Deeper Than Blue Ltd

Kubernetes (K8s) Service Microsoft Azure Managed Kubernetes Service (AKS)

As a Kubernetes Certified Service Provider (KCSP) and Microsoft Partner, DTB certified experts design, build and support Kubernetes workloads. DTB covers the complete AKE lifecycle from Well-Architected Framework Reviews (WAFR),designing production clusters, building CI/CD pipelines, through to 24x7x365 Kubernetes Managed Service using Certified Kubernetes Administrators (CKA).

Features

• Kubernetes Certified Service Provider (KCSP) and CNCF Member
• Architected Kubernetes Design using certified Kubernetes Administrators (CKA)
• Automated provisioning (Infrastructure as Code)
• DevOps CI/CD pipelines to provision resources and deploy workloads
• Kubernetes Infrastructure as Code Deployments using Terraform
• Well Architected Framework Reviews (WAFR) of existing solutions
• Next generation monitoring and alerting using automation and self healing
• AKE, Docker, CNCF, Helm, Prometheus, Jenkins
• Kubernetes upskilling and training of internal resources

Benefits

• Reduce operational costs by migrating to a managed Kubernetes platform
• Deploy applications consistently across various environments (on-premises/hybrid)
• Automation of manual tasks for deployment, scaling, and management
• High availability of applications
• Workload distribution across multiple nodes, enhanced fault tolerance and resilience
• Optimises resource utilisation by dynamically allocating resources based on demands
• Move applications seamlessly between different cloud providers and infrastructure setups
• Automatically detects and replaces failed containers
• Robust security features, network policies, pod security policies,secrets management

£400 to £1,600 a unit a day

• 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 tgv@deeperthanblue.co.uk. Tell them what format you need. It will help if you say what assistive technology you use.

Framework

G-Cloud 14

Service ID

185234307283930

Contact

Tony Gallardo-Vega
01143992820
tgv@deeperthanblue.co.uk

Planning

• Planning service: Yes
• How the planning service works: We assess your needs comprehensively, taking into account both business and IT considerations, as well as the user experience. Our guidance and recommendations focus on leveraging Cloud technology to modernise your solution, addressing specific business and technical hurdles. By evaluating your existing operations and systems, we identify opportunities to optimise processes and infrastructure for enhanced flexibility and security in the Cloud environment. Our approach may involve utilising various techniques and tools such as containerisation (e.g., Docker), container orchestration (Kubernetes), load balancing, automatic scaling, data migration, as well as both relational and non-relational databases.; ; DTB utilizes an Agile methodology to execute development projects, fostering transparent and collaborative deliveries centered on user needs. Beginning with a Discovery sprint, we gather user and business requirements, define high-level deliverables, and mitigate future delivery risks. Collaborating closely with stakeholders, DTB comprehends customer priorities, existing development skillsets, and the scope, nature, and volume of integrations.; ; We establish a detailed design addressing security, cost management, performance, operations management, and service resiliency. Leveraging our experience, DTB proposes best practice design patterns and tooling aligned with your organisation's development and tooling strategies. Subsequently, we assess operating models, technologies, and competencies to refine deliverables and shape the engagement.
• Planning service works with specific services: Yes
• Hosting or software services the planning service works with:
  • Microsoft Azure
  • AKE

Training

• Training service provided: Yes
• How the training service works: Our team of expert consultants will craft a tailored training program designed to meet the unique needs of your business, security protocols, and end-user expectations. This personalised approach ensures that you gain comprehensive proficiency with the platform, empowering you to assume full ownership. Training sessions can be conducted individually or in groups, utilising presentations as a primary delivery method. Additionally, training options are available as part of a support retainer package. We provide documentation in formats that align with your business preferences, typically encompassing presentations, written materials, and instructional videos.
• Training is tied to specific services: Yes
• Services the training service works with: Microsoft Azure

Setup and migration

• Setup or migration service available: Yes
• How the setup or migration service works: We conduct a thorough analysis of your existing software and data, whether they reside on-premises or in external third-party systems. Subsequently, we develop an automated migration process to seamlessly transition both the application and data to the Cloud. Our approach focuses on minimising application downtime by meticulously planning the migration and synchronising data across multiple environments. Even for transactional applications, we employ database replication techniques to ensure a smooth migration experience for end users.
• Setup or migration service is for specific cloud services: Yes
• List of supported services:
  • Microsoft Azure
  • AKE

