Softcat Limited

Microsoft Azure Data Catalog

Stores, describes, indexes, and provides information on how to access any registered data source. In other words, it makes data source discovery trivial. It facilitates collaboration and is designed to help close the gap between those who seek information and those who create it.

Features

• Deploy API gateways side-by-side with the APIs hosted in Azure.

Benefits

• Meet security: Helps ensure compliance with robust security measures.

£0 a unit

• Education pricing available
• Free trial available

Service documents

• Pricing document

  PDF

• Service definition document

  PDF

• Terms and conditions

  PDF

Request an accessible format

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

Framework

G-Cloud 14

Service ID

308760067866727

Contact

Charles Harrison
01628 403403
psitq@softcat.com

Service scope

• Service constraints: Azure subscription limits and quotas - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-resource-manager/management/azure-subscription-service-limits
• System requirements:
  • Service selection dictates system requirements
  • Consult online pages for details

User support

• Email or online ticketing support: Email or online ticketing
• Support response times: The Initial Response Time varies with both the support plan and the Business Impact of the request (also known as Severity). For a breakdown of initial response times by several level and business impact, please visit https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/support/plans/response/; Weekend support availability varies depending on your Azure support plan. For more information, please visit https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/support/plans/
• 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: Web chat
• Web chat support availability: 24 hours, 7 days a week
• Web chat support accessibility standard: WCAG 2.1 AA or EN 301 549
• Web chat accessibility testing: Microsoft is committed to developing technology that empowers everyone, including people with disabilities. Microsoft has a Disability Answer Desk where customers with disabilities get support with Microsoft Office, Windows, and other products. Microsoft also has Accessibility Conformance Reports (ACR) which describe how products and services support recognized global accessibility standards.; https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/Accessibility/disability-answer-desk ; https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/accessibility/conformance-reports ; https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/apps/design/accessibility/accessibility-testing
• Onsite support: Onsite support
• Support levels: Microsoft provides four (4) Azure support plan options, which includes varius levels of technical account management and cloud support engineering. The support options and cost include the following:; - BASIC (included for all Azure customers); - DEVELOPER ; - STANDARD ; - PROFESSIONAL DIRECT; - UNIFIED SUPPORT; For more information, vist https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/support/plans/ and https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/unifiedsupport/overview
• Support available to third parties: Yes

Onboarding and offboarding

• Getting started: Microsoft provides all Azure customers with 24/7 self-help resources, including Microsoft Learn, Azure Portal how-to videos, documentation, and community support. For more information, visit:; - https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/support; - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/; - https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/resources/videos/; - https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/support/community/
• Service documentation: Yes
• Documentation formats:
  • HTML
  • PDF
• End-of-contract data extraction: As a customer, you maintain ownership of your data—the content, personal and other data you provide for storing and hosting in Azure services. Microsoft will not store or process customer data outside the geography you specify, except for certain non-regional services. You are also in control of any additional geographies where you decide to deploy your solutions or replicate your data.; Azure has established internal records-retention requirements for back-end data. You are responsible for identifying your own record retention requirements. For records that are stored in Azure, you are responsible for extracting your data and retaining your content outside of Azure for a customer-specified retention period.; Azure allows you to export data and audit reports from the product. The exports are saved locally to retain the information for a customer-defined retention time period.; For more information on protection of customer data, visit: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security/fundamentals/protection-customer-data
• End-of-contract process: Microsoft is governed by strict standards and follows specific processes for removing cloud customer data from systems under our control, overwriting storage resources before reuse, and purging or destroying decommissioned hardware. In our Online Service Terms, Microsoft contractually commits to specific processes when a customer leaves a cloud service or the subscription expires. This includes deleting customer data from systems under our control.; ; Please see Data Protection Addendum for full and up to date details about how Microsoft manages your data. https://www.microsoft.com/licensing/docs/view/Microsoft-Products-and-Services-Data-Protection-Addendum-DPA?lang=1

