ABM Intelligence Limited

Altia Covert Operations Solution (ACOS) Surveillance Authorities

ACOS offers a comprehensive tool for the management of applications for Directed Surveillance, Intrusive Surveillance, Property Interference, Combined (Intrusive and Property) Surveillance and TEI Warrants (all written and urgent). With easy workflow and compliance with RIPA, IPA, Police Act, GDPR, FOIA and HRA this module ensures legislative compliance.

Features

• Authorities workflow for all types of surveillance application
• Developed with Home Office and LEA professionals
• Ensure legislative compliance - RIP(S)A, IPA, Police Act
• Automated Email notification system to prompt required staff activity
• Full Record and Document Search-ability, Query function and Reporting provision
• Review and Renew reminders with Authorising Officer access
• Comprehensively Audited, with Access Controls and Security Controls oversight.
• Utilised by a number of UK Covert Authority Bureaus.
• Highly configurable, module-based system with management dashboard oversight.
• Highly secure system incorporating comprehensive auditing

Benefits

• Automated Management Information (MI) including comprehensive reporting tools and dashboards.
• Centrally capture policy logs, risk assessments and other operational forms
• Demonstrates legislative compliance and supports scrutiny of/by the inspectorate
• Exceptional searching tools; Customer driven report writer; Entire system searching.
• Fully searchable. Blue on Blue. Compromise. Report Writer
• Highly configurable; user friendly; scalable; capturing every covert product/authority.
• In-built protection ensures operational and resource data remains highly secure
• Role based access and automated workflow using nationally approved forms.
• UK Legislation, RIP(S)A, IPA, GDPR, FOI, HRA, RRD/RPM LEDS compliant
• Customer driven developments agreed by National User Groups

£67.50 to £877.50 a licence a year

• Education pricing available

Service documents

• Pricing document

  PDF

• Skills Framework for the Information Age rate card

  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 tenders@altiaintel.com. Tell them what format you need. It will help if you say what assistive technology you use.

Framework

G-Cloud 14

Service ID

135839747677506

Contact

Paul Hardman
0330 808 8600
tenders@altiaintel.com

Service scope

• Software add-on or extension: No
• Cloud deployment model:
  • Public cloud
  • Private cloud
  • Hybrid cloud
• Service constraints: The software is offered as a cloud solution and there are no constraints for customers.
• System requirements:
  • End-User accesses via an Internet Browser
  • Security controls enabled to permit access to the cloud service

User support

• Email or online ticketing support: Email or online ticketing
• Support response times: An automated email is sent following the submission of a case where the user is provided with a unique case number. The case is then triaged and reviewed. Based on the priority of the call, follow-up communication will then take place between 9 to 5 (UK time), Monday to Friday. Cases raised during the weekend will be responded to on the Monday unless the service decides to take the optional out of hours support offering, in which case a response will be provided over the weekend.
• User can manage status and priority of support tickets: Yes
• Online ticketing support accessibility: WCAG 2.1 AA or EN 301 549
• Phone support: Yes
• Phone support availability: 9 to 5 (UK time), Monday to Friday
• Web chat support: Web chat
• Web chat support availability: 9 to 5 (UK time), Monday to Friday
• Web chat support accessibility standard: WCAG 2.1 AA or EN 301 549
• Web chat accessibility testing: None to date
• Onsite support: Yes, at extra cost
• Support levels: Urgent (Severity 1): Interruption making a critical functionality inaccessible or a complete network interruption causing a severe impact on services availability in a production environment. There is no possible alternative. This is what you will expect from Alta. First Response (FRT) Time: 30 Minutes. Resolve within 4 hours. Periodic Updates every 30 Minutes. Pausable Update: Not Applicable. High (Severity 2): Critical functionality or network access interrupted, degraded or unusable, having a severe impact on services availability. No acceptable alternative is possible. FRT Time: 60 Minutes. Resolve within two Business Days. Periodic Updates every 4-hours. Pausable Update: Not Applicable. Normal (Severity 3): Non-critical function or procedure, unusable or hard to use having an operational impact, but with no direct impact on services availability. A workaround is available. FRT Time: 90 Minutes Resolved within the Next Major Release Periodic Update: Not Applicable Pausable Update, potentially within two days. Low (Severity 4): Application or personal procedure unusable, where a workaround is available, or a repair is possible; considered “feedback”. FRT Time: One business day Resolved within consideration for Future release Periodic Update: Not Applicable Pausable Update: Not Applicable Full details as part of the contract
• Support available to third parties: Yes

