hSo

hSo Virtual Data Centre

hSo Virtual Data Centre is a scalable cloud computing platform, providing on-demand storage, server resources and applications.
It Integrates with your existing IT infrastructure as a cloud based extension to your network.
With the same resources of a physical data centre, RAM, CPU and storage can be allocated as required.

Features

• Instant Flexible virtual hardware
• Unmanaged or managed Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)
• Secure networking linking your vDC to your existing IT infrastructure
• Data is protected and recovered if necessary
• Data is stored in the UK
• Real-time portal reporting

Benefits

• Hosted in multiple locations in the UK
• Large bandwidth & low latency
• PAYG - create as many virtual machines as you need
• Only pay for allocated resources when servers are running
• Free network and data transfer
• Guaranteed SLAs

£9 to £25 a unit a month

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

Framework

G-Cloud 13

Service ID

304946007403623

Contact

Marketing
020 7847 4510
marketing@hso.co.uk

Service scope

• Service constraints: The Service is available in a self service configuration for full customer control of the virtual machines (VMs), or with some of all hSo managed virtual machines. For managed virtual machines hSo support many but not all operating systems (OSs).; Constraints are typically customer limited by the amount of RAM or storage chosen, though these are scalable on request.; When planned maintenance is required to the platform we will advise you a week beforehand, this may or may not be service affecting.
• System requirements:
  • OS licences for hSo managed VMs are provided by hSo.
  • OS licences for Customer VMs are provided by the Customer.
  • Antivirus for customer VMs is the customers responsibility.

User support

• Email or online ticketing support: Email or online ticketing
• Support response times: We have a 24/7 support 365 days a week with a 4 hour SLA on service issues. Automated systems log the ticket and follow up is within 4 hours, or quicker for high priority issues.
• User can manage status and priority of support tickets: No
• Phone support: Yes
• Phone support availability: 24 hours, 7 days a week
• Web chat support: No
• Onsite support: Yes, at extra cost
• Support levels: HSo provide one level of support 24/7 .; ; hSo operate a dedicated Customer Services Centre. The Service centre provides tiered telephone support so that customers can speak directly to the appropriate technical or non-technical support staff as required.; ; Support of the service is covered within the cost of the service.; Support for configuration or migration assistance - i.e. helping/training you use the service for your own needs is a paid for addition. ; All customers have an assigned account manager to assist in managing your account.
• Support available to third parties: Yes

Onboarding and offboarding

• Getting started: HSo Set up the organisation and networking resources for each customer. ; Then we work with you to get you logged onto the service and set up any extra virtual machine monitoring or management you have requested.; ; Online user documentation is freely available, and onsite training is available at extra charge if required.; ; With the managed virtual machine service level we will install and patch the servers for the customer and provision the firewall policies. ; We can also provide supplemental engineering support if the customer requires extended support.
• Service documentation: Yes
• Documentation formats: PDF
• End-of-contract data extraction: Users can request an extra backup vmdk file image of their server if they wish to move this somewhere else.; For managed VM services hSo can create snapshots for the customer to download at the end of the contract if required.; If this extraction requires hSo support then this will be chargeable.
• End-of-contract process: The contract includes setting up and hosting the environment; And if required adapting to the varying needs of the customer with flexible charges during the contract. If at the end of the contract the customer wishes to terminate then notice is required as per the contract.; There would be a reasonable window of time thereafter for the customer to remove VM images/data as required. Should you require assistance with this then there would be an additional cost if we help off board and send the data onwards for you.

Using the service

• Web browser interface: Yes
• Using the web interface: Customers login to the service management console called vCloud Director to access their organisational environment and manage one of more catalogues ( a catalogue is a container for virtual application templates and media files in an organization). Within these Catalogues customers can setup authors and users to further manage the cloud computer system, build Virtual Apps (vApps), VMs).; You can then manage the state of the machine, virtually insert DVDs etc install new operating systems etc - just as you would for a physical server.; You can do all this within the agreed limit of twice your contractual RAM limits. If more needed for a sustained period then the customer should place a new order.; You can also manage networking and firewall requirements with the scope of your VMs. ; If required, to set up and add hSo monitoring to previously uncreated & monitored machines will require the customer to talk to their account manager/support to add these features.
• Web interface accessibility standard: None or don’t know
• How the web interface is accessible: Customers access the virtual DC service via an authenticated URL.
• Web interface accessibility testing: None.
• API: Yes
• What users can and can't do using the API: The vCloud API provides support for developers who are building interactive control of VMware vCloud Director with a RESTful application development.; vCloud API clients communicate with servers over HTTP, exchanging representations of vCloud objects. ; Where this feature is required hSo will set up a REST API base URL to allow access to functions within the scope of the users privilege level.
• API automation tools:
  • Ansible
  • Chef
  • OpenStack
  • SaltStack
  • Terraform
  • Puppet
• API documentation: Yes
• API documentation formats:
  • HTML
  • PDF
• Command line interface: Yes
• Command line interface compatibility:
  • Linux or Unix
  • Windows
• Using the command line interface: The command line interface is called vCloud Director PowerCLI. It is a Windows PowerShell snap-in for managing vCloud Director. It includes over 400 scripts to manage your infrastructure.; To run these scripts (cmdlets) on a vCloud Director server and to perform administration or monitoring tasks, you must first establish a connection to the server.; Once connected you can perform task such as using the vApp templates to instantiate vApps. After creating the vApp, you can for example modify its settings to minimize the consumption of computing and storage resources.; Their is also a help page of Sample Scripts for Managing vCloud Director to facilitate quick use of the feature.

