Advania

High Performance Computing (HPC) as a Service (HPCaaS)

HPC service delivers scalable, secure, high‑performance compute for advanced simulations, AI, data modelling, and research workloads. Built on Azure HPC, it provides fast processors, GPU clusters, and low‑latency networking with strong security and UK‑sovereign compliance. Automated scaling and cost transparency enable organisations to run complex workloads efficiently without on‑premises constraints.

Features

• Global, highly available cloud architecture
• Direct Routing for Microsoft Teams telephony
• SIP PSTN connectivity for voice services
• Bring-Your-Own-Carrier (BYOC) flexibility
• Bring-Your-Own-Registration (BYOR) device integration
• Multi-tenant infrastructure with strict logical separation
• 24/7/365 managed service desk support
• Integrated ServiceNow ITSM platform
• Advanced analytics and reporting dashboards
• Compliance with GDPR and ISO27001 standards

Benefits

• Reduced infrastructure and vendor complexity
• Enhanced global collaboration and communication
• Improved resilience and business continuity
• Faster deployment of new services
• Lower telephony and operational costs
• Scalable for future organisational growth
• Strengthened security and regulatory compliance
• Increased user adoption and satisfaction
• Streamlined IT management and decision-making

• Education pricing available
• Free trial available

Service documents

• Pricing document

  PDF

• Service definition document

  PDF

• Terms and conditions

  PDF

Request an accessible format

If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need versions of these documents in a more accessible format, email the supplier at bids@advania.co.uk. Tell them what format you need. It will help if you say what assistive technology you use.

Framework

G-Cloud 15

Service ID

590610652094998

Contact

Will Tuson
+44 203 835 7332
bids@advania.co.uk

About your service

• Service categories:

  Systems Infrastructure Software

  Physical and virtual computing

  • Virtual client computing

  Operating system environments

  • Core Operating Systems
  • Client Operating Systems

  Software defined compute

  • Virtual Machine Software
  • Container Infrastructure Software
  • Cloud System Software

  Other computing and storage software

  • Container Data and Infrastructure Management Software
• Multi cloud support: No

Service scope

• Software add-on or extension: Yes
• What software services is the service an extension to: Our Azure High‑Performance Computing service extends core Microsoft cloud capabilities, integrating Azure CycleCloud, scalable compute, and low‑latency HPC infrastructure. It can connect with analytics, AI/ML, storage, identity, and monitoring services. Specific extensions depend on each client’s environment and goals, which we define collaboratively during early project discussions.
• Cloud deployment model:
  • Public cloud
  • Private cloud
  • Hybrid cloud
• Service constraints: Project constraints will be clearly defined and discussed with the client during the initial stages of engagement. This ensures mutual understanding of scope, timelines, resources, and any limitations that may impact delivery. Early alignment on these factors helps establish realistic expectations and supports effective planning throughout the project lifecycle.
• System requirements: Internet connectivity

User support

• Email or online ticketing support: Yes
• Support response times: Yes, available 24/7 via online portal and email. Support response times are governed by SLAs and ticket priority.
• User can manage status and priority of support tickets: Yes
• Online ticketing support accessibility: WCAG 2.2 AA
• Phone support: Yes
• Phone support availability: 24 hours, 7 days a week
• Web chat support: Yes, at an extra cost
• Web chat support availability: 24 hours, 7 days a week
• Web chat support accessibility standard: WCAG 2.2 AA
• Web chat accessibility testing: We have tested our web chat with a variety of users through user acceptance testing.
• Onsite support: Yes, at extra cost
• Support levels: Tiered support levels are available, including standard and premium options, with escalation paths and dedicated account management for enterprise clients.
• Support available to third parties: Yes
• AI chatbot: Yes

Onboarding and offboarding

• Getting started: Clients receive onboarding support, including planning, configuration, and user training. Documentation and best practice guides are provided.
• Service documentation: Yes
• Documentation formats: PDF
• End-of-contract data extraction: Clients can export all data in standard formats (CSV, JSON, etc.) at contract end.
• End-of-contract process: A structured offboarding process ensures secure data extraction, account closure, and data deletion in line with GDPR.
• Documentation accessibility standard: WCAG 2.2 AA