Using the service

• Web browser interface: Yes
• Using the web interface: Azure provides several web interfaces that allow users to interact with the platform, manage resources, and build applications. These interfaces include, but are not limited to, the following:; - Azure Portal - provides a unified view of all your Azure resources; users can create, configure, and manage various services, virtual machines, databases, etc.; - Azure Cloud Shell: interactive, browser-based shell environment that allows users to manage Azure resources using either Bash or PowerShell; provides a command-line interface directly within the Azure Portal, eliminating the need to install any local tools
• Web interface accessibility standard: WCAG 2.1 AA or EN 301 549
• Web interface accessibility testing: One of the key tools Microsoft uses is Accessibility Insights. This is an open-source web extension that allows users to perform more than 50 automated and manual tests and easily document the detected issues. As of now, it catches up to 40 percent of accessibility bugs, and Microsoft plans to improve this percentage through more automated testing and the expanded use of AI. For more information, visit https://accessibilityinsights.io/docs/web/overview/; In addition, Microsoft’s web development practices include the use of Accessible Rich Internet Applications (ARIA), a W3C specification that helps make dynamic web content and custom user interfaces accessible.
• API: Yes
• What users can and can't do using the API: Azure users can set up services and make changes via Microsoft’s API using Azure API Management. To set up a service, users can sign in to the Azure portal, navigate to your API Management instance, and create a resource from the Azure portal menu. Detailed instructions for setting up services are available at https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/api-management/get-started-create-service-instance; From the API Management section of the Azure Portal, users can make changes using by selecting ""Add API"" and following the steps listed at https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/api-management/add-api-manually; There are some limitations when using Azure API Management. For instance, the maximum number of subscription (API Keys) per service instance is 500. Additional API import restrictions are available at https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/api-management/api-management-api-import-restrictions
• API automation tools:
  • Ansible
  • Chef
  • OpenStack
  • SaltStack
  • Terraform
  • Puppet
  • Other
• Other API automation tools: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/api-management/automation-manage-api-management
• API documentation: Yes
• API documentation formats:
  • Open API (also known as Swagger)
  • HTML
  • Other
• Command line interface: Yes
• Command line interface compatibility:
  • Linux or Unix
  • Windows
  • MacOS
• Using the command line interface: The Azure Command-Line Interface (Azure CLI) allows users to interact with Azure services and manage their Azure resources in many ways, including the following:; - Create, update, delete, and manage Azure resources (e.g., virtual machines, storage accounts, web apps, databases, and networks); - Automate routine tasks (e.g., deploying applications, scaling resources, and configuring networks); - Integrate with other tools and services (e.g., with Azure DevOps for CI/CD pipelines); - Using multiple shell environments (e.g., Windows Command Prompt, Bash, PowerShell); - Learning and understanding Azure services; ; For more information on Azure CLI's features and capabilities, visit:; - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/cli/azure/; - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/cli/azure/use-azure-cli-successfully

Scaling

• Scaling available: Yes
• Scaling type:
  • Automatic
  • Manual
• Independence of resources: Prometheus metrics are collected from Kubernetes clusters including Azure Kubernetes service (AKS) and use industry standard tools for analyzing and alerting such as PromQL and Grafana.
• Usage notifications: Yes
• Usage reporting:
  • API
  • Email
  • Other
• Other usage reporting: Detailed information on Azure subscription and service limits can be found at https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-resource-manager/management/azure-subscription-service-limits

Analytics

• Infrastructure or application metrics: Yes
• Metrics types:
  • CPU
  • Disk
  • HTTP request and response status
  • Memory
  • Network
  • Number of active instances
  • Other
• Other metrics:
  • Depending service implemented a variety of metrics available
  • Native metrics use tools in Azure Monitor for analysis/alerting.
• Reporting types:
  • API access
  • Real-time dashboards
  • Regular reports
  • Reports on request

Resellers

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

Staff security

• Staff security clearance: Conforms to BS7858:2019
• 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
  • European Economic Area (EEA)
  • Other locations
• 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: Another external penetration testing organisation
• Protecting data at rest:
  • Physical access control, complying with CSA CCM v3.0
  • Physical access control, complying with SSAE-16 / ISAE 3402
  • Physical access control, complying with another standard
  • Encryption of all physical media
  • Scale, obfuscating techniques, or data storage sharding
  • Other
• Other data at rest protection approach: Customers are responsible for ensuring that data stored in Azure is encrypted in accordance with their standards. Azure offers a wide range of encryption capabilities, giving customers the flexibility to choose the solution that best meets their needs. Azure Key Vault helps customers easily maintain control of keys that are used by cloud applications and services to encrypt data. Azure Disk Encryption enables customers to encrypt VMs. Azure Storage Service Encryption makes it possible to encrypt all data placed into a customer's storage account.
• Data sanitisation process: Yes
• Data sanitisation type:
  • Explicit overwriting of storage before reallocation
  • Deleted data can’t be directly accessed
  • Hardware containing data is completely destroyed
• 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:
  • Files
  • Folders
  • System state
  • Azure Virtual Machines (VMs) - Windows or Linux
  • Azure Managed Disks
  • Azure File shares
  • Databases running on Azure VMs (SQL Server or SAP HANA)
  • Azure PostgreSQL databases
  • Azure Blobs (blob storage)
  • Azure Database for PostgreSQL Flexible server backup
• Backup controls: Role-Based Access Controls (RBACs) allow users to segregate duties within their team and give specific permissions to perform backup tasks. Azure Backup has three built-in roles (Backup Contributor, Backup Operator, and Backup Reader), with the ability to create custom roles.; Azure Backup Policy has two components: Schedule (when to take backup) and Retention (how long to retain backup). You can define the policy based on the type of data that's being backed up, RTO/RPO requirements, operational or regulatory compliance needs and workload type (for example, VM, database, files). For more information, visit: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/backup/guidance-best-practices#backup-policy-considerations
• Datacentre setup: Multiple datacentres with disaster recovery
• Scheduling backups: Users schedule backups through a web interface
• Backup recovery: Users can recover backups themselves, for example through a web interface