Scaling

• Scaling available: Yes
• Scaling type:
  • Automatic
  • Manual
• Independence of resources: HSo give users scalability within the limits of their contract and with dedicated RAM for each contract we don't over commit the system.; In fact we provision twice the RAM needed for customers to allow them to quickly take more if needed.; We also employ resource reservation under VMware to protect our customer experience.
• Usage notifications: Yes
• Usage reporting:
  • Email
  • Other

Analytics

• Infrastructure or application metrics: Yes
• Metrics types:
  • CPU
  • Disk
  • Memory
  • Network
  • Other
• Other metrics:
  • System Uptime
  • Optional - Specific Services
• Reporting types:
  • Real-time dashboards
  • Reports on request

Resellers

• Supplier type: Not a reseller

Staff security

• Staff security clearance: Conforms to BS7858:2019
• Government security clearance: Up to Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS)

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: No
• Datacentre security standards: Managed by a third party
• 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 another standard
• Data sanitisation process: Yes
• Data sanitisation type: Deleted data can’t be directly accessed
• Equipment disposal approach: Complying with a recognised standard, for example CSA CCM v.30, CAS (Sanitisation) or ISO/IEC 27001

Backup and recovery

• Backup and recovery: Yes
• What’s backed up:
  • The environment is backed up each night
  • Virtual machines as backup up every night
  • File level Backup is available through our companion Veeam service
  • Also geo resiliant backup is available
• Backup controls: For fully self managing instances customer need to either ask hSo to manage the VM backups, for a managed service this is included and already in place on a nightly schedule for the virtual machines/Vapps etc.; Users can also request additional ad-hock backups, or regular ones through their account manager. ; File level Backup is available through our companion Veeam service if the customer needs it and has it put in place before its needed.
• Datacentre setup:
  • Multiple datacentres with disaster recovery
  • Multiple datacentres
  • Single datacentre
• Scheduling backups: Users contact the support team to schedule backups
• Backup recovery: Users contact the support team

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
  • Legacy SSL and TLS (under version 1.2)
• Data protection within supplier network:
  • TLS (version 1.2 or above)
  • IPsec or TLS VPN gateway
  • Legacy SSL and TLS (under version 1.2)
  • Other
• Other protection within supplier network: We limit access to data transitioning our our network by restricting management access to devices. We also use VLANs to separate traffic through our network. hSo processes for joiners/leavers access, and for media handling cover privileged access.; We are ISO27001, CAS-T and HSCN certified.

Availability and resilience

• Guaranteed availability: The service level agreement covers an availability of 99.9%, a response time of 30 minutes; these are backed by customer credits if SLAs are breached.
• Approach to resilience: The vDC service is operated out of clustered geo-resilient dual data centres and employees built-in failover and DR capability with a third site backup. The level of resilience chosen in reflected in the monthly charge.
• Outage reporting: A customer portal dashboard is available to show the state of hSo services; Also for customer chosen monitoring packages the service data is available for the customer over selectable time periods.; And there is the overall status website - https://status.hso-group.net/; which also has RSS feeds.

Identity and authentication

• User authentication:
  • Dedicated link (for example VPN)
  • Username or password
• Access restrictions in management interfaces and support channels: HSo has identity and authentication controls in place to ensure users are authorised to access specific areas. Authentication and access to management interfaces over secure channels is restricted through ISO 27001 approved hSo access policies, only active staff concerned with the service have access to system management features. These staff are managed through the hSo support department.
• 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
• Devices users manage the service through:
  • Dedicated device over multiple services or networks
  • Directly from any device which may also be used for normal business (for example web browsing or viewing external email)

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: At least 12 months
• Access to supplier activity audit information: Users contact the support team to get 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: Alcumus ISOQAR ISO/IEC 27001-2013
• ISO/IEC 27001 accreditation date: 13/03/2019
• What the ISO/IEC 27001 doesn’t cover: N/a - all hSo business processes are within scope.
• 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
• Information security policies and processes: HSo's governance framework includes our ISO 27001 approved Information Security management system of policies and processes. these are regularly assessed . ; We have a defined information security manager on the management team and have an on-going process of risk reporting and compliance conformance checking.

