Method4 Limited

Cloud hosted web applications

Method4 provides specialised cloud hosting services for web applications. Using Agile methodologies we provide hosting, discovery, analysis, design, development, support and maintenance of cloud and web based solutions. Microsoft Gold partner: Microsoft .NET Core (MVC, C#), web services, XML, XSLT, HTML5, React, Angular, JavaScript, JQuery, AJAX, SQL, SharePoint, Umbraco, Azure.

Features

• Secure cloud web application hosting, development, support and maintenance
• Cloud database configuration, development and integration (SQL Cloud)
• ISO 27001, ISO 9001, Cyber Essentials accredited. Microsoft Gold partner.
• Multilingual applications, bilingual Welsh experience. Responsive user experience (UX) design
• Business intelligence, flexible reporting solutions, including Power BI, Power Apps
• Automated data validation and secure data exchange
• Mobile Web, Apps and social media integration (Facebook, Twitter)
• Azure App Service, Azure Functions, Azure Search, Azure Cognitive services
• Azure Cloud App Service and API (REST, SOAP, OAuth authorisation)
• Geographical and mapping solutions (Leaflet, ESRI, Google, Bing)

Benefits

• Government Digital Service Standard. GOV.UK Open Standards principles
• Adherence to WCAG 2.1 and W3C web and accessibility standards
• Systems integration, CRM, MS Dynamics, Office, SharePoint, Umbraco, Azure AD
• Hosting on Microsoft Azure, Office365, Rackspace Cloud, Amazon Web Services
• Lightweight, reusable open source components ensures cost effective rapid delivery
• Certified Microsoft Cloud Solution Provider based in Cardiff, Wales
• Utilise methodologies such as Agile Scrum and PRINCE2
• Collaborative approach to design, delivery and implementation using Azure DevOps
• Expertise in education, data capture, validation, reporting, search, inspection systems
• Web applications developed and configured to the recommendations of OWASP

£550 to £995 a unit a day

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 gcloud@method4.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

366415578389149

Contact

Christian Coates
02920 665947
gcloud@method4.co.uk

Service scope

• Service constraints: No
• System requirements: No specific system requirements

User support

• Email or online ticketing support: Email or online ticketing
• Support response times: Normal business hours support 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. 24/7 support is also available outside normal business hours. ; ; Standard response within 1 hour.
• 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
• Onsite support: Onsite support
• Support levels: We provide a comprehensive helpdesk facility to clients. This includes an out of hours service and flexible service where support cover can be enhanced for short periods of time for specific events. Our support systems are standalone but are also integrated with customer and 3rd party support groups to provide a uniform service to users. Typically requests are received to the helpdesk via email or telephone and logged immediately in the support log. The support log is accessible 24/7 to clients, allowing them to see the issues that have been raised and update existing issues or alternatively raise new issues. The SLA offered would depend on the type of support being provided and would be tailored to fit our customer’s needs.
• Support available to third parties: Yes

Onboarding and offboarding

• Getting started: Both formal and informal tailored training and mentoring can be provided maximising the benefits of training time. We are able to provide online training as well as training facilities at our offices in central Cardiff.
• Service documentation: Yes
• Documentation formats:
  • HTML
  • PDF
• End-of-contract data extraction: Extracts are made as per customer requirements
• End-of-contract process: Termination terms will vary depending on the service offered, and will be agreed at the time of service commencement.

Using the service

• Web browser interface: No
• API: No
• Command line interface: No

Scaling

• Scaling available: Yes
• Scaling type:
  • Automatic
  • Manual
• Independence of resources: Logical isolation is used to segregate each customer’s data from; that of others. This provides the scale and economic benefits of multitenant services while rigorously preventing customers from accessing one another’s data.
• Usage notifications: Yes
• Usage reporting: Email

Analytics

• Infrastructure or application metrics: Yes
• Metrics types:
  • CPU
  • Disk
  • HTTP request and response status
  • Memory
• Reporting types:
  • Real-time dashboards
  • Regular reports
  • Reports on request

Resellers

• Supplier type: Reseller providing extra features and support
• Organisation whose services are being resold: Microsoft, Amazon Web Services, Rackspace

