The Future is Connected: Scaling Digital & Data Public Infrastructure
Guest blog by Manish Garg, Managing Director at VE3 #techUKdigitalPS
Public infrastructure of the 21st century will not just include roads, bridges, and power lines but also data pipelines, cloud platforms, and AI systems. Just as the private sector has powered digital transformation in enterprise, it can now help scale it across entire nations. Governments globally are turning to data to drive smarter decisions, deliver citizen-centric services, and future-proof public infrastructure. However, the scale, speed, and complexity of this transformation demand more than internal effort.
Let’s explore how public-private collaboration can strengthen digital and data public infrastructure improving access to information, ensuring technical resilience, and delivering better outcomes for citizens.
Key Components of Data Infrastructure
Several components work in conjunction with enabling data infrastructure within an enterprise. Here are the primary components associated with data infrastructure.
Data storage: Other than hardware, the cloud storage, or a data center, comprises servers and storage drives - data infrastructure also requires databases (SQL and NoSQL), data warehousing, and data lakes to organize the data appropriately.
Data processing: This mechanism transforms, aggregates, and processes data dynamically or in batches. Various data go through a series of data pipeline processes, like collection, cleaning, analyzing, and reporting.
Data integration: Moving data between various enterprise systems is essential so that different professionals or departments can use these diverse forms of data. ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) and ELT solutions are also a part of the data infrastructure to move data between systems.
Networking and security: Appropriate networking between systems, along with proper configuration, is essential for a data infrastructure to operate. The data packets flowing through the network (data in transit) should also remain secure and encrypted.
Cloud and on-premises systems: Data infrastructure can also span from on-premises servers to cloud services. While on-premises servers are rigid and less scalable, cloud-native data storage offers instant flexibility and scalability.
The Industry’s Role in Strengthening Government Data Capabilities
The private sector has a vital role to play. By contributing cloud technologies, data analytics capabilities, cybersecurity innovations, and scalable digital tools, industry can help governments build resilient, inclusive, and data-powered public systems.
Here’s how private-sector expertise can accelerate the modernization of public data systems:
1. Modernizing Infrastructure Through Cloud and Edge Technologies
Traditional on-premise systems often lack the agility and scale required for modern workloads. Cloud infrastructure allows governments to:
Scale storage and computing resources dynamically
Deploy data platforms with high availability and disaster recovery
Eliminate capital expenditure on hardware
Cloud-native platforms like AWS GovCloud, Microsoft Azure Government, and local cloud providers offer sovereignty, compliance alignment, and modular deployment.
2. Enhancing Data Integration and Interoperability
Governments typically operate in silos, making data fragmented across departments. Industry can help by:
Designing integration layers that connect legacy systems with modern platforms
Building interoperable APIs for seamless data flow
Using ETL/ELT pipelines to unify structured and unstructured data
Interoperability ensures that public health data, transportation logs, and education records can be leveraged together for informed policymaking.
3. Securing Public Data and Infrastructure
As public systems digitize, they become targets for cyberattacks. Industry can support governments by:
Implementing Zero Trust security models
Encrypting data at rest and in transit
Providing real-time monitoring, threat intelligence, and incident response
Public-private security partnerships also allow simulation of cyberattacks to assess and improve resilience.
4. Improving Access to Analytics and AI
Data is only useful when converted into insights. Industry can equip governments with tools to:
Analyze data through dashboards and AI-powered models
Automate reporting and forecasting
Enable evidence-based service delivery
For example, predictive analytics can help forecast vaccine demand, detect fraudulent claims in welfare programs, or optimize energy usage in smart cities.
5. Supporting Ethical, Inclusive Data Governance
Governments must manage data ethically ensuring privacy, consent, and equitable access. Industry can offer:
Anonymization and pseudonymization tools
Governance frameworks aligned with GDPR, CCPA, India’s DPDP Act
Solutions for digital inclusion ensuring marginalized populations are represented in data models
Responsible AI practices can help prevent algorithmic bias and promote transparency in automated decision-making.
Strengthening Cyber and Technical Resilience
Governments need systems that are not only efficient but also resilient. This means infrastructure that can:
Handle surges in usage (e.g., during natural disasters or public emergencies)
Recover quickly from outages or attacks
Maintain operational continuity with minimal downtime
Private sector contributions in automation, orchestration (e.g., with Terraform or Kubernetes), and distributed storage (e.g., data lakes) can ensure high performance under pressure.
Public-private collaboration is not simply about outsourcing tech solutions—it’s about co-creating resilient, inclusive, and future-proof infrastructure. To ensure long-term success, such collaboration must be rooted in a shared vision, aligned incentives, and a commitment to public value.
1. Shared Responsibility: Defining Roles and Accountability
While governments set the policy vision and define citizen-centric goals, they often look to industry for executional agility, innovation, and domain expertise.
Industry can support by:
Co-defining project roadmaps with ministries and agencies.
Offering outcome-based service models (e.g., uptime guarantees, data usage goals).
Providing real-time dashboards for transparency and progress tracking.