Operational security

• Configuration and change management standard: Supplier-defined controls
• Configuration and change management approach: Our configuration management processes and systems ensure the composite assets of the service are recorded and their configurations known. Changes to services are submitted for review, assessed, prioritised and then planned and recorded in the audited change request system.; Orders, incidents and planned works of the customer service and host environment are covered by our ISO 27001 processes including the patching policy, and by our ISO 20000 service management system.
• Vulnerability management type: Supplier-defined controls
• Vulnerability management approach: Vulnerability threats to services are managed through the network operations centre and major issues also via the risk register.; These are identified through vendor alerts, threat subscriptions and protective monitoring systems and employee alerting.; We patch systems according to our ISO 27001 patching policy and we protect systems though automated updates to threat management systems.; We also mitigate potential threats through our access control policy.
• Protective monitoring type: Supplier-defined controls
• Protective monitoring approach: HSo is ISO 27001 certified, and applies these principals to all services it provides.; hSo continually monitors its own base infrastructure through automated network management tools and a 24/7 network operations centre. ; We also have a propriety network flow monitoring system called GTflow which is a network data analysis tool to identify potential attacks.; We protect our systems through DDOS protection against abnormal traffic to individual servers.
• 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: HSo has incident management processes are in place with ISO 27001 certified assurances, hSo follows ITIL incident management processes and has trained its staff using this to satisfy ISO 20000.; ; We have defined processes for common and uncommon events and test these annually.; Incidents are reported by users, email and phone; And also by our automated monitoring systems.; Incident reports are either through the portal, email or phone calls. For major events a root cause report can be provided. We have built in escalation paths depending on the severity of incidents.; We can demonstrate robust and rehearsed incident management procedures.

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)

Separation between users

• Virtualisation technology used to keep applications and users sharing the same infrastructure apart: Yes
• Who implements virtualisation: Supplier
• Virtualisation technologies used: VMware
• How shared infrastructure is kept separate: As well as the VMware hypervisor isolation between customers hSo employees an engineering approach that ensures security is a key consideration with separate virtual NICs, VPN's and VLAN's for each customer.

Energy efficiency

• Energy-efficient datacentres: No

Social Value

• Fighting climate change:

  Fighting climate change

  hSo’s strategy is focussed on the four pillars that need to be addressed in a company’s climate strategy: Pillar 1 focuses on our own activities to reduce our emissions by introducing working practices, carbon measurement tools and agreeing an offset strategy Pillar 2 is focussed on our activities to reduce our value chain emissions introducing the same techniques and strategies Pillar 3 addresses the alignment of our company’s vision, strategy, and products and services. It prioritises solutions that enable reduction of customer emissions, enabling resource efficient lifestyles and consumption patterns, and suppressing solutions with an adverse climate impact Pillar 4 describes how to contribute to the Governments net zero ambition beyond our own business. This means, for example, supporting industry initiatives to align and making sure that organisations that we belong to do not counteract our own actions. It also includes helping management and employees to adopt sustainable practises and funding projects outside our value chain that help remove or avoid emissions. Metrics (Examples) We will use the Government’s Social Value Model reporting metrics: • Number of people-hours spent protecting and improving the environment: • Introduce CO2 measurements within hSo and set reduction targets to include: • Greenhouse gases • Water usage • Landfill usage • Implement training and education programs, influencing behaviour to reduce waste and use resources more efficiently in the performance of everyone’s duties Tools and Processes to gather data: hSo has active and real-time reporting which can be extended to cover our Social Value programme outlined above and link to our proposed metrics. Reporting: We can submit progress reports on our activity and performance metrics on a 6-monthly basis. Feedback and Improvement: hSo will use, but not be restricted to, our employee forum feedback loop. HR records capturing voluntary activities and new starters
• Covid-19 recovery:

  Covid-19 recovery

  hSo’s approach is based on collaborating closely with our staff, suppliers customers and communities to promote fair and inclusive working conditions. A partner programme, where we engage directly with all our partners to drive innovation and encourage newer, more efficient ways of working, will sit at the centre of our approach. It will include: • promoting and championing innovation • encouraging disruptive technologies and providing an open-door approach to emphasise our commitment to new ways of working; • engaging our customers and communities to build a process to maintain a creative and innovative environment; • maintaining an agile and responsive approach to the changing needs of our staff and customers in order to fulfil our obligations and maximise safety; hSo understands the importance of our business processes in encouraging new and vibrant businesses into our ecosystem and helping other businesses recover from the effects of the pandemic. We will enhance our engagement environment to ensure it attracts innovation and disruptive technologies. Metrics (Examples) We will use the Government’s Social Value Model reporting metrics to measure: • Number of fulltime equivalent employment opportunities created for those who were made redundant due to COVID-19 • Number of people-hours spent supporting local community integration, such as volunteering and other community-led initiatives related to COVID-19 • Number of new working procedures implemented to encourage employee wellbeing since the return to work following the pandemic Tools and Processes to gather data: hSo has active and real-time reporting which can be extended to cover our COVID-19 recovery programme outlined above and link to our proposed metrics. Reporting: We can submit progress reports on our activity and performance metrics on a 6-monthly basis. Feedback and Improvement: hSo will use, but not be restricted to, our employee forum feedback loop. HR records capturing voluntary activities and new starters
• Tackling economic inequality:

