Local authorities are under increasing pressure to do more with less. Budgets are stretched, teams are leaner, and digital expectations from both staff and citizens continue to grow. Against this backdrop, keeping pace with digital transformation isn’t just a nice-to-have. It’s essential. 

At the same time, any investment must demonstrate clear value, deliver resilience and uphold the highest security standards. That’s where a managed SD-WAN with built-in SASE comes in. It offers a flexible, scalable way for councils to future-proof their connectivity – securely, and with confidence. 

Since 2010, local authorities have faced a 48% real-terms reduction in funding. That means every investment must deliver clear, measurable value. Network infrastructure is no exception. 

Traditional Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) networks are less cost effective to run and slow to adapt. SD-WAN, by contrast, offers a more flexible, hybrid or fully internet-based approach that delivers performance and cost-efficiency in equal measure. 

Security remains a critical concern. Councils manage highly sensitive personal data, from citizen records to social care information, and recent high-profile breaches have highlighted just how vital it is to have strong protections in place. Moving from private circuits to internet-based or hybrid SD-WAN connections offers more flexibility, but also increases the potential attack surface, which is why security must be embedded from the outset. 

That’s where the addition of SASE becomes essential. By integrating network and security in a single platform, it allows local authorities to maintain consistent protection across every connection point, from the main office to the most remote home worker.

The nature of work has changed. Public sector teams are increasingly dispersed across offices, homes and frontline locations. For local authorities , offering hybrid working is not just about flexibility: it’s often necessary for retention, trade union agreements and operational resilience. 

Unlike traditional security models, which rely on physical data centres or VPNs, SASE delivers security directly from the cloud. This makes it ideal for organisations embracing hybrid work as it eliminates the complexities of managing on-premises infrastructure, while securing user data and devices across a range of locations. With SASE, organisations can ensure their employees have secure, flexible access, regardless of where they’re working from. 

With a single-vendor SASE solution, local authorities can deliver a seamless user experience wherever staff are based, while maintaining the same zero-trust security policies across the board. That includes head offices, contact centres, community hubs, libraries and remote workers. This not only simplifies policy management but also supports alignment with the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) recommendations and the Cyber Assessment Framework. 

As more citizen-facing services shift to the cloud, SD-WAN ensures that staff can access key systems quickly and securely, regardless of their location. It also provides a foundation for sharing data more efficiently between departments, helping to improve collaboration and decision-making. 

No two councils are the same. Some prefer to retain full control over their network, while others are looking to reduce the workload on internal teams. That’s why we offer both fully managed and co-managed SD-WAN services, so local authorities can choose the model that works best for them. 

BT’s managed service offers peace of mind with 24/7 monitoring, threat detection and technical support from our integrated Network and Security Operations Centres. For councils with in-house capability, our co-management option delivers the full benefits of the managed service– including proactive monitoring, fault resolution, software updates, service requests and hardware replacement– with the added flexibility to make standard changes themselves. While some service credits may not apply if an interruption results from a customer-made change, it remains a practical, partnership-driven model that frees up internal teams to focus on higher-value work. 

Government-led reorganisation is reshaping the local authority landscape. Across England, two-tier systems are being phased out in favour of unitary authorities, prompting widespread changes in staffing, estate planning, and ICT infrastructure. 

This shift brings both challenges and opportunities. Those councils aim to benefit from consolidating buildings, rationalising services and seeking to eliminate duplication, particularly in IT and network management. As local authorities prepare for this transformation, there’s an urgent need to reconfigure their networks in a way that supports future delivery models while managing cost. 

We’re already working with councils to support this journey, offering the technology, services and expertise needed to realign infrastructure in line with strategic plans. Whether helping to connect new sites quickly, unify dispersed teams or improve digital resilience, our goal is to be a trusted partner throughout the transition. 

Underpinning any SD-WAN deployment is the strength of the network it runs on. We provide access to the UK’s best mobile network through EE , along with a nationwide fibre footprint and options for hybrid connectivity. That means local authorities can be confident their critical services are supported by high-performance, resilient infrastructure. 

Our ability to offer rapid deployment, zero-touch provisioning and diverse connectivity types ensures councils can get up and running quickly, whether they’re adding a new location, reconfiguring their estate or preparing for unforeseen events.

SD-WAN with SASE offers local authorities a secure, scalable foundation for modern public service delivery for communities and citizens. From improving cyber security and enabling hybrid working, to reducing costs and simplifying management, it’s a solution designed to help councils meet today’s challenges while planning for tomorrow. 

We’re already trusted by more than 1,800 public sector organisations, and our teams are here to support your journey - whatever stage you’re at. Together, we can build a network that’s fit for the future.