Broadgate, part of Ortecha, together with a Partner, helped a UK government organisation rapidly design and deliver a secure environment for a critical infrastructure programme during the pandemic. By embedding a team of security architects, we built a working, secure platform under intense time pressure, then re-architected it to support long-term national use.
Scope:
Impact:
The programme was born out of urgency.
During the pandemic, the government needed to stand up a new secure environment to support a critical infrastructure initiative.
Security still mattered. But the usual delivery approach could not keep up.
The existing model was too slow, too sequential, and too dependent on process. It was not built for a situation where design and delivery had to happen at the same time.
The challenge was not a lack of capability. It was a mismatch between the delivery model and the situation.
Security architecture is often treated as a stage – Define. Review. Approve. Then build.
That works in stable environments, but falls short under time pressure.
Waiting for perfect design would have delayed delivery. Moving too fast without control would have increased risk. The organisation needed a way to do both.
Ortecha was brought in alongside a partner to deliver, not observe.
We embedded a small team of security architects into the programme, working closely with the partner team and client stakeholders. No handoffs. No separation between design and delivery.
We worked across third parties, government departments and senior stakeholders to keep decisions moving and the programme aligned.
Design and delivery ran in parallel.
Security was built into the environment from day one. Not added at the end.
We worked hands-on with delivery teams, resolving issues in real time and making clear trade-offs where needed. The result was a working, secure environment delivered under pressure.
Once operational, the focus shifted to longevity.
We led a re-architecture to capture lessons learned and strengthen the design. The aim was to take what had been built quickly and make it sustainable.
The environment was aligned to longer-term government objectives and prepared for continued use.
The secure laboratory and supporting infrastructure were delivered within a highly compressed timeframe.
The environment was operational when needed and stable enough to support critical services.
It now provides a foundation for ongoing government use.
Most organisations struggle to balance speed and control.
This engagement shows both are possible with the right approach. You can deliver secure environments quickly and still build something that lasts.
That requires experience, judgement and people who build as well as advise. It’s also about knowing when to bring in the right partners. That is where Ortecha works best.
A government organisation responsible for delivering critical health-related infrastructure. Operating under intense public scrutiny, tight timelines and complex cross-department coordination.
Partner, Technology Transformation
Partner, Technology Transformation