2. Open Standards: Building for Longevity and Flexibility
Technology choices made today shape public service capabilities for decades. To ensure systems are future-proof and vendor-agnostic, open standards and interoperability must be central.
Industry can support by:
Building on open APIs, modular architecture, and standardized protocols.
Supporting government adoption of open-source platforms where viable.
Aligning with frameworks like IndiaStack, FHIR (for health data), or NGSI-LD (for smart cities).
3. Capacity Building: Developing Digital Maturity Within Government
Technology alone isn’t enough governments must also be equipped to govern, maintain, and innovate on top of the systems they deploy.
Industry can support by:
Offering skill development through training programs, certifications, and upskilling workshops.
Embedding talent via “co-development squads” during project rollouts.
Providing documentation, playbooks, and mentorship for public IT teams.
4. Security by Design: Embedding Trust into the Infrastructure
As governments increasingly manage sensitive citizen data, cybersecurity cannot be reactive it must be proactive and foundational.
Industry can support by:
Implementing Zero Trust architectures from day one.
Conducting joint threat modelling and risk assessments.
Providing tools for secure authentication, data encryption, and access control.
A Joint Vision for the Future
Building resilient digital and data infrastructure is not a one-time project it’s a long-term commitment to inclusive growth, trusted governance, and national resilience. While governments set the direction, industry must act as a committed partner bringing innovation, security, and scale to every layer of infrastructure. At VE3, we believe real digital transformation lies at the intersection of AI, data to build a resilient future. To know more about our solutions visit us directly, or contact us. Also check out our AI powered platforms MatchX and PromptX.
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Heather is Head of Central Government Programme at techUK, working to represent the supplier community of tech products and services to Central Government.
Prior to joining techUK in April 2022, Heather worked in the Economic Policy and Small States Section at the Commonwealth Secretariat. She led the organisation’s FinTech programme and worked to create an enabling environment for developing countries to take advantage of the socio-economic benefits of FinTech.
Before moving to the UK, Heather worked at the Office of the Prime Minister of The Bahamas and the Central Bank of The Bahamas.
Heather holds a Graduate Diploma in Law from BPP, a Masters in Public Administration (MPA) from LSE, and a BA in Economics and Sociology from Macalester College.
Ellie joined techUK in March 2018 as a Programme Assistant to the Public Sector team and now works as a Programme Manager for the Central Government Programme.
The programme represents the supplier community of technology products and services in Central Government – in summary working to make Government a more informed buyer, increasing supplier visibility in order to improve their chances of supplying to Government Departments, and fostering better engagement between the public sector and industry. To find out more about what we do, how we do this and how you can get involved – make sure to get in touch!
Prior to joining techUK, Ellie completed Sixth Form in June 2015 and went on to work in Waitrose, moved on swiftly to walking dogs and finally, got an office job working for a small local business in North London, where she lives with her family and their two Bengal cats Kai and Nova.
When she isn’t working Ellie likes to spend time with her family and friends, her cats, and enjoys volunteering for diabetes charities. She has a keen interest in writing, escaping with a good book and expanding her knowledge watching far too many quiz shows!
Junior Programme Manager - Central Government, techUK
Charles Bauman
Junior Programme Manager - Central Government, techUK
Charles Bauman is a Junior Programme Manager in the Central Government Programme at techUK.
He supports the programme’s mission to represent the technology supplier community to the UK government and advocate for digital innovation to address public sector challenges. Charles helps facilitate market engagement, foster partnerships, and ensure that tech suppliers and the government work collaboratively to improve outcomes, deliver value for money, and enhance public services for citizens.
Before joining techUK, Charles gained significant experience in research, analysis, and strategic advisory roles. At H/Advisors Cicero, he specialised in public affairs and corporate communications, while at Verdantix, he supported sustainability research and advisory projects, focusing on regulatory and environmental challenges.
Charles holds an MSc in Theory and History of International Relations from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and an MA in Medieval History from King’s College London.
Charles enjoys volunteering with a think tank, reading, hiking, and spending time with his dog and family outside of work.
Programme Team Assistant for Public Sector Markets, techUK
Francesca Richiusa
Programme Team Assistant for Public Sector Markets, techUK
Fran serves as the Programme Team Assistant within techUK’s Public Sector Market Programmes, where she is responsible for delivering comprehensive team support, managing administrative functions, and fostering strong relationships with members.
Prior to joining techUK in May 2025, Fran built a meaningful career in the charitable and local government sectors. She worked extensively with both victims and perpetrators of crime, and notably led the coordination of Domestic Homicide Reviews across Surrey—an initiative aimed at identifying lessons and preventing future incidents of domestic abuse.
Outside of work, Fran is an avid traveller and a proud cat mum who enjoys unwinding with her feline companions.
Building the Smarter State is techUK’s flagship public services conference and the go-to event for public sector digital leaders. The annual event welcomes over 200 senior leaders and decisions makers from across the public sector and the technology industry to showcase how technology is shaping today's and tomorrow’s public services.