  Tackling economic inequality

  hSo’s approach is based on collaborating closely with our supply chain and promoting fair and inclusive partnerships. We will engage directly with all our suppliers to drive innovation and encourage newer, more efficient ways of working. We will include: • promoting and championing innovation • encouraging disruptive technologies and providing an open-door approach to emphasise our commitment to new ways of working; • engaging with a range of SME’s, VCSE’s and start-ups in our supplier process to add to the creative and innovative environment • maintaining a diverse supply chain with a broad range of suppliers we work with in order to increase choice for customers and reduce dependence on large suppliers • piloting new ideas and co-designing new ways of working and greener technologies • championing cyber security. hSo understands the importance of our procurement processes in encouraging new and vibrant businesses into our supply chain and we will enhance our tendering environment to ensure it is conducive to attracting innovation and disruptive technologies. Metrics (Examples) We will use the Government’s Social Value Model reporting metrics to measure: • Number of full-time equivalent (FTE) employment opportunities created per annum • Number of apprenticeship opportunities (Level 2, 3, and 4+) created or retained per annum • Number of work experience placements per annum • Number of people-hours of learning and training provided per annum Tools and Processes to gather data: hSo has active and real-time reporting which can be extended to cover our Social Value programme outlined above and link to our proposed metrics. Reporting: We can submit progress reports on our activity and performance metrics on a 6-monthly basis. Feedback and Improvement: hSo will use, but not be restricted to, our employee forum feedback loop. HR records capturing voluntary activities and new starters
• Equal opportunity:

  Equal opportunity

  At hSo, like our customers, we come from various walks of life. We hire outstanding people from a wide variety of backgrounds not only because it's the right thing to do, but also because it strengthens our company. Truly embracing diversity and inclusion results in our staff being more in tune with our customers and that ensures excellence in the services we deliver. hSo’s approach is based on collaborating closely with our staff, our customers and our supply chain; promoting fair and inclusive working arrangements and partnerships. This includes, but is not restricted to: • piloting new ideas and new ways of working with greener technologies • promoting and championing CO2 impact within our business and the services we deliver • maintaining a diverse supply chain with a broad range of suppliers in order to increase choice and abundance for customers and reduce dependence on a large supplier • striving to run our business in a carbon neutral way, always concentrating on our environmental impact and highlighting its profile with our colleagues Metrics (Examples) We will use the Government’s Social Value Model reporting metrics: • Number of full-time equivalent (FTE) disabled people employed • Number of full-time equivalent (FTE) people from groups under-represented in the workforce employed • Percentage of all companies in the supply chain under the contract to have committed to the Government Social Value Equal Opportunity policy Tools and Processes to gather data: hSo has active and real-time reporting which can be extended to cover our Social Value programme outlined above and link to our proposed metrics. Reporting: We can submit progress reports on our activity and performance metrics on a 6-monthly basis. Feedback and Improvement: hSo will use, but not be restricted to, our employee forum feedback loop. HR records capturing voluntary activities and new starters
• Wellbeing:

  Wellbeing

  The wellbeing of our employees is fundamental to us. To this end we have several programs to support physical and mental health within our workforce. We are also widening our focus to include our supply chain partners to ensure we work with like minded organisations and we will individually or collectively with our partners, engage our local citizens to positively impact the community. Metrics (Examples) We will use the Government’s Social Value Model reporting metrics: • Number of people-hours spent supporting local community integration, such as volunteering and other community-led initiatives • Percentage of all companies in our supply chain that have implemented measures to improve the physical and mental health and wellbeing of employees • Number of people-hours spent supporting local community integration, such as volunteering and other community-led initiatives Tools and Processes to gather data: hSo has active and real-time reporting which can be extended to cover our Social Value program outlined above and link to our proposed metrics. Reporting: We can submit progress reports on our activity and performance metrics on a 6-monthly basis. Feedback and Improvement: hSo will use, but not be restricted to, our employee forum feedback loop. HR records capturing voluntary activities and new starters.

Pricing

• Price: £9 to £25 a unit a month
• 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 marketing@hso.co.uk. Tell them what format you need. It will help if you say what assistive technology you use.