The Technology Code of Practice is a set of criteria to help government design, build and buy technology. Technology Code of Practice should be used for all technology projects and programmes and should be aligned to the mandatory code and as much as possible align the organisation’s technology and business strategies to the Technology Code of Practice.

Following the Technology Code of Practice will help introduce or update technology so that it:

• meets user needs, based on research with your users

• is easier to share across government

• is easy to maintain

• scales for future use

• is less dependent on single third-party suppliers

• provides better value for money

• makes use of open standards

Organisations must consider all points of the Technology Code of Practice as part of the Cabinet Office spend control process as it’s used as a cross-government agreed standard in the spend controls process. Where legacy technology limits your ability to adhere to the standard, you must explain this to the GDS Standards Assurance team.