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
  • Other
• Other protection between networks: https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/explore/trusted-cloud/privacy/; ; Microsoft employs robust encryption measures to safeguard customer data during transit.
• Data protection within supplier network:
  • TLS (version 1.2 or above)
  • IPsec or TLS VPN gateway
  • Other
• Other protection within supplier network: These include communication through Virtual Private Networks (utilizing IPsec/IKE encryption), Transport Layer Security (TLS) 1.2 or later (via Azure components such as Application Gateway or Azure Front Door), protocols directly on the Azure virtual machines (such as Windows IPsec or SMB), and more.; Additionally ""encryption by default"" using MACsec (an IEEE standard at the data-link layer) is enabled for all Azure traffic traveling between Azure datacenters to ensure confidentiality and integrity of customer data.

Availability and resilience

• Guaranteed availability: Microsoft provides detailed service level agreement (SLA) metrics for all Azure components and services. To review SLAs for individual Azure services, visit https://www.microsoft.com/licensing/docs/view/Service-Level-Agreements-SLA-for-Online-Services
• Approach to resilience: Many Azure regions provide availability zones, which are separated groups of datacenters within a region. Availability zones are close enough to have low-latency connections to other availability zones. They're connected by a high-performance network with a round-trip latency of less than 2ms. However, availability zones are far enough apart to reduce the likelihood that more than one will be affected by local outages or weather. Availability zones have independent power, cooling, and networking infrastructure. They're designed so that if one zone experiences an outage, then regional services, capacity, and high availability are supported by the remaining zones. They help your data stay synchronized and accessible when things go wrong. Datacenter locations are selected by using rigorous vulnerability risk assessment criteria.; ; Furthermore, you have the ability to build high availability into application architecture by co-locating your computer, storage, networking, and data resources within a zone and replicating in other zones. Azure services that support availability zones fall into two categories:; - Zonal services: you pin the resource to a specific zone (e.g.,, virtual machines, managed disks, standard IP addresses), or; - Zone-redundant services: platform replicates automatically across zones (e.g., zone-redundant storage, SQL database)
• Outage reporting: Azure Service Health provides you with a customizable dashboard that tracks the health of your Azure services in the regions where you use them. In this dashboard, you can track active events like ongoing service issues, upcoming planned maintenance, or relevant health advisories. When events become inactive, they get placed in your health history for up to 90 days. Finally, you can use the Service Health dashboard to create and manage service health alerts that proactively notify you when service issues affect you. Service Health tracks four types of health events that may impact your resources; Azure Resource Health helps you diagnose and get support for service problems that affect your Azure resources. It reports on the current and past health of your resources. Resource Health gives you a personalized dashboard of the health of your resources and shows all the times that your resources have been unavailable. This data makes it easy for you to see if an SLA was violated. For more information, visit https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/service-health/resource-health-overview; ; Microsoft also offers public dashboards that provide service status across all Azure regions. These can be accessed at:; - https://azure.status.microsoft/en-us/status; - https://ms.portal.azure.com/#view/Microsoft_Azure_Health/AzureHealthBrowseBlade/~/serviceIssues; ; Microsoft Azure support also posts notifications on Twitter/X about service-related issues.

