Common components

Notifications and messaging

• Part of: Architecture: work in progress collection
• Last reviewed: 14 October 2026
• Owner: Head of Architecture

Notification components will enable your service to deliver messages to users. DfE has 2 main categories of notification applications - ‘communication’ and ‘error tracking’.

Communication

These applications will let your service send out email, SMS (text messages), letters, or a combination of all 3, using HTTPS or SMTP protocols:

• GovUKNotify
• SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol)
• SparkPost
• Intellisoft SMS
• Send Grid

Error tracking

These applications will provide error monitoring and alerts to services that are developing solutions, so that they are aware of errors as they appear:

• Rollbar
• Sentry

This Excel table (DfE SharePoint users only) provides an overview of the slightly different set of features and capabilities that fit different use cases.

Further guidance

If you’re considering your options and want more advice, get in touch with your Architecture lead.