Onboarding and offboarding

• Getting started: Altia has a dedicated training team that covers all products. The team also includes former law enforcement professionals who have worked in this challenging area of Law Enforcement. Training can be provided either on the customer site or at our dedicated training centre in Nottingham. Full user guides are also available to assist users. These are available across the entire system. Additionally ACOS has 'help' buttons throughout which allow users to look for guidance and advice as they work through the system. Our Business Consultants also conduct process workshops to ensure the application is tailored to the organisation’s needs. At the point of go-live, Altia provides dedicated support to ensure the process is completed smoothly and that any issue raised is quickly dealt with. This can be provided on-site, remotely or a hybrid of both as required by the customer. Following go-live, Altia regularly holds ACOS User Groups where the customer can send representatives to network with colleagues as well as suggesting and agreeing product enhancements which are invariably incorporated within a future product release as part of the standard licence and support package - at no additional cost.
• Service documentation: Yes
• Documentation formats:
  • PDF
  • Other
• Other documentation formats: Electronic
• End-of-contract data extraction: Naturally we would work hard with our customer in the hope that they would not seek to leave. However it is understood that requirements change and Altia will agree an exit strategy at the beginning of the contract, to provide our customers with reassurance regarding how any exit, for any reason would be managed. The exit strategy will contain the steps and activities to be taken that will lead to the cessation of service delivery to the customer. This will ensure the safe delivery of customer data, aligned to any specific customer requirements. The exit strategy documents the transfer and / or deletion of any data, the format in which it will be available for return to the Customer. Altia has a standard output format and transfer method and will deliver the data in an agreed flat file format on an encrypted Hard Drive which is usually provided and collected by the customer.
• End-of-contract process: Unless there are additional requirements that the customer has identified which will form part of the exit strategy at the initial contract phase, there would not usually be any additional costs for providing the data in the agreed flat file format.

Using the service

• Web browser interface: Yes
• Supported browsers:
  • Internet Explorer 11
  • Microsoft Edge
  • Chrome
• Application to install: No
• Designed for use on mobile devices: Yes
• Differences between the mobile and desktop service: There are no differences
• Service interface: Yes
• User support accessibility: WCAG 2.1 AA or EN 301 549
• Description of service interface: ACOS is a cloud based web application that can be accessed through a number of different gateways depending on the level of security required by the organisation. The application uses a responsive web design to assist users interface with the system on a variety of devices and screen sizes via modern internet browsers.
• Accessibility standards: WCAG 2.1 AA or EN 301 549
• Accessibility testing: None to date
• API: Yes
• What users can and can't do using the API: ACOS is a browser-based application which allows users to interface with the system through an intuitive and simple API.; When navigating to the system a user is presented with an area to enter their log-on credentials and their access to the system is verified or, where the user credentials are incorrect, rejected. Using the API users are able to carry out all functions including data entry, saving, reporting and searching.; ACOS provides role-based access which is defined in the system toolkit, the toolkit is also accessible to authorised users via the API.; Users can only access parts of the system and data which their role entitles them to see, changes can be made and saved through the API.; The initial set up of ACOS is conducted through accessing the system toolkit via the API, the administrator is able to configure the system and create users as required. There are also additional API’s to assist with bulk loading and maintaining users as well as interfaces to Gazetteers
• API documentation: Yes
• API documentation formats:
  • PDF
  • Other
• API sandbox or test environment: Yes
• Customisation available: Yes
• Description of customisation: ACOS is a highly configurable and customisable application allowing authorised users the hide, disable, make mandatory and rename fields as well as tailor workflows to meet business needs. Each screen in the different process states can be configured independently allowing for total customisation. This is normally done by a business administrator.; Authorised users can also add new fields as required e.g. dates, text, list of values etc. These fields are automatically added to the main search facility.

Scaling

• Independence of resources: Due to the nature of the Altia Covert Operations Solution (ACOS) each customer will have their own tenant, therefore reducing this as a likelihood. Additionally, during the on-boarding process, Altia will size the infrastructure based on the anticipated number of concurrent users with future growth in mind. As part of regular service reviews, this infrastructure may be expanded based on the fact that additional resources can be quickly assigned e.g vCPU, RAM and disk space. e.