Identity and authentication

• User authentication:
  • 2-factor authentication
  • Public key authentication (including by TLS client certificate)
  • Identity federation with existing provider (for example Google apps)
  • Limited access network (for example PSN)
  • Dedicated link (for example VPN)
  • Username or password
• Access restrictions in management interfaces and support channels: Microsoft engineers rely heavily on logs to provide customer support. Azure has controls in place to restrict access to customer data for support and troubleshooting scenarios should that access be necessary. For example, Just-in-Time (JIT) access provisions restrict access to production systems to Microsoft engineers who are authorized to be in that role and were granted temporary access credentials. When combined, these Azure technologies and processes (data encryption, JIT, and Microsoft Purview Customer Lockbox) provide appropriate risk mitigation to safeguard the confidentiality and integrity of customer data.
• Access restriction testing frequency: At least once a year
• Management access authentication:
  • 2-factor authentication
  • Public key authentication (including by TLS client certificate)
  • Identity federation with existing provider (for example Google Apps)
  • Limited access network (for example PSN)
  • Dedicated link (for example VPN)
  • Username or password
• Devices users manage the service through:
  • Dedicated device on a segregated network (providers own provision)
  • Dedicated device on a government network (for example PSN)
  • Dedicated device over multiple services or networks
  • Any device but through a bastion host (a bastion host is a server that provides access to a private network from an external network such as the internet)
  • 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 have access to real-time audit information
• How long user audit data is stored for: User-defined
• Access to supplier activity audit information: Users have access to real-time audit information
• How long supplier audit data is stored for: User-defined
• How long system logs are stored for: User-defined

Standards and certifications

• ISO/IEC 27001 certification: Yes
• Who accredited the ISO/IEC 27001: The Certification Body of Schellman & Company, LLC
• ISO/IEC 27001 accreditation date: November 28, 2023 for Certificate version 13. Original registration date: November 29, 2011
• What the ISO/IEC 27001 doesn’t cover: Not Applicable
• ISO 28000:2007 certification: No
• CSA STAR certification: Yes
• CSA STAR accreditation date: 2013
• CSA STAR certification level: Level 2: CSA STAR Attestation
• What the CSA STAR doesn’t cover: Not Applicable
• PCI certification: Yes
• Who accredited the PCI DSS certification: Coalfire
• PCI DSS accreditation date: March 15, 2021
• What the PCI DSS doesn’t cover: Not Applicable
• Cyber essentials: Yes
• Cyber essentials plus: Yes
• Other security certifications: Yes
• Any other security certifications: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/compliance/regulatory/offering-home?view=o365-worldwide

Security governance

• Named board-level person responsible for service security: Yes
• Security governance certified: Yes
• Security governance standards:
  • CSA CCM version 3.0
  • ISO/IEC 27001
  • Other
• Other security governance standards: CSA CCM version 3.0, ISO/IEC 27001, ; https://azure.microsoft.com/en-gb/resources/cloud-computing-dictionary/what-is-a-data-governance/?ef_id=_k_8f5206262c361a453937603366aa0819_k_&OCID=AIDcmm6oh50i8d_SEM__k_8f5206262c361a453937603366aa0819_k_&msclkid=8f5206262c361a453937603366aa0819
• Information security policies and processes: A version of the Information Security Policy is available for download from the Service Trust Portal (STP) at https://servicetrust.microsoft.com/; ; Microsoft's risk management aligns to the Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) framework. ERM enables the overall enterprise risk management process and works with management across the enterprise to identify and ensure accountability for Microsoft's most significant risks. Microsoft ERM enables common risk management principles across the enterprise so business units can independently facilitate consistent and comparative risk assessments. This coordination gives Microsoft the ability to aggregate and report risk information in a consolidated manner for management. ERM provides business units in Microsoft with common methodologies, tools, and goals for the risk management process.; ; The program focuses on aligning the ERM framework with existing Microsoft engineering, service operations, and compliance processes, making the Risk Management program more effective and efficient. Each online service's risk management activities ultimately roll up into and inform the ERM process. As part of risk assessment activities, each online service analyzes design and operating effectiveness of controls implemented as part of the Microsoft Controls Framework (Framework).; For more information, visit: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/compliance/assurance/assurance-governance