Quality assurance and performance testing

• Quality assurance and performance testing service: Yes
• How the quality assurance and performance testing works: We maintain dedicated in-house resources to uphold application quality and assess performance through a variety of tools and procedures. Quality assurance (QA) is integrated at every stage of development, with quality gates implemented throughout.; ; Our approach includes leveraging various services to continually evaluate application performance over its lifecycle. We establish acceptance criteria, meticulously document test scripts, and manage the testing process from start to finish.; ; To ensure ongoing stability, we automate regression testing for future updates. Additionally, we conduct regular Disaster Recovery exercises on a monthly or quarterly basis to validate the efficiency of backup and restore procedures.; ; Our comprehensive QA services encompass a range of activities:; - Conducting accessibility audits to WCAG 2.1 standards; - Performing peer reviews for each deployment; - Executing manual exploratory and cross-browser testing; - Conducting functional testing based on user story acceptance criteria; - Implementing automated regression testing with tools like Ghost Inspector; - Conducting Google Lighthouse audits for performance, SEO, and best practices compliance; - Conducting load and scale testing; - Monitoring server performance; - Performing security audits and penetration tests; - Performance testing using JMeter and Grafana

Security testing

• Security services: Yes
• Security services type:
  • Security design
  • Security incident management

Ongoing support

• Ongoing support service: Yes
• Types of service supported:
  • Buyer hosting or software
  • Hosting or software provided by your organisation
  • Hosting or software provided by a third-party organisation
• How the support service works: We support Google Cloud (GCP), Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure and IBM Cloud as well as any software that can be deployed or runs on a Windows or Linux operating system.; ; Our team of consultants and engineers use industry-leading tools to setup and monitor the services and process support tickets via our 24/7 helpdesk and responsive/transparent SLA.; ; We monitor the ongoing performance of our service to clients with regular service reviews/retrospectives and surveys to ensure a focus on continual improvement.

Service scope

• Service constraints: The organisation (client) should cover any licence fees for proprietary services that are requested as part of the service. If open source software is being used, this will not be required.

User support

• Email or online ticketing support: Email or online ticketing
• Support response times: We have different support tiers (at different prices). At the top level is 24/7 support down to working hours support Within this structure there are differing levels of severity - the top level being a response within 60 minutes
• 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: 24 hours, 7 days a week
• Web chat support: No
• Support levels: The support levels are subject to individual business requirements but our standard template is as follows;-; ; Level 1 - Business Critical - Production System Down - Response within 1 hour; ; Level 2 - Urgent - Production System Error but available - Response within 4 hours ; ; Level 3 - Normal - Non-critical production/non-production system issue - Response within 16 hours ; ; Level 4 - General Enquiry/Query - response within 24 hours

Resellers

• Supplier type: Not a reseller

Staff security

• Staff security clearance: Staff screening not performed
• Government security clearance: Up to Security Clearance (SC)

Standards and certifications

• ISO/IEC 27001 certification: No
• ISO 28000:2007 certification: No
• CSA STAR certification: No
• PCI certification: No
• Cyber essentials: Yes
• Cyber essentials plus: Yes
• Other security certifications: No

Social Value

• Social Value:

  Social Value

  • Fighting climate change
  • Equal opportunity
  • Wellbeing

  Fighting climate change

  We assist organisations in minimising their carbon footprint through cloud migration. Depending on the current location of your systems, transitioning to the cloud can result in reducing up to 80% of carbon emissions. This commitment to sustainability is a key reason for our partnership with our cloud service provider.

  Equal opportunity

  We uphold a strict policy against discrimination based on protected characteristics listed within the Equality Act 2010. Furthermore, we are dedicated to fostering internal talent, providing opportunities for our diverse workforce to continuously grow and advance within the organisation.

  Wellbeing

  Deeper Than Blue is committed to providing a healthy working environment and improving the quality of working lives for all staff. We actively promote wellbeing throughout the business and strive to ensure all our employees have a positive work life balance. Proactively checking stress/performance levels for every member of staff, intervening and supporting individuals as necessary. We reinforce a culture of trust, professionalism and mutual respect.; ; We have established a network of Mental Health First-Aiders throughout the business, achieving a MHFA:staff ratio of 1:10.

Pricing

• Price: £400 to £1,600 a unit a day
• Discount for educational organisations: Yes

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 tgv@deeperthanblue.co.uk. Tell them what format you need. It will help if you say what assistive technology you use.