GDS standards 2025: what's new and what's next?

2025 sees the Government Digital Service (GDS) implementation undergoing significant transformation. The next phase marks a shift in how quality engineering is integrated. Where testing was primarily conducted in later stages, quality considerations are commonplace from the discovery phase.

Quality characteristics will now be defined in parallel with user needs, ensuring that reliability, resilience and accessibility are built into the foundation of every service. This approach requires testing expertise from the earliest stages, changing how teams are structured, and projects are initiated.

The hidden risks in digital transformation

The public sector's drive towards digital transformation carries an often-overlooked risk: the gap between user-centred design principles and practical implementation. While the GDS framework has championed accessibility and usability since its inception, the increasing complexity of user services demands a more sophisticated approach to quality engineering.

Consider the implications: A seemingly minor oversight in testing can lead to service disruptions affecting thousands of users. More crucially, it can result in the kind of headlines no public servant wants to see attached to their project.

Beyond compliance: a reputation-first approach

The traditional approach of treating quality engineering as a final checkpoint is particularly problematic in the public sector, where services must be accessible to all users. We've observed, across numerous government departments, that this approach often leads to:

• Rushed implementations to meet political deadlines.
• Compromised accessibility for vulnerable users.
• Increased risk of public scrutiny and reputational damage.
• Costly remedial work that could have been avoided.

The solution lies not in more rigorous testing at the end of projects, but in rethinking when and how we integrate quality engineering into the GDS implementation process.

Our experience with central government departments has shown that early integration of quality testing expertise - starting from the discovery phase - delivers three crucial benefits:

• Protection from reputational risk through early identification of potential issues.
• More predictable delivery timelines, helping navigate political pressures.
• Better alignment with user needs from the outset.

Balancing innovation with reliability

The public sector faces unique challenges in implementing digital services. Unlike private sector organisations, government departments must ensure universal access while maintaining the highest security and reliability standards. This becomes particularly critical as we see the emergence of:

• Modern digital user services.
• Cross-departmental data sharing.
• Mobile-first service delivery.
• Smart service automation.

Each of these innovations brings both opportunities and risks that must be carefully managed to protect public trust and professional reputations. At 2i, we have tailored our risk-based assurance approach to align with the GDS methodology. This is based on our extensive experience of orchestrating end-to-end quality for all user needs in complex, challenging, multi-vendor programmes across the public sector.

Ensuring public trust

As systems become more sophisticated, we must carefully balance innovation and reputational protection. New standards are being developed to ensure that digital processes are transparent and accountable, enabling proper scrutiny of all decision-making systems.

This requires enhanced testing frameworks that can validate system outputs while maintaining public trust. The focus must remain on protecting both user interests and departmental reputations, particularly as these services handle increasingly sensitive operations.

The rise of cross-departmental integration

A significant shift is occurring in how departments collaborate on digital services. The traditional silos are giving way to a more integrated approach, with shared quality standards becoming the norm rather than the exception. This requires a new mindset in how we approach service delivery, with unified testing approaches becoming essential for connected services.

Tomorrow's requirements, today's planning

The requirements for GDS compliance are evolving rapidly. We're seeing the emergence of enhanced accessibility testing requirements for digital services, stricter security protocols, and more rigorous performance testing standards. These changes reflect users' increasing expectations for reliable, secure, and accessible services.

Insights from the GDS Blueprint for Modern Digital Government

The "Blueprint for Modern Digital Government," further underlines the strategic shift required to modernise public service delivery. The document outlines a six-point plan that complements our approach:

1. Join up public sector services: Integrating services across various departments to deliver a seamless experience for users.
2. Harness the power of AI for public good: Leveraging artificial intelligence to enhance decision-making and innovate public services.
3. Strengthen and extend digital and data public infrastructure: Building robust infrastructure and systems for efficient service delivery.
4. Elevate leadership and invest in talent: Enhancing digital leadership skills and nurturing talent within the public sector.
5. Fix the plumbing: Addressing systemic challenges such as outdated funding models and fragmented systems.
6. Drive digital transformation at scale: Broad implementation of digital solutions across the public sector to ensure widespread impact.

The blueprint’s vision aligns closely with the principles of user-centricity and reliability that underpin modern quality engineering practices. 

Securing your success in 2025 and beyond

The evolution of GDS standards reflects the growing complexity of public service delivery. By taking a structured approach to quality engineering - one that begins in discovery and continues throughout delivery - you can maintain control of your transformation journey.

Our extensive experience with central government departments has shown that early integration of quality expertise delivers predictable outcomes, and successful delivery of citizen services.

The path forward is clear. Review your quality engineering approach against the 2025 GDS standard and engage testing expertise in the discovery phase. This approach has already helped numerous government departments deliver successful transformations while maintaining stakeholder confidence.

Your professional reputation rests on delivering reliable, accessible services that meet citizen needs. With the right quality engineering partner, you can face the challenges of 2025 with confidence.