Erik Hope

Norwegian Government Security and Service Organization

Norwegian Government Security and Service Organisation (G.S.S.O) is a Norwegian Government Agency located in the centre of Oslo. It has approximately 750 employees and an annual budget of 624 million Norwegian kroner. G.S.S.O reports to the Ministry of Government Administration and Reform. The main purpose of G.S.S.O is to provide synergy for the ministries with cost-effective and reliable shared services. These include cleaning, security, switchboard and postal services, as well as running computer systems and handling government publications. One department of G.S.S.O works solely with government procurements, and G.S.S.O also has a department that offers accounting services. Some of the tasks of the agency are carried out by private contractors. G.S.S.O is responsible for optimizing and developing its own and others'​ services. As such, the Ministry of Government Administration and Reform utilizes G.S.S.O as a means of improving the way the national government works. Norwegian Government Security and Service Organisation was established in 1979. In the early years, its main objective was to provide centralized services for the ministries. Throughout the 1990s, G.S.S.O has been used extensively as a tool for the Ministry of Government Administration and Reform to reach its goals.