ZERO PLUS LTD

Fortinet Fortigate Service

Zero Plus delivers a fully managed Fortinet-based network and security service, providing secure, scalable connectivity across cloud, hybrid, and on-premise environments. Using Fortinet SD-WAN and NGFW technologies, the service supports UK Public Sector organisations with Zero Trust aligned security, full lifecycle management, and ITIL-aligned operational support.

Features

• Managed Fortinet firewall and SD-WAN service
• Support for cloud, hybrid, and on-premise environments
• Zero Trust aligned Fortinet Security Fabric
• Installation, configuration, and service onboarding
• Continuous monitoring and threat detection
• ITIL-aligned incident, problem, and change management
• Centralised management using a single Operating System
• Traffic inspection, optimisation, and policy enforcement
• Flexible support hours up to 24/7/365

Benefits

• Improved protection against cyber threats
• Consistent security across all environments
• Reduced operational and management overhead
• Greater visibility of applications and traffic
• Faster detection and response to incidents
• Scales easily with organisational growth
• Improved network reliability and performance
• Supports regulatory and security compliance
• Predictable and cost-effective managed service

• Education pricing 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 david.twynham@zero-plus.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

675263251984675

Contact

David Twynham
07469754262
david.twynham@zero-plus.co.uk

About the service

• Service categories:

  Systems Infrastructure Software

  Security

  • Cloud native application protection platform
  • Security analytics

  Network security

  • Trusted network access and protection
  • Active application security
• Multi cloud support: Yes

Service scope

• Software add-on or extension: No
• Cloud deployment model:
  • Public cloud
  • Private cloud
  • Hybrid cloud
• Service constraints: There may be planned outages due to vendors performing routine maintenance, changes, upgrades and updates (including security updates.) These will be communicated in advance wherever possible.
• System requirements:
  • Supported public, private, or on-premise hosting environment
  • Network connectivity to protected environments
  • IP addressing and routing information provided
  • Administrative access to relevant network components
  • Supported hypervisor for Fortinet virtual appliances
  • Compatible cloud platform for Fortinet VM deployment
  • DNS and time synchronisation available
  • Secure connectivity for remote management access
  • Customer approval for firewall policy changes
  • Access to relevant security and network documentation

User support

• Email or online ticketing support: Yes
• Support response times: As agreed with the client in line with their requirements.
• User can manage status and priority of support tickets: Yes
• Online ticketing support accessibility: WCAG 2.2 AAA
• Phone support: Yes
• Phone support availability: 24 hours, 7 days a week
• Web chat support: Yes
• Web chat support availability: 24 hours, 7 days a week
• Web chat support accessibility standard: WCAG 2.2 AAA
• Web chat accessibility testing: Ability to work with known Assistive technology tooling.
• Onsite support: Yes
• Support levels: Our support levels cover all aspects of the solution or service we cover. This covers all activities from Triage through to 4th Line and all are provided within the cost of the procured service unless specifically excluded at request of the client. All supported services have a dedicated Technical Account Manager (TAM) . The TAM acts as a client escalation point and the they will work with the client to ensure satisfaction with the services through direct contact and regular planned meetings.
• Support available to third parties: Yes
• AI chatbot: Yes

Onboarding and offboarding

• Getting started: We support service adoption through clear documentation, structured training, and responsive support. Users are provided with step-by-step guides, FAQs, and troubleshooting materials to enable self-service onboarding. Interactive online training sessions and webinars are available to support setup and effective use of the service, with tailored onsite training offered where required. Ongoing assistance is provided by a dedicated technical support team via email, phone, or online chat, ensuring issues are resolved quickly and users can use the service effectively from day one.
• Service documentation: Yes
• Documentation formats:
  • HTML
  • PDF
• End-of-contract data extraction: Exported upon request. Contact the Technical Account Manager.
• End-of-contract process: At contract end, services will continue on a rolling 30-day basis until either party gives notice. Where a client exits, Zero Plus Ltd will support an orderly transition and migration to ensure service continuity and a smooth handover. Where required, an Exit Plan will be provided covering Ordinary and Emergency Exit scenarios, governance arrangements, transition activities and timelines, service and data transfer processes, security considerations, and any Termination Assistance Services, including scope and applicable charges. This approach ensures a controlled, low-risk exit aligned with client requirements.
• Documentation accessibility standard: WCAG 2.2 AAA