Using the service

• Web browser interface: Yes
• Supported browsers:
  • Microsoft Edge
  • Firefox
  • Chrome
  • Safari
  • Opera
  • Other
• Application to install: No
• Designed for use on mobile devices: Yes
• Differences between the mobile and desktop service: The web-based portal is accessible via Microsoft Teams mobile app and browser.
• Service interface: Yes
• User support accessibility: WCAG 2.2 AA
• Description of service interface: Web-based management portal, Teams integration, and API access for automation.
• Accessibility standards: WCAG 2.2 AA
• Accessibility testing: We've built and tested the solution using GDS style guide, and worked with users to test how intuitive and easy it is to navigate with different users with assistive needs.
• API: Yes
• What users can and can't do using the API: The specific APIs used within our solution are determined by the client’s requirements and the version of the software in scope. During the initial stages of the project, we conduct detailed discussions to confirm functional needs, integration expectations, and any constraints that may influence API selection. As part of this process, we provide clients with a clear overview of the API capabilities, including supported functions, security considerations, performance characteristics, and any dependencies or prerequisites.
• API documentation: Yes
• API documentation formats: HTML
• API sandbox or test environment: Yes
• Customisation available: Yes
• Description of customisation: Custom workflows, reporting, and integrations are supported. We'd work with the client to integrate any customisations that are needed.

Scaling

• Independence of resources: Multi-tenant architecture ensures logical separation and resource independence for each client.

Analytics

• Service usage metrics: Yes
• Metrics types: Azure HPC provides real-time analytics and reporting dashboards covering usage, performance, and compliance metrics.
• Reporting types:
  • Real-time dashboards
  • Regular reports
  • Reports on request
• Resource tagging: Yes
• FOCUS resource tagging: No

Resellers

• Supplier type: Not a reseller

Staff security

• Staff security clearance: Conforms to BS7858:2019
• Government security clearance: Developed Vetting (DV)

Asset protection

• Knowledge of data storage and processing locations: Yes
• Data storage and processing locations: United Kingdom
• User control over data storage and processing locations: Yes
• Datacentre security standards: Supplier-defined controls
• Penetration testing frequency: At least every 6 months
• Penetration testing approach: Another external penetration testing organisation
• Protecting data at rest:
  • Physical access control, complying with another standard
  • Encryption of all physical media
  • Scale, obfuscating techniques, or data storage sharding
• Data sanitisation process: Yes
• Equipment disposal approach: A third-party destruction service
• Data sanitisation type:
  • Deleted data can’t be directly accessed / Cryptographic Erasure
  • Data Erasure
  • Explicit overwriting of storage before reallocation / Secure Erase
  • Degaussing

Data importing and exporting

• Data export approach: Self-service export via portal or API; support available for bulk exports.
• Data export formats:
  • CSV
  • Other
• Other data export formats: XML
• Data import formats:
  • CSV
  • Other
• Other data import formats: XML

Data-in-transit protection

• Data protection between buyer and supplier networks: TLS (version 1.2 or above)
• Data protection within supplier network: TLS (version 1.2 or above)

Availability and resilience

• Guaranteed availability: Offers a 99.99% uptime SLA.
• Approach to resilience: Services are delivered from multiple, geographically separated data centres with automatic failover.
• Outage reporting: Clients are notified of outages via the service portal and email alerts.

Identity and authentication

• User authentication needed: Yes
• User authentication: Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
• Access restrictions in management interfaces and support channels: We use least privilege principle with users and processes having the minimum level of access necessary to perform their functions. We also use zero trust principle to ensure only those approved for the management interface and support channels have access while revoking access for unapproved/unverified users.
• Access restriction testing frequency: At least every 6 months
• Management access authentication: Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

Audit information for users

• Access to user activity audit information: Users have access to real-time audit information
• How long user audit data is stored for: User-defined
• Access to supplier activity audit information: Users have access to real-time audit information
• How long supplier audit data is stored for: User-defined
• How long system logs are stored for: User-defined

Security governance

• Named board-level person responsible for service security: Yes
• Security governance certified: Yes
• Security governance standards: ISO/IEC 27001
• Information security policies and processes: We have an Information Security Policy and IT Policy Handbook that provide a consistent, risk-based approach to protecting assets, ensuring confidentiality, integrity, availability, and safety. Yes. The Information Security Policy is approved by the Senior Leadership Team and Governance, Risk & Compliance Board, communicated to all staff as part of induction and via SharePoint, and is regularly reviewed to ensure ongoing viability and compliance.
• Software Security Code of Practice: Yes

