regards,
Information Rights Unit;

Information Rights Unit
Department for Business, Innovation & Skills
Orchard 1, 6th Floor
1 Victoria Street
London
SW1H 0ET
www.gov.uk/bis

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