Using the service

• Web browser interface: Yes
• Supported browsers:
  • Microsoft Edge
  • Firefox
  • Chrome
  • Safari
  • Opera
• Application to install: No
• Designed for use on mobile devices: Yes
• Differences between the mobile and desktop service: None, the service is invisible to the end user and/or their device.
• Service interface: Yes
• User support accessibility: WCAG 2.2 AAA
• Description of service interface: The service interface is provided through Fortinet management and reporting consoles, such as FortiManager and FortiAnalyzer, which enable configuration, monitoring, logging, and reporting of network security services. Zero Plus manages and operates these interfaces on behalf of the customer as part of the managed service. Customer access can be provided where required, subject to role-based access controls and security approvals.
• Accessibility standards: WCAG 2.2 AAA
• Accessibility testing: Ability to work with known Assistive technology tooling.
• API: No
• Customisation available: Yes
• Description of customisation: The customer can provide defined policies, which can be implemented within the constraints of the Architectural principles, security controls and best practice.

Scaling

• Independence of resources: Zero Plus Ltd ensures independence of customer resources through logical, and where required physical, separation of firewall instances, configurations, and policies. Each customer environment is managed independently to prevent contention or cross-impact. Capacity is proactively monitored and scaled to maintain performance, with traffic controls and prioritisation applied where needed. Continuous monitoring and ITIL-aligned capacity and incident management processes ensure that demand from one customer does not adversely affect others.

Analytics

• Service usage metrics: Yes
• Metrics types: Service availability and uptime (firewall and SD-WAN), ; Incident volumes by priority, Incident response and resolution times against SLAs, Security event and threat detection volumes, ; Change requests and successful change implementation rates, ; Patch and policy update compliance, Performance metrics (latency, packet loss, link utilisation), Monitoring and alert volumes, Support hours utilisation (including out-of-hours where applicable.)
• Reporting types:
  • Real-time dashboards
  • Regular reports
  • Reports on request
• Resource tagging: No
• FOCUS resource tagging: No

Supplier type

• Supplier type: Reseller providing extra support
• Organisation whose services are being resold: Fortinet

Staff security

• Staff security clearance: Conforms to BS7858:2019
• Government security clearance: Security Clearance (SC)

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 once a year
• Penetration testing approach: ‘IT Health Check’ performed by a CHECK service provider
• Protecting data at rest:
  • Physical access control, complying with CSA CCM v4.0
  • Physical access control, complying with SSAE-18 / ISAE 3402
  • Physical access control, complying with another standard
  • Encryption of all physical media
• 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
  • Physical Destruction / Hardware containing data is completely destroyed

Data importing and exporting

• Data export approach: Zero Plus Ltd enables secure data export throughout the contract and at service exit. Data can be exported on request using agreed methods to support portability and continuity. Where a client exits the service, data export and transfer will be supported as part of agreed exit or termination assistance activities, in line with contractual and security requirements.
• Data export formats:
  • CSV
  • ODF
• Data import formats:
  • CSV
  • ODF

Data-in-transit protection

• Data protection between buyer and supplier networks:
  • Private network or public sector network
  • TLS (version 1.2 or above)
  • IPsec or TLS VPN gateway
• Data protection within supplier network:
  • TLS (version 1.2 or above)
  • IPsec or TLS VPN gateway

Availability and resilience

• Guaranteed availability: Zero Plus Ltd provides service availability aligned to customer requirements, with support available up to 24/7/365. Availability targets, service hours, and SLAs are defined in the Call-Off Contract. Services can be delivered using resilient architectures, including redundancy and failover, supported by continuous monitoring and ITIL-aligned incident management. If agreed availability targets are not met, service credits may be applied in accordance with the Call-Off Contract. This ensures predictable availability, clear accountability, and transparent remedies.
• Approach to resilience: Zero Plus Ltd provides service availability aligned to customer requirements, with support available up to 24/7/365. The Fortinet Managed Firewall service is engineered for resilience using high-availability architectures, including redundant firewall instances, active-active or active-passive configurations, automatic failover and failback, and load balancing to prevent resource contention. Continuous monitoring and alerting enable early detection and rapid resolution of issues. Availability targets and SLAs are defined in the Call-Off Contract, with service credits applied where agreed levels are not met, ensuring predictable availability and clear accountability.
• Outage reporting: A dashboard and email alerts.

