The Public Service newbie guide

A government account used by public officers to access supported government technology services, generally based on the officer's official government email identity.

Also heard as: WOG account, government ID

GovTech's newer cloud-based work-laptop environment, intended to replace non-SE GSIB over time.

Also heard as: Comet laptop, Comet device

Microsoft's cloud productivity and collaboration suite, including services such as Outlook, Teams, SharePoint and OneDrive.

Also heard as: Microsoft365, Office 365, O365

The Singapore Government's Microsoft Teams environment for workplace messaging, meetings and collaboration.

Also heard as: SG Teams

Controls on government-issued devices that monitor or block risky transfers of sensitive data through email, uploads and other channels.

Context: This intentionally collides with Digital Learning Platform in the existing dataset.

An Outlook or Exchange group address used to send one email to multiple recipients.

Also heard as: mailing list, distribution group, contact group, email list

A support or fulfilment request raised through the relevant service-management process; for example, an SIS SR may be required for whitelisting.

Also heard as: service ticket, request ticket

Context: The exact request system and workflow vary by service and agency.

The Human Resource and Payroll System used by Civil Service officers for HR, payroll, leave, claims and related employee services.

Also heard as: Human Resource and Payroll System, HR & Payroll System

A shared cloud platform used by participating statutory boards for human-resource, finance and payroll services.

Also heard as: Workday platform, Workday system

The official directory for finding Singapore government organisations, public services and officers' contact details where published.

Also heard as: Government Directory, Singapore Government Directory Interactive

Microsoft's former name for its cloud identity and access-management service, now called Microsoft Entra ID.

Also heard as: Azure AD, Microsoft Entra ID, Entra ID

Context: Government documentation and access-group names may still use AAD even though Microsoft renamed the product in 2023.

A policy defining how people may use an organisation’s devices, networks, systems or digital services safely and responsibly.

Also heard as: IT AUP

A plan for sustaining or restoring critical services when normal operations are disrupted.

Also heard as: business continuity planning

A Digital Workplace service that lets public officers access or synchronise their work calendar remotely.

Also heard as: Calendar Sync, calendar synchronisation

A formal request to modify an approved system, project, configuration, scope or service. The proposed change is normally reviewed for impact and approved before implementation.

Also heard as: change request, change request form

Context: In technology and project contexts, a CR generally seeks approval to change something, while an SR requests access, support or a standard service.

A cloud ERP initiative designed to standardise and centralise corporate services for participating statutory boards.

Also heard as: Project Cumulus, Cumulus ERP

A suite of productivity tools and digital enablers for public officers, including services such as CalSync, DLP and Secure Internet Surfing.

Also heard as: Digital Workplace suite

An internet or government-furnished device enrolled with the government's endpoint-management and security controls.

Also heard as: Government-Managed Device

The standard government work-device build; public officers also commonly use GSIB to refer to the work laptop running that build.

Also heard as: GSIB laptop, work laptop, government laptop

The central HR and payroll administration system rolled out for government ministries.

Also heard as: HR and Payroll, HRP system

The government policy-control framework governing agencies’ management and security of ICT and smart-systems assets.

Also heard as: Instruction Manual 8, ICT&SS IM, ICT and Smart Systems IM

Context: IM8 remains the widely recognised shorthand even though current official wording does not always present it as a numbered manual.

A Ministry of Defence information-security authentication card.

Also heard as: ISAC card, ISAAC, ISAAC card

Context: The official abbreviation is ISAC; 'ISAAC card' is a common misspelling or mishearing.

The Civil Service College's digital learning platform for public officers.

Also heard as: LEARN App, Learn.gov.sg

A GSIB work device without the Secured Email features, used for access to internet-facing and government technology services.

Also heard as: non-SE-GSIB, non secured email GSIB, non-Secured Email GSIB

Context: GovTech documentation states that Comet will eventually replace non-SE GSIB.

A secure suite of AI productivity tools built for Singapore public officers, including Pair Chat, Pair Intern, Pair Search and Pair Noms.

Also heard as: Pair suite

A secure, ChatGPT-like conversational tool for public officers to perform writing, analysis and coding tasks on government-issued devices.

Also heard as: Pair chatbot, Pair AI chat

Context: Pair Chat is a product within the wider Pair suite.

A physical Public Service identity or benefits card issued to eligible officers; functions and retention arrangements vary by ministry and employment status.

Also heard as: PS-Card, Public Sector Card

An Outlook data-file format that can contain email, contacts, calendar items, tasks and locally stored archives.

Also heard as: .pst, Outlook Data File, Outlook archive, PST file

Context: This intentionally collides with several existing PST meanings.

Software automation used to carry out repetitive, rules-based tasks across business systems.

Also heard as: robotic automation

A GSIB device configured with Secured Email capabilities.

Also heard as: SE-GSIB, Secured Email GSIB

A government remote-browsing service that lets public officers access the internet more safely from work devices.

Also heard as: Safe Surfing, secure browsing

Microsoft's cloud-hosted SharePoint service, commonly used for team sites, document libraries, archives and knowledge repositories.

Also heard as: SharePoint, SharePoint site, SPO site

Context: This intentionally collides with Senior Presiding Officer in the existing dataset.

The government technology access identity used by officers and vendors for supported platforms and services.

Also heard as: Tech Pass

A mobile front end that gives public officers access to employee services such as leave, salary information and workplace functions.