Changes

The Defence Team is facing new ways of working during the COVID-19 Pandemic. A variety of tools, resources, and information are available for civilian employees, managers, and members of the military. New processes, products, and guidelines are being established to help all members of the Defence Team connect with their colleagues during this challenging time.

The Defence Team is facing new ways of working during the COVID-19 Pandemic. A variety of tools, resources, and information are available for civilian employees, managers, and members of the military. New processes, products, and guidelines are being established to help all members of the Defence Team connect with their colleagues during this challenging time.

==Use Open Standards and Solutions by Default==

==General Information==

The [https://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/pol/doc-eng.aspx?id=15249#appC Directive on Management of Information Technology] and [https://www.canada.ca/en/government/system/digital-government/government-canada-digital-standards.html Digital Standards] states that where possible, open source software be used first, The primary driving factors for this are:

* [https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/maple-leaf/defence/2020/03/dnd-caf-security-guide-teleworking-during-covid-19-response.html DND/CAF Security Guide for Teleworking during the COVID-19 Response]

* [https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/maple-leaf/defence/2020/04/leveraging-communications-tools-covid-19.html Leveraging communication and collaboration tools during COVID-19]  

# Supporting the Local Economy and Communities

* [https://www.wsps.ca/Information-Resources/Topics/working-from-a-remote-office.aspx Working from a Remote Office (Quick steps for setting up your temporary laptop workstation - leaving the Government of Canada website)]

* [https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/maple-leaf/defence/2020/05/personal-peripherals-dwan.html Setting up a Temporary Laptop Workstation (Youtube - leaving the Government of Canada website)]

* [https://canada.lifespeak.com/Account/Login?ReturnUrl=%2fcovid-19%2f4855%3fbps%3dblog%26newsletterID%3d11541%26share%3dtrue&bps=blog&newsletterID=11541&share=true How to Make Working Remotely a Success – For Managers and Employees (LifeSpeak)]

* [https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/maple-leaf/defence/2020/05/personal-peripherals-dwan.html The use of personal peripherals on DWAN equipment when teleworking]

# Increasing Productivity across Government of Canada by enabling reuse

* [https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/maple-leaf/defence/2020/04/defence-team-guide-managing-working-remotely.html The Defence Team guide for managing and working remotely]

* [http://nbis-snir.mil.ca/info/instructions/TDVPNIFAQ/En/ <abbr>T-DVPNI</abbr> Connectivity <abbr>FAQ</abbr> (link accessible only on the National Defence network)]

* [https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/maple-leaf/defence/2020/06/working-remotely.html Working remotely – Guidance and resources for the Defence Team members]

* '''Where possible, use open source standards, and open source software first'''

** While OSS is not a silver bullet several common misconceptions are used as arguments against Open Source software:

*** A misconception with security is that with the code out of the eyes of the public that it prevents successful attacks and lowers liability, however in reality Security Best practices state that 'System security should not depend on the secrecy of the implementation or its components', and as Open Source development relies n hardening (or improving the security) of code it is often equal or more secure then proprietary solutions.

*** A misconception with support is that a support contract or license some how ensures that the proprietary system will receive improvements and patches, but in reality there is no obligation for a vendor to do so, while Open Source software survives by having a vibrant and helpful support community. Average resolution of issues are solved faster then in proprietary software by the very nature of crowd sourcing reducing the barrier of communication with a single entity or individual.

 

* '''If an open source option is not available or does not meet user needs, favour platform-agnostic COTS over proprietary COTS, avoiding technology dependency, allowing for substitutability and interoperability'''

** Vendor lock is a real concern in the Development of Applications, and when propietary COTS applications are selected it increases the difficulty of ever moving to a new system, and any integration or interoperability functions.

* '''If a custom-built application is the appropriate option, by default any source code written by the government must be released in an open format via Government of Canada website and services designated by the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat'''

** It is important to reduce the duplication of effort that has occurred due to segmented mandates, and increase collaboration and sharing across Departments and Agencies. Crown Corporations, Provincial and Municipal Governments as well as the Public at large who can benefit from new and innovative products and services based off of creations from the Government.

** Major benefits can occur not just from publishing the Software, but in developing Guidance the quality of software increases, while publishing Lessons Learned, White Papers and any other technical documentation can assist others in the future by providing templates and baselines.

** For assistance in how to do this, you can view the[https://github.com/canada-ca/open-source-logiciel-libre/blob/master/en/guides/publishing-open-source-code.md TBS Guidance on Open Source Publishing]

** Setting up shared teams for common problems where Developers from multiple departments can produce better solutions. Virtual Teams using open tools can enable rapid development in absence of collocation.

** It is important to ensure that the License chosen for OSS protects the rights of Government of Canada and Public Servants while enabling the use and re-use of software. Guidance can be found [https://github.com/canada-ca/open-source-logiciel-libre/blob/master/en/guides/publishing-open-source-code.md#select-open-source-software-licence here].

* '''Expose public data to implement Open Data and Open Information initiatives'''

** Scientific Innovation can occur from exposing Data to interested members of the activists, researchers, students and the public at large.

** Define Metadata for your application early in both English and French to support your release to https://open.canada.ca/en/open-data

** Development following the [https://www.canada.ca/en/government/system/digital-government/modern-emerging-technologies/government-canada-standards-apis.html Government of Canada Standards on APIs] can allow rapid uptake into Open Data feeds.

 

==Maximize Reuse==

==Maximize Reuse==

* '''Leverage and reuse existing solutions, components, and processes'''

* '''Leverage and reuse existing solutions, components, and processes'''