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: The Azure SOPs cover the change management process around information system design, development, and implementation of changes and align with Microsoft’s Security Development Lifecycle process.; ; All changes to the Azure production environment, except pre-approved changes, must go through peer review, oversight committee review, or cross-group review approval.; ; Annually, the CST-SE, which is part of the Microsoft Information Risk Management Council that has governance for Microsoft’s security policies, conducts a line-by-line review of MSP and MSPP.; ; For additional details, refer to Control CM-01 in the FedRAMP Systems Security Plan available in the FedRAMP section on the Service Trust portal at https://servicetrust.microsoft.com/viewpage/FedRAMP
• Vulnerability management type: Conforms to a recognised standard, for example CSA CCM v3.0 or SSAE-16 / ISAE 3402
• Vulnerability management approach: Azure uses integrated deployment systems to manage the distribution and installation of security updates for Microsoft software. Azure is also able to draw on the resources of the Microsoft Security Response Center. The MSRC identifies, monitors, responds to, and resolves security incidents and cloud vulnerabilities around-the-clock, every day of the year.; ; Vulnerability scanning is performed on server operating systems, databases, and network devices. The vulnerability scans are performed on a quarterly basis at a minimum. Azure contracts with independent assessors to perform penetration testing of the Azure boundary.
• Protective monitoring type: Conforms to a recognised standard, for example CSA CCM v3.0 or SSAE-16 / ISAE 3402
• Protective monitoring approach: Azure security has defined requirements for active monitoring. Service teams configure active monitoring tools in accordance with these requirements. Active monitoring tools include the Microsoft Monitoring Agent (MMA) and System Center Operations Manager. ; ; Azure continuously monitors and detects risk in your organization, even when devices aren’t connected to the corporate network. Azure uses adaptive machine learning algorithms and heuristics to detect anomalies and risk detections that might indicate that an identity has been compromised.; ; For a breakdown of initial response times by several level and business impact, please visit https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/support/plans/response/
• 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: If Microsoft notices unauthorized access to customer data that's stored on its equipment or in its facilities, or it notices unauthorized access to such equipment or facilities resulting in loss, disclosure, or alteration of customer data, Microsoft takes the following actions:; - Promptly notifies the customer of the security incident.; - Promptly investigates the security incident and provides customers detailed information about the security incident.; - Takes reasonable and prompt steps to mitigate the effects and minimize any damage resulting from the security incident.

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: Other
• Other virtualisation technology used: VMware, Hyper-V, Oracle VM, Red Hat Virtualisation, KVM hypervisor; ; Microsoft uses a combination of virtual machines (VMs), virtual disks, data virtualization, and container technologies, automatically deployed through Azure Resource Manager (ARM) templates to enable a dynamically scalable and resource-rich data platform.
• How shared infrastructure is kept separate: - Tenant Level Isolation: subscription is associated with one Microsoft Entra directory. Users, groups, and applications from that directory can manage resources in the Azure subscription. A Microsoft Entra tenant is logically isolated using security boundaries so that no customer can access or compromise co-tenants, either maliciously or accidentally.; - Azure Virtual Network (VNet): ensure that each customer’s private network traffic is logically isolated from traffic belonging to other customers.; - Isolated VM Sizes: dedicated to a single customer. Utilizing an isolated size guarantees that your virtual machine is the only one running on that specific server instance.

Energy efficiency

• Energy-efficient datacentres: Yes
• Description of energy efficient datacentres: "Microsoft datacenters adhere to the EU Code of Conduct for Energy Efficiency in Data Centres by implementing a variety of best practices and measures. Here are some key aspects:; Power Utilisation Effectiveness (PUE): The EU Code of Conduct for Data Centres uses PUE as a key metric to assess the overall efficiency of a data center. PUE represents the ratio of total data center input power to IT load power. The lower the PUE value, the higher the efficiency of the facility1. The ultimate goal is to achieve a PUE close to 1.0, indicating a perfectly efficient data center where almost all power is delivered to IT equipment.; Monitoring and Improvement: By regularly monitoring PUE, data center operators can identify areas of inefficiency and implement targeted energy-saving measures. Those who demonstrate the effective adoption of the Code of Conduct best practices, leading to significant reductions in energy consumption, are eligible for the annual EU Code of Conduct in Data Centres Awards.; Adoption of Best Practices: The Code of Conduct encourages data center operators and owners to adopt best practices that reduce energy consumption and promote sustainability.