Identity and authentication

• User authentication needed: Yes
• User authentication:
  • Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
  • Public key authentication (including by TLS client certificate)
  • Identity federation with existing provider (for example Google Apps)
  • Dedicated link (for example VPN)
  • Username or password
• Access restrictions in management interfaces and support channels: IP Source whitelisting, security-group. The solution can be complemented with additional services such as NGFW, ZTNA, micro­ segmentation which will be provided separately.
• Access restriction testing frequency: At least every 6 months
• Management access authentication:
  • Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
  • Public key authentication (including by TLS client certificate)
  • Identity federation with existing provider (for example Google Apps)
  • Dedicated link (for example VPN)

Audit information for users

• Access to user activity audit information: Users contact the support team to get audit information
• How long user audit data is stored for: Between 1 month and 6 months
• Access to supplier activity audit information: Users contact the support team to get audit information
• How long supplier audit data is stored for: Between 1 month and 6 months
• How long system logs are stored for: Between 6 months and 12 months

Security governance

• Named board-level person responsible for service security: Yes
• Security governance certified: Yes
• Security governance standards: Other
• Other security governance standards: Cyber Essentials, Cyber Essentials Plus
• Information security policies and processes: Zero Plus is accredited to Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus. The service is delivered in line with UK Government security principles and industry best practice, including ITIL-aligned service management and Zero Trust security design principles. Information security controls are proportionate to risk and reviewed regularly.
• Software Security Code of Practice: Yes

Operational security

• Configuration and change management standard: Supplier-defined controls
• Configuration and change management approach: All changes are reviewed and approved by the customers' Change Approval Board prior to actioning. ; Details of these changes are managed within the customer ISMS and following relevant changes, their respective Configuration Management Databases are updated to ensure relevant and accurate records are maintained.
• Vulnerability management type: Supplier-defined controls
• Vulnerability management approach: Zero Plus operates a risk-based vulnerability management process aligned to UK Government guidance. Potential threats are assessed through continuous monitoring of the managed Fortinet platform, vendor advisories, and trusted threat intelligence sources. Patch management is delivered as a contractual SLA, with security patches prioritised by risk and deployed in line with agreed timescales. Changes follow ITIL-aligned change management to minimise service impact. Threat intelligence is sourced from Fortinet advisories, NCSC guidance, and recognised CVE databases.
• Protective monitoring type: Supplier-defined controls
• Protective monitoring approach: Zero Plus provides continuous protective monitoring as part of the managed Fortinet service. Security events and alerts are generated through firewall, network, and traffic inspection controls and monitored by experienced engineers. Alerts are assessed based on severity and potential impact, with incidents managed in line with ITIL-aligned incident management processes. Monitoring supports timely detection, investigation, and response to security events and is reviewed regularly to ensure effectiveness.
• Incident management type: Supplier-defined controls
• Incident management approach: Zero Plus operates an ITIL-aligned incident management process for all managed Fortinet services. Security and service incidents are logged, prioritised, and triaged based on impact and urgency. Incidents are investigated and resolved by qualified engineers, with escalation applied where required. Customers are kept informed through agreed communication channels. Root cause analysis is performed for significant incidents, and corrective actions are tracked to completion to reduce the likelihood of recurrence.
• Post-quantum cryptography secure: No

Secure development

• Approach to secure software development best practice: Supplier-defined process

Public sector networks

• Connection to public sector networks: No

Pricing

• Discount for educational organisations: Yes
• Free trial available: No

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

• Less than £250,000: 1%
• Between £250,000 and £500,000: 1%
• Between £500,001 and £1,000,000: 1%
• Between £1,000,001 and £2,500,000: 1.5%
• Between £2,500,001 and £5,000,000: 2%
• Over £5,000,001: 2.5%

Standards and certifications

• ISO/IEC 27001 certification: No
• ISO 28000:2022 certification: No
• ISO 9001 certification: No
• Quality management systems (QMS): Yes
• CSA STAR certification: No
• PCI certification: No
• Cyber essentials: Yes
• Cyber Essentials Certificate Number: A4d07f8e-45de-4f14-9724-79513f370735
• Cyber essentials plus: Yes
• Cyber Essentials Plus Certificate Number: 5e1f68e2-9915-47f6-8f1b-d880e42b1565
• Other security certifications: No

Social value

• 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

  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

  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
  • Activities to identify opportunities to open up sub-contracts under the prime contract to a diverse range of businesses, including 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
  • 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

  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
  • 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
  • Actions to invest in the physical and mental health and wellbeing of the contract workforce

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 david.twynham@zero-plus.co.uk. Tell them what format you need. It will help if you say what assistive technology you use.