Analytics

• Service usage metrics: Yes
• Metrics types: We provide summaries of any support cases logged by the customer (no of calls, volumes, categories) Customers can access their own cases, status and resolution dates via their own service support portal log on.ategories)
• Reporting types:
  • Real-time dashboards
  • Regular reports
  • Reports on request

Resellers

• Supplier type: Not a reseller

Staff security

• Staff security clearance: Other security clearance
• Government security clearance: Up to 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: Complies with a recognised standard (for example CSA CCM version 3.0)
• 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 v3.0
  • Other
• Other data at rest protection approach: The Database is secured with Oracle Advanced Security via Transparent Tablespace Encryption
• Data sanitisation process: Yes
• Data sanitisation type: Explicit overwriting of storage before reallocation
• Equipment disposal approach: Complying with a recognised standard, for example CSA CCM v.30, CAS (Sanitisation) or ISO/IEC 27001

Data importing and exporting

• Data export approach: Altia Covert Operations Solution (ACOS) provides the ability to export data from the system in a number of different formats using inbuilt system tools including the Report Writer. There are also specific xml exports for intelligence logs designed to transfer data to other systems.
• Data export formats:
  • CSV
  • Other
• Other data export formats:
  • PDF
  • XML
• Data import formats:
  • CSV
  • Other
• Other data import formats:
  • Any media can be imported and stored in Pegasus
  • Any document type can be imported, stored, searched and retrieved
  • Any media type can be imported,stored, searched on and retrieved

Data-in-transit protection

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

Availability and resilience

• Guaranteed availability: The level of availability will be 99.99% depending on the Service Level chosen (Excluding planned service outages / updates)
• Approach to resilience: The premises used by Altia for the management of its services are distinctly separate and at a distance from each of the respective data centre premises. All data centres are UK- domiciled. Should high availability be required, then we can offer this across different sites as agreed.
• Outage reporting: All outages will be reported and identified as planned maintenance, Emergency maintenance, and platform issues. In addition, will proactively contact customers as appropriate.

Identity and authentication

• User authentication needed: Yes
• User authentication:
  • 2-factor authentication
  • Public key authentication (including by TLS client certificate)
  • Dedicated link (for example VPN)
  • Username or password
• Access restrictions in management interfaces and support channels: Customers have the option to raise a support request via telephone, email or our support portal. We will always authenticate the identity of the user by validating the information within our customer portal.
• Access restriction testing frequency: At least once a year
• Management access authentication:
  • 2-factor authentication
  • Limited access network (for example PSN)
  • Dedicated link (for example VPN)
  • Username or password

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: At least 12 months
• How long system logs are stored for: At least 12 months

Standards and certifications

• ISO/IEC 27001 certification: Yes
• Who accredited the ISO/IEC 27001: Lloyds Register
• ISO/IEC 27001 accreditation date: 23/12/2005
• What the ISO/IEC 27001 doesn’t cover: 14.2.7 Outsourced development
• ISO 28000:2007 certification: No
• CSA STAR certification: No
• PCI certification: No
• Cyber essentials: Yes
• Cyber essentials plus: Yes
• Other security certifications: No

Security governance

• Named board-level person responsible for service security: Yes
• Security governance certified: Yes
• Security governance standards:
  • ISO/IEC 27001
  • Other
• Other security governance standards: Cyber Essentials Plus
• Information security policies and processes: Altia has a number of inter-connected governance frameworks in place which control both how the Company operates and the manner in which it delivers it’s services to its customers. These have been independently assessed and certified against, ISO27001 by LRQA, a UKAS accredited audit body. The Company is governed by an integrated suite of information security policies. Under the top level Information Security Policy itself are second-level documents with specific focus on Acceptable Use, Asset Management, Business Continuity Management, Data Protection, Password Management, and many others. Altia also holds Cyber Essentials Plus