Operational security

• Configuration and change management standard: Supplier-defined controls
• Configuration and change management approach: We follow ITIL-aligned change management processes.
• Vulnerability management type: Supplier-defined controls
• Vulnerability management approach: We operate a 24/7/365 Managed Service to monitor the platform for any vulnerabilities with patches deployed within hours depending on the nature.
• Protective monitoring type: Supplier-defined controls
• Protective monitoring approach: We have implemented continuous monitoring of infrastructure and access logs. Our 24/7/365 Managed Service oversees the platform to continuously monitor and analyse the status. Where compromises are identified, we respond within hour(s).
• Incident management type: Supplier-defined controls
• Incident management approach: We have a formal ITIL v4-aligned incident management process, with defined escalation paths. Users can report incidents via phone, email, and portal functions. We can provide detailed incident reports once root cause has been analysed and mitigation measures have been agreed.
• Post-quantum cryptography secure: Yes

Secure development

• Approach to secure software development best practice: Conforms to a recognised standard, but self-assessed

Public sector networks

• Connection to public sector networks: No

Pricing

• Discount for educational organisations: Yes
• Free trial available: Yes
• Description of free trial: While there is no dedicated “Azure HPC free trial”, clients can use Azure HPC services through the standard Azure Free Trial, which gives credit for 30 days and access to free services. This credit can be spent on VM, CycleCloud, storage, etc., as long as usage stays within the limit.

Discount percentage by annual call-off contract value (excluding VAT)

• Less than £250,000: 0%
• Between £250,000 and £500,000: 0%
• Between £500,001 and £1,000,000: 0%
• Between £1,000,001 and £2,500,000: 0%
• Between £2,500,001 and £5,000,000: 0%
• Over £5,000,001: 0%

Non-mandatory Standards and certifications

• ISO/IEC 27001 certification: Yes
• Who accredited the ISO/IEC 27001: NQA
• ISO/IEC 27001 accreditation date: Thursday 21 August 2025
• What the ISO/IEC 27001 doesn’t cover: NA
• ISO 28000:2022 certification: No
• ISO 9001 certification: Yes
• Who accredited the ISO 9001 certification: NQA
• ISO 9001 accreditation date: Thursday 25 September 2025
• What the ISO 9001 doesn’t cover: NA
• Quality management systems (QMS): Yes
• CSA STAR certification: No
• PCI certification: No
• Cyber essentials: Yes
• Please provide your Cyber Essentials Certificate Number: 3fa2a9bc-344d-4236-b820-c1c7c5dcd620
• Cyber essentials plus: Yes
• Please provide your Cyber Essentials Plus Certificate Number: E6e9b263-214a-449e-9fc1-d277b1b9ba1d
• Other security certifications: Yes
• Any other security certifications:
  • ISO 22301
  • SOC 2 Type II Certificate
  • Crest Membership
  • ITIL Maturity Model Assessment

Social value

• Section B - Commitment for Future: Delivery:

  • Mission: Kick start economic growth. To secure the highest sustained growth in the G7 - with good jobs and productivity growth in every part of the country making everyone, not just a few, better off.

    Policy Outcome 1: Fair work: That offers fair wages and good working conditions. Help people get a job, stay in work, and progress in their careers, with good employment opportunities across the country. Notes: Where there is a large proportion of labour costs in the contract, commercial teams should consider MAC in Outcome 1 as a priority

    • New or retained jobs on the contract workforce in the relevant area that meet the criteria set out in MAC 1b, 1c and 1d
    • Providing opportunities for, and measuring and monitoring of, staff workforce conditions over time, including employee engagement, involvement in decision-making and satisfaction and adapting to any changes in the results, with clear processes for acting on issues identified
    • Plans to engage the contract workforce in deciding the most important workplace issues to address
    • Ensuring new workers are informed of their right to join a trade union
    • Monitoring of employee engagement rates (by protected characteristic) and, where necessary, the development of actions to ensure all voices are heard across the diversity of the workforce
    • Employment contracts that reflect actual hours worked; steps taken to ensure employees understand their contracts and have the ability to review and adjust them if actual hours regularly exceed contracted hours
    • Activities that support an environment where staff are educated about, and feel empowered to, address their physical wellbeing
    • Activities that support an environment where staff are educated about and feel empowered to report and address bullying and harassment
    • Activities to cascade good practice on fair working conditions throughout the supply chain
    • Offer a pay and leave entitlement to all eligible staff who become kinship carers, ideally equivalent to statutory adoption pay and leave
    • Payment of more than the National Minimum Wage or National Living Wage (as appropriate) to the contract workforce
    • Monitoring and reporting of gender and ethnicity pay gaps and plans to address them where necessary
    • Entitlement to sick pay for the contract workforce, with provision in place for any staff who do not meet the earnings threshold for statutory sick pay, payment of sick pay from day one of absence and payment of staff on the contract workforce who are off sick a replacement income of 100% of their usual earnings for as long as possible
    • Plans for an appropriate income replacement policy for staff who are required to spend time away from work to care for a sick dependent or close relative
    • Understanding of in-work progression issues affecting the market, industry or sector relevant to the contract, and in the supplier’s own organisation and those of its key sub-contractors
    • Measures to support in-work progression to help people in the contract workforce, to move into higher paid work by developing new skills relevant to the contract
    • Support for the contract workforce by providing career advice, and providing opportunities for staff working on the contract with in-work progression career development into known skills shortages or high growth areas
    • Support for educational attainment relevant to the contract, including training schemes that address skills gaps and result in recognised qualifications
    • Volunteering opportunities for staff
    • Understanding of the modern slavery risks and issues affecting the market, industry, sector or country (of origin or of source) relevant to the contract, and the workforce in the supplier’s own organisation and those of its key subcontractors
    • Measures to identify, mitigate and manage modern slavery risks relating to the contract and how these will be implemented
    • Outline policies and practices to be applied to or put in place for the contract to mitigate and manage modern slavery risks, including: Pre-employment checks, recruitment practices. Workplace conditions, safeguarding plans and processes in place and regular monitoring with relevant groups considered, which may include sampling
    • How these flow down the supply chain and are monitored Illustrative examples include reporting, site visits, audits, etc.
    • How to ensure business decisions re: price/cost, short lead times, payment timescales do not create modern slavery risks in the supply chain
    • How the supplier will work with NGOs, trade unions or other businesses to address modern slavery risk
    • Means of influencing staff, suppliers, customers, communities and/or any other appropriate stakeholders with respect to modern slavery risks relating to the contract