Social Value

• Social Value:

  Social Value

  • Fighting climate change
  • Tackling economic inequality
  • Equal opportunity
  • Wellbeing

  Fighting climate change

  Softcat are dedicated to reducing our environmental impact and actively promoting sustainability. Our commitment to sustainability is a core aspect of our business strategy, driving us to innovate and lead in the creation of a more sustainable future for our company and the communities we serve. This commitment is embedded in our policies, operating procedures, and training programs.; ; We are proud to be the first FTSE 250 company to be awarded 5-star status in relation to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. ; ; We aim to achieve a Carbon Net-Zero Value Circle by 2040 by prioritising renewable energy, reducing natural resource use, minimising waste, and safeguarding biodiversity in compliance with environmental legislation.; ; At Softcat, we have taken significant steps towards securing renewable energy across our organisation, reducing our scope 1 & 2 emissions. We had the target of using 100% Renewable Energy across all our locations by 2024. We successfully delivered against this target ~2 years early.; ; In May 2023 we took delivery of 15 electric vehicles, replacing all existing fossil-fuelled company cars used by employees for business means. The implementation of the EV pool fleet will see a saving of over 80 tons of CO2e per year. A huge impact on our Net Zero targets.

  Tackling economic inequality

  As a value-add reseller, Softcat outsources the products, services, and solutions through our extensive network of partners, to best suit the needs of our broad client base. We always consider and promote SMEs and local providers where appropriate, particularly for the products and services we offer via the G Cloud framework.; ; We remain dedicated to improving employability and educational awareness across schools, colleges, and universities to help break down the barriers to joining technology organisations.; ; We work collaboratively with many schools that are close in proximity to our offices, to ensure we are actively supporting the community as well as schools from lower socio-economic backgrounds. ; ; We visit the schools to talk about the IT sector and the roles in our organisation, as well as promoting work-experience opportunities during the summer. In particular, we actively encourage students from diverse backgrounds to engage in work experience to appreciate the roles available in our sector.; ; For ambitious school and college leavers, a Softcat Apprenticeship is a great first step into the world of work, with 94% of our apprentices offered a permanent position at Softcat post apprenticeships, which goes to show the amazing opportunity available with us.; ; We were ranked 1st in IT & Consultancy, and 10th overall in by RateMyApprenticeship.com - Best 100 Apprenticeship Employers 2023-2024 list.; ; Softcat now also offer 12 month paid internships to University students looking to complete a year in industry as part of their undergraduate studies.

  Equal opportunity

  Our approach to diversity and inclusion is introduced first during our induction training, as part of our Softcat values, outlining responsibility to uphold our principles. This message is reinforced by our process and policies, networks, Allyship Training and Inclusion Awareness campaigns.; ; Softcat supports diversity and inclusion through various networks including:; - Supporting Women in Business (SWIB); - The Ethnic and Cultural Network; - The Pride Network; - The Family Network; - The Empowering Disability and Neurodiversity Network (EDN); - The Faith at Work Network; - Armed Forces & Veterans Network; These networks aim to create a supportive and inclusive work environment for all employees, regardless of gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, or family commitments.; ; Our allyship programme, Stronger Together, is a mixture of event and workshop-based training available to all staff. Programme topics include, bias, power, privilege, and being a greater ally. ; ; Inclusion Awareness campaigns include race, disability, sexual orientation, gender, faith, and caring responsibilities. These sessions highlight and celebrate minority groups, through panel sessions, Q&A sessions and training, providing an opportunity to discuss and understand ways to be more inclusive. ; ; Our efforts to improve diversity and inclusion have been incredibly successful. Since 2020, the number of female employees below management level has increased to 35%, and the number of ethnic minority employees rose to 17%.

  Wellbeing

  At Softcat, all employees are provided with access to our multidimensional wellbeing programme which includes flexible work arrangements, free nutritious breakfast, mental health support, employee benefits scheme, health and wellbeing week activities, and online workshops.; ; Giving back to the community is an innate part of who we are as a company. All Softcat employees are therefore given two volunteer days per year to support a charitable or community cause. ; ; Each of our 10 regional offices also support local charities through fundraising, donations and events. For example, our Manchester office has raised over £30,000 for the WeLoveMCR charity. This funding has supported young, disadvantaged Manchester citizens in gaining qualifications to broaden their work opportunities and supporting local groups in delivering indispensable services that enable community cohesion.

Pricing

• Price: £0 a unit
• Discount for educational organisations: Yes
• Free trial available: Yes
• Description of free trial: Depending upon the service there are range of trial offerings available. There is also a free trial of Azure
• Link to free trial: https://azure.microsoft.com/en-gb/free/search/?ef_id=_k_d00f79182b1a1d5b7a5a1f0d4a8f4aaf_k_&OCID=AIDcmm3bvqzxp1_SEM__k_d00f79182b1a1d5b7a5a1f0d4a8f4aaf_k_&msclkid=d00f79182b1a1d5b7a5a1f0d4a8f4aaf

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