Guidance

Rule 4: ICT shall be compliant with quality of service (QOS) policy

Updated 16 October 2023

© Crown copyright 2023

This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk.

Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.

This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/joint-service-publication-jsp-604-network-rules/rule-4-ict-shall-be-compliant-with-quality-of-service-qos-policy

The rules are under review and subject to change.

1. Rule requirement

1.1 Quality of Service

IP based capability shall support QoS through the use of Differentiated Service Code Point (DSCP) in accordance with MOD QoS policy. Design approval shall be obtained from ISS DES Arch.

2. Rule rationale

ISS has a responsibility to deliver and manage the Department’s funded ICT needs in an efficient and effective manner ensuring that services meet their agreed service levels.

One such mechanism is through the definition of a ‘Quality of Service’ (QoS) policy for IP-based services.

IP QoS is the technical ability to allocate network resources to consuming services in an attempt to meet their needs in terms of latency, jitter, loss, errors, bandwidth and vailability.

In particular IP QoS is required in times of exception where a network is under heavy load or suffering failure.

3. Who to contact

For all queries, email ISSDes-APM@mod.gov.uk

4. Rule requirements: process

4.1 Quality of service

Initial gate

  • Project shall engage with the ISS DES Arch to understand the MoD QoS requirements

  • Projects shall identify the requirement to implement and test QoS in their draft SRD

  • Projects shall identify the requirement to test QoS operation in their ITEAP

Main gate

  • Project shall demonstrate understanding of their QoS requirements and engage with the ISS DES Arch to understand the MoD QoS policy

  • Projects shall identify the requirement to implement and test QoS in their SRD

  • Projects shall identify the requirement to test QoS operation in their ITEAP

PDR

  • Projects shall provide design documentation to show intended compliance with MoD QoS policy

  • ISS DES Arch is to approve the projects intended implementation

  • Projects shall identify the requirement to test QoS operation in their ITEAP

CDR

  • Projects shall provide design documentation to show intended compliance with QoS requirements

  • ISS DES Arch is to approve the projects intended implementation

  • Projects shall identify the requirement to test QoS operation in their ITEAP

TRRA

  • Projects shall provide evidence obtained through testing on a representative environment that QoS operates as per design requirements.
Back to top