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
  • European Economic Area (EEA)
• 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 Tigerscheme qualified provider or a CREST-approved service provider
• Protecting data at rest: Physical access control, complying with CSA CCM v3.0
• Data sanitisation process: Yes
• Data sanitisation type:
  • Explicit overwriting of storage before reallocation
  • 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:
  • Databases
  • Virtual Machines
  • Web Applications
  • Files
  • Unstructured data
• Backup controls: A backup schedule is agreed at the start of the hosting period which defines what gets backed up and frequency of backups. This can be changed at any time by requesting changes through our standard change control procedures.
• 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
  • Users contact the support team

Data-in-transit protection

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

Availability and resilience

• Guaranteed availability: Typical service availability is 99.95%; ; The SLA offered would depend on the type of service being provided and would be agreed at the start of the contract.
• Approach to resilience: Available on request
• Outage reporting: Outages are reported on a service dashboard or via email alerts

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)
  • Dedicated link (for example VPN)
  • Username or password
• Access restrictions in management interfaces and support channels: VPN access. 2-factor authentication. Username and Password
• Access restriction testing frequency: At least once a year
• Management access authentication:
  • 2-factor authentication
  • Identity federation with existing provider (for example Google Apps)
  • Dedicated link (for example VPN)
  • Username or password
• Devices users manage the service through: 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 receive audit information on a regular basis
• 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: URS
• ISO/IEC 27001 accreditation date: March 2017
• What the ISO/IEC 27001 doesn’t cover: Full coverage
• 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: ISO 27001 Information Security Management System with named Information Security Manager. All security policies, processes and controls comply with ISO 27001 and ISO 27002.

Operational security

• Configuration and change management standard: Supplier-defined controls
• Configuration and change management approach: Our hosting services typically comply with CSA CCM v3.0 standards, supplemented by Method4 change management processes.
• Vulnerability management type: Supplier-defined controls
• Vulnerability management approach: Our hosting services typically comply with CSA CCM v3.0 standards, supplemented by Method4 vulnerability management processes.
• Protective monitoring type: Supplier-defined controls
• Protective monitoring approach: Our hosting services typically comply with CSA CCM v3.0 standards, supplemented by Method4 protective monitoring processes.
• Incident management type: Supplier-defined controls
• Incident management approach: Our hosting services typically comply with CSA CCM v3.0 standards, supplemented by Method4 incident management processes.

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: Third-party
• Third-party virtualisation provider: Microsoft Azure, AWS
• How shared infrastructure is kept separate: Microsoft Azure or AWS specific controls

Energy efficiency

• Energy-efficient datacentres: Yes
• Description of energy efficient datacentres: Microsoft’s Azure cloud has been carbon-neutral since 2012. Half of the energy it uses already comes from 1.2 gigawatts of wind, solar, and hydro-electric sources, which the company expects to make 60 percent by 2020. ; ; Renewable energy is only part of what makes Azure a more sustainable way to run workloads. The other part is energy efficiency, some of it coming from the efficiency of its custom Azure hardware, and the bulk of it from operational efficiency and the efficiency of its data center infrastructure.

Social Value

• Fighting climate change:

  Fighting climate change

  At Method4 we’re committed to reducing our environmental impact on our planet. We try our very best to reduce the amount of waste we produce by re-using products and recycling where possible; use energy and water in an efficient way; reduce vehicle emissions by encouraging the use of sustainable modes of transport and discouraging meetings that require transport unless there is an overriding benefit; provide advice and update our team on issues that encourage good environmental practice; make sure we fully comply with environmental legislation. ; ; Everyone at Method4 is asked to only print when essential, use print preview and double-sided printing as much as possible to minimise paper use; recycle empty cans, bottles, glass and card in the recycle bins provided throughout the offices; put food waste in the caddies provided in the kitchens; purchase recycled paper products where possible; purchase environmentally friendly hygiene products where possible; ; ; When practical, use public transport, walking, cycling or car shares to travel to and from meetings. Wherever possible video conferencing should be used to eliminate the need to travel at all.; ; Use energy (water, lighting and heat) efficiently. Make sure that electrical appliances that are not being used, air conditioning and lights are switched off or left in power save mode if needed, when we leave the building; control heating sensibly: open windows before resorting to air con and close them before using heating; report any water leaks or dripping taps you see immediately.
• Covid-19 recovery:

  Covid-19 recovery

  Method4 is committed to creating employment and re-training opportunities, therefore we continued with our scheduled graduate recruitment in 2020, with the employment of 7 graduates and year-in-industry placements between May and October. Rather than withdraw contracts when fee earning work was unavailable due to the pandemic, we instead focused on a period of training and development for these graduates. ; ; We are also due to pick up our work partnering with Cardiff University, to deliver the Umbraco Education Project, a recognised certification scheme that will upskill their upcoming graduates who have been hard-hit by COVID-19. This scheme is delivered by us at no cost to the university or the students, something we are able to deliver due to our Umbraco Gold Partner status.; ; Method4 closed our offices in favour of remote working in mid-March prior to government lockdowns and furloughed no staff members. Remote or hybrid working remains for all employees. We reopened our offices when restrictions permitted, to provide a safe environment for staff members who are unable or struggle to work remotely due to physical or psychological wellbeing reasons. The offices have been rigorously risk assessed to allow this. ; ; Our cycle to work scheme is also available to provide an alternative for those who would otherwise use public transport. As a result we have seen a positive impact on the community around our offices, in particular we have three independent businesses on the street who have received increased business thanks to the presence of our employees. We have also increased our cleaning contract as part of our COVID-19 management program, which has provided local workers with more hours, as a real living wage accredited employer we ensure that they are paid fairly for their work.
• Tackling economic inequality:

  Tackling economic inequality

  Method4 has achieved significant growth over the last 15 years by placing great importance on recruitment from the surrounding areas, many of which are classed as areas of deprivation by the Welsh Government. ; ; We are active in our commitment to improving social mobility within our community and took part in the employee panel to develop the framework for the BSc (Hons) Software Engineering degree level apprenticeship in Wales, which aims to deliver degrees through employment to those who may not have been able to follow a traditional route into higher education. We are proud to have been the first employer in Wales to sign up with the Open University to deliver the scheme, having chosen them for our apprentices as they offer remote tutoring, removing another barrier to those who would struggle to balance employment and attending lectures at a traditional institution.; ; Method4 has provided work experience placements for GO Wales since 2016, this scheme aims to improve the employability of students who face barriers to employment such as work limiting health condition, disability, coming from a black and/or ethnic minority background, childcare or care responsibilities, family estrangement or coming from a low HE participation neighbourhood.
• Equal opportunity:

  Equal opportunity

  We are actively engaged in the efforts to reduce the gender gap in the tech industry and have taken part in a number of initiatives to address this, including working with Technology Connected to provide role models for their campaign to encourage girls to study technology and Chwarae Teg on their Agile Nation 2 scheme to promote women in leadership roles. We also have our own internal scheme, Women of Method4, that encourages a network of support for women in our organisation and we are proud to have a higher than industry average percentage of women within our technical roles. ; ; Method4 produces an annual diversity report, which addresses issues in 6 main areas: age; disability; race; religion; Women in Tech; LGBT, which are often characteristics associated with lower levels of employment and progression within employment. The diversity panel meets to discuss our demographic and the extent to which we have met our recommended actions and to set new recommendations for the following year from areas we have identified for improvement.; ; We have also added diversity and wellbeing questions to our annual anonymous employee engagement survey, the results of these surveys are monitored and measured annually.
• Wellbeing:

  Wellbeing

  Our HR practices are designed to support employees and protect those who may have care responsibilities or health issues that may leave them vulnerable to unemployment. We have flexible start and finishing hours, part-time working for the vast majority of roles, wheelchair access throughout our offices, work station assessments and remote working opportunities available prior to and post the pandemic. We also have absence processes that flag staff members who may need additional help and encourage our team to speak openly about mental health issues, to allow us to provide support, which we hope will reduce the risk of escalating mental health concerns.

Pricing

• Price: £550 to £995 a unit a day
• Discount for educational organisations: No
• 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 gcloud@method4.co.uk. Tell them what format you need. It will help if you say what assistive technology you use.