Operational security

• Configuration and change management standard: Conforms to a recognised standard, for example CSA CCM v3.0 or SSAE-16 / ISAE 3402
• Configuration and change management approach: Altia has documented configuration and change management policies and processes, which have been implemented, maintained and assessed in accordance with the guidance from our ISO9001 and ISO27001 standard. Formal configuration management activities, including record management and asset reporting, are monitored and validated constantly, and any identified discrepancies promptly escalated for investigation.
• Vulnerability management type: Conforms to a recognised standard, for example CSA CCM v3.0 or SSAE-16 / ISAE 3402
• Vulnerability management approach: Altia has a documented vulnerability management policy and process, which have been implemented, maintained and assessed in accordance with the guidance from our current ISO27001 standards. Where technically possible, real-time updates and status reports are identified and sourced from credible vendor sources.
• Protective monitoring type: Conforms to a recognised standard, for example CSA CCM v3.0 or SSAE-16 / ISAE 3402
• Protective monitoring approach: Altia follows best practices for its coding, application servers and databases. The Cloud Service Provider follows the best practice from the National Cyber Security Centre, The Cloud Service Provider protects it's platforms with 24x7 enhanced protective monitoring services, vulnerability scanning and assessment. Their approach to protective monitoring at minimum meets the Protective Monitoring Controls outlined in NCSC document GPG13. It includes checks against systems events (SIEM) and network traffic analysis, including time sources, cross-boundary traffic, suspicious activities at a boundary, network connections and status of backups. Any alerts generated are logged and investigated 24x7.
• Incident management type: Conforms to a recognised standard, for example, CSA CCM v3.0 or ISO/IEC 27035:2011 or SSAE-16 / ISAE 3402
• Incident management approach: Altia has a documented incident management policy and process, which have been implemented, maintained and assessed in accordance with the guidance from the current ISO27001 standard. This activity is responsible for the progression of issues identified by Altia personnel, and incidents identified and reported to Altia by its customers and partners. All incidents are promptly reported into a central ticketing system, which ensures that each is promptly assigned to an appropriate resource, and its progress tracked (and escalated, as required) to resolution.

Secure development

• Approach to secure software development best practice: Independent review of processes (for example CESG CPA Build Standard, ISO/IEC 27034, ISO/IEC 27001 or CSA CCM v3.0)

Public sector networks

• Connection to public sector networks: No

Social Value

• Social Value:

  Social Value

  • Fighting climate change
  • Equal opportunity

  Fighting climate change

  Fighting climate change Altia are committed to keeping our carbon footprint to a minimum and have pledged to be carbon neutral by 2035. To monitor this Altia have partnered with Positive Planet to measure our carbon footprint. We were awarded Positive Planet Carbon Neutral Certification stating that our net emissions tCO2e were -77.00. ; ; Company practices support remote/hybrid working across the Group, therefore reducing the amount of carbon emissions expelled on the work commute. To promote commuting using public transport our office locations are chosen ensuring that they have easy access to public transport systems. Employee travel is monitored, and carbon emissions are off-set where possible. ; ; To reduce the amount of travel Altia encourage the use of online platforms for team and customer meetings. This platform is also used to deliver customer training, where appropriate. ; ; Altia’s company car scheme promotes that current vehicles should be replaced with Electric Vehicles when they are due to be changed. ; ; All Altia staff are provided with the opportunity to register with ‘On Hand’ which is an app which records all corporate volunteering and sustainability actions. Staff are encouraged to complete pledges within the app which will assist, not only with environmental and sustainability issues, but with activities which will benefit the person. Examples of pledges which can be made include, but are not limited to the following: ; • Using reusable shopping bags – Use a reusable bag once-a-week for a month; • Cool Clothes – Wash clothes at 30 degrees ; • Make a Clothing Donation; ; This app also allows corporate events to be uploaded so that staff are aware and can participate.; ; Altia will identify and manage ESG risks that could impact the business. ESG considerations will be integrated into the risk management framework to ensure that we are prepared for potential risks and opportunities.

  Equal opportunity

  Altia, when recruiting for roles advertises both internally and externally, encouraging personal development and promotion from within the company. We also work with external recruitment agencies and in these cases ask for applications using anonymised CVs, where possible we request that their advertising will include a gender bias decoder.; ; Altia’s growth plans will enable further recruitment of graduates from local universities as well as opportunities for work experience candidates from all backgrounds.; ; All employees at Altia are offered the opportunity to participate within volunteering opportunities within their local community, charitable causes, work experience placements, coaching & mentoring, and offering ideas for further continued initiatives.; ; To ensure that Altia are meeting the company’s requirements on recruitment monthly stats are reported into the Board.

Pricing

• Price: £67.50 to £877.50 a licence a year
• Discount for educational organisations: Yes
• Free trial available: No

Service documents

• Pricing document

  PDF

• Skills Framework for the Information Age rate card

  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 tenders@altiaintel.com. Tell them what format you need. It will help if you say what assistive technology you use.