  • Mission: Kick start economic growth. To secure the highest sustained growth in the G7 - with good jobs and productivity growth in every part of the country making everyone, not just a few, better off.

    Policy Outcome 2: Skills for growth: Supporting growth sectors and addressing skills gaps.

    • Understanding of employment and relevant skills issues, and of the education and training issues relating to the contract. Illustrative examples: demographics, skills shortages, new opportunities in high growth sectors, geographic/local community and skills/employment challenges
    • Support for educational attainment relevant to the contract, including training schemes that address skills gaps and result in recognised qualifications
    • Activities to support relevant sector related skills growth and sustainability in the contract workforce. Illustrative examples: careers talks, curriculum support, literacy support, safety talks and volunteering
    • Delivery of apprenticeships, supported internships and T Level industry placement opportunities (Level 2, 3 and 4+) in relation to the contract

  • Mission: Kick start economic growth. To secure the highest sustained growth in the G7 - with good jobs and productivity growth in every part of the country making everyone, not just a few, better off.

    Policy Outcome 3: Resilient, innovative and flexible supply chains: Support economic growth through enabling resilient businesses, opportunities for small businesses and voluntary, community and social enterprises

    • Understanding of the types of businesses in the market and the level of participation by new businesses, entrepreneurs, start-ups, SMEs, VCSEs and mutuals
    • Plans for engaging a diverse range of businesses in engagement activities prior to appointing subcontractors (including activities prior to award of the main contract and during the contract term)
    • Activities that demonstrate a collaborative way to work with a diverse range of businesses as part of the supply chain
    • Advertising of supply chain opportunities openly and to ensure they are accessible to a diverse range of businesses, including advertising all subcontracting opportunities on Contracts Finder
    • Ensuring accessibility to contracting and subcontracting opportunities for disabled business owners and employees
    • Structuring of the supply chain selection process to ensure fairness (e.g. anti-corruption) and encourages participation by a diverse range of businesses, including with regard to new businesses, entrepreneurs, start-ups, SMEs, VCSEs and mutual
    • Understanding of local demographics, needs and opportunities for the co-design of the goods, services and works to be delivered under the contract
    • Methods for engaging with different parts of the community (including the education system and charities representing the community) and how communities come together to inform decisions, strategy and projects to leave a positive legacy for future generations
    • Measures to involve local stakeholders and/or users in design (e.g. in the design of services, systems, products or buildings)
    • Plans for positive actions with community groups.
    • Measures for making facilities used in the delivery of the contract available for community groups, education or training
    • Measures to engage users and communities and build relationships to increase community integration build trust and influence how the contract is delivered
    • Plans to respond flexibly and adapt approaches to community engagement and initiatives
    • Support for community-led initiatives relevant to the contract. Illustrative examples: improving transport links; reducing loneliness; helping with English language proficiency; and facilitating social mixing among people with different backgrounds
    • Collaborating with anchor institutions and community groups to make facilities available for education, training or community events

  • Mission: Make Britain a clean energy superpower: To cut bills, create jobs and deliver security with cheaper, zero-carbon electricity by 2030, accelerating to net zero

    Policy Outcome 4: Sustainable procurement practices: Reducing carbon footprints, minimising waste, and promoting the use of clean energy and green technologies.

    • Understanding of opportunities for additional environmental benefits delivery in the performance of the contract, including working towards net zero carbon emissions and use of clean energy and green technologies
    • Collaborative ways of working with the supply chain to deliver additional environmental benefits in the performance of the contract, including working towards net zero carbon emissions and use of clean energy and green technologies
    • Delivery of additional environmental benefits through the performance of the contract, including working towards net zero carbon emissions and use of clean energy and green technologies
    • Understanding of how to influence staff, suppliers, customers, communities and/or any other appropriate stakeholders through the delivery of the contract to support climate and nature protection and improvement
    • Activities to reconnect people with the environment and increase awareness of ways to protect and enhance it

  • Mission: Break down barriers to opportunity: By reforming our childcare and education systems, to make sure there is no class ceiling on the ambitions of young people in Britain

    Policy Outcome 6: Employment and training: For those who face barriers to employment

    • Understanding of employment and skills issues, and of the skills and employment shortages of high growth sectors relating to the contract
    • Creation of employment opportunities particularly for those who face barriers to employment, such as prison leavers, care leavers and/or who are located in deprived areas, and for people in industries with known skills shortages or in high growth sectors
    • Delivery of training schemes and programmes to address any identified skills gaps and under-representation in the workforce for the contract (e.g. prison leavers, care leavers, kinship carers, disabled people)
    • Advertising, promotional and outreach activities designed to raise awareness of the offer to reach the target cohort
    • Understanding of the issues affecting the representation of disabled people in the workforce in the market, industry or sector relevant to the contract, and in the supplier’s own organisation and those of its key sub-contractors
    • Collection of the views and expertise of disabled people and their representative organisations on successfully supporting disabled employees or applicants
    • Inclusive and accessible recruitment practices, and retention-focused activities, including those provided in the Guide for line managers on recruiting, managing and developing people with a disability or health condition
    • Introducing transparency to pay and reward processes
    • Offering a range of quality opportunities with routes of progression if appropriate, e.g. T Level industry placements, students supported into higher level apprenticeships.
    • Working conditions which promote an inclusive working environment and promote retention and progression
    • Other measures to provide equality of opportunity for disabled people and those with health conditions into employment, including becoming a Disability Confident employer and inclusion of supported businesses in the contract supply chain
    • Understanding of the issues affecting inequality in employment, skills and pay in the market, industry or sector relevant to the contract, and in the supplier’s own organisation and those of its key sub-contractors. Measures to tackle inequality in employment, skills and pay in the contract workforce
    • Inclusive and accessible development practices, including guidance for line managers on recruiting, managing and developing people with a disability or health condition

  • Mission: Break down barriers to opportunity: By reforming our childcare and education systems, to make sure there is no class ceiling on the ambitions of young people in Britain

    Policy Outcome 7: Creating a pipeline of opportunities: For the contract workforce, reducing barriers to entry for under-represented groups.

    • Understanding of the issues affecting the development of new skills by target cohort
    • Understanding of the underlying factors affecting improvements to reduce barriers to entry and training schemes for the target cohort(s) related to the contract workforce
    • Other measures to offer development opportunities for the target cohort(s) in the contract workforce
    • Advertising, promotional and outreach activities designed to raise awareness of the offer to reach the target cohort
    • Understanding of issues relating to entering the contract workforce
    • Creation of outreach activities to create a pipeline of employees for the future contract delivery
    • Content of the outreach activity is designed to suit the target cohort
    • Advertising, promotional and outreach activities designed to raise awareness of the offer to reach the target cohort

  • Mission: Build an NHS fit for the future: That is there when people need it; with fewer lives lost to the biggest killers; in a fairer Britain, where everyone lives well for longer.

    Policy Outcome 8: Increasing productivity through physical and mental wellbeing: In the supply chain and communities in the relevant area.

    • Understanding of issues relating to health and wellbeing, including physical and mental health, in the contract workforce
    • Understanding barriers to access to health and social care services or employment opportunities e.g. digital inclusion
    • Inclusive and accessible recruitment practices, development practices and retention policies that support-focused activities including those provided in the Guide for line managers on recruiting, managing and developing which support people with a disability or health condition

Service documents

• Pricing document

  PDF

• Service definition document

  PDF

• Terms and conditions

  PDF

Request an accessible format

If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need versions of these documents in a more accessible format, email the supplier at bids@advania.co.uk. Tell them what format you need. It will help if you say what assistive technology you use.