QualiTest Group

Site Reliability Engineering

Qualitest's Site Reliability Engineering (SRE) Services involve managing and maintaining the reliability, availability, and performance of software systems and services. Our SRE approach connects Business, Development and Operations teams and steer towards common objective of apex customer satisfaction thereby increasing revenue

Features

• Expert analysis: Conducting thorough assessments to identify opportunities and challenges.
• Risk mitigation: Identifying and addressing potential risks to minimise disruptions.
• Performance enhancement: Improving software efficiency for optimal user experiences.
• Monitoring and alerting: Proactively identifying and mitigating potential issues.
• Configuration Management: Streamlining for reliability, scalability, and operational efficiency.
• Chaos Engineering: Optimising systems for peak performance, efficiency, and scalability.
• Continuous improvement: Iteratively refining processes to enhance system reliability.
• Availability optimisation: Maximising uptime to meet service level agreements (SLAs).
• Capacity planning: Anticipating needs to support system scalability and growth.
• Augmentation of teams with skilled consultants for seamless project execution.

Benefits

• Enhanced reliability: Consistent system performance ensures uninterrupted service delivery.
• Improved availability: Maximising uptime for seamless access to software systems.
• Optimal performance: Efficiency for faster response times and better experiences.
• Unified team: Coordinated efforts drive towards shared goals and objectives.
• Increased user satisfaction: Stable availability and responsiveness.
• Revenue growth: Enhanced customer satisfaction correlates with increased profitability.
• Proactive incident resolution: Swift responses minimise disruptions and downtime.
• Efficient monitoring and alerting: Early detection of potential issues.
• Scalability readiness: Preparedness to accommodate growing demands ensures sustained performance.
• Continuous improvement: Iterative refinements drive ongoing enhancements and efficiencies.

£95 a unit a day

• Education pricing 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 simon.blackmore@qualitestgroup.com. Tell them what format you need. It will help if you say what assistive technology you use.

Framework

G-Cloud 14

Service ID

390801055140690

Contact

Simon Blackmore
07854896131
simon.blackmore@qualitestgroup.com

Planning

• Planning service: Yes
• How the planning service works: Qualitest's DORA services play a pivotal role in shaping cloud hosting and software planning strategies. By employing rigorous improvement metrics, they bolster software development practices essential for cloud-based solutions. Leveraging technical benchmarks such as deployment frequency, lead time, change failure rate, and mean time to recover, Qualitest orchestrates streamlined workflows that ensure optimal performance in cloud environments.; ; This approach resonates with UK Government Digital Service (GDS) standards, which prioritise agile methodologies and continuous delivery for digital services. By fostering continuous delivery, Qualitest enables cloud software providers to meet the GDS Standard, ensuring reliable and efficient digital solutions for government agencies and users alike.; ; Moreover, Qualitest's focus on reliability directly addresses one of the key principles outlined in the G-Cloud framework, emphasising the importance of robust and resilient cloud services. By optimising workflows and reducing change failure rates, they enhance the reliability of cloud-hosted applications, meeting the requirements of UK Government security and performance standards.; ; Qualitest's DORA services not only elevate software development practices but also align with the standards and principles set forth by the UK Government, ensuring cloud hosting and software planning services meet the highest standards of quality, reliability, and agility.
• Planning service works with specific services: No

Training

• Training service provided: No

Setup and migration

• Setup or migration service available: Yes
• How the setup or migration service works: Qualitest's Site Reliability Engineering (SRE) Services offer robust support for buyers in migrating to the cloud or transitioning between cloud services while adhering to relevant standards, including those established by the Government Digital Service (GDS). Our comprehensive approach begins with managing and maintaining the reliability, availability, and performance of software systems and services, ensuring seamless migration to cloud environments in alignment with government standards.; ; In supporting cloud migration or transitions between cloud services, Qualitest's SRE Services can assess existing infrastructure and regulatory requirements ensuring that we highlight and remediate any potential risks or bottlenecks. We focus on seamless compatibility and adherence to security and data protection standards as required, ensuring that we deliver a comprehensive service that delivers consistent reliability across users and infrastructure.
• Setup or migration service is for specific cloud services: No

Quality assurance and performance testing

• Quality assurance and performance testing service: Yes
• How the quality assurance and performance testing works: Qualitest is a leading Testing, Quality Assurance and Quality Engineering company. We are industry and analyst recognised providing independent quality focus.; ; We deliver end-to-end testing services, including quality assurance, functional and non-functional testing (manual and automated). We provide innovative solutions and accelerators to improve quality, reduce costs and accelerate delivery. We have reusable test asset libraries, built from experience and best practice. We have business-process and technology experts who advise buyers on the best approach to successfully deliver their transformation, reducing business and technical risk. ; ; We utilise risk-based techniques, AI and data-led insights to test what matters most to our customers, finding defects quickly, reducing effort and cost without impacting quality.; ; Our quality assurance approach provides traceability, governance, quality control and aids effective decision making. We ensure clarity across teams on quality expectations and required outcomes, using an agreed "Definition of Ready" and "Definition of Done" as we transition across test and delivery phases.; ; Our functional testing covers end-to-end business processes, integration between systems and data flows. Our non-functional testing ensures all non-functional requirements are validated and futureproofed, simulating business/operational scenarios, including stress, volume and soak testing, operational acceptance, usability, accessibility, user experience and security.

Security testing

• Security services: Yes
• Security services type:
  • Security strategy
  • Security risk management
  • Security design
  • Cyber security consultancy
  • Security testing
  • Other
• Other security services:
  • Security Controls Testing: Conducting domain specific security testing
  • Qualitied: Modular security testing framework with customised payloads
  • Shift-left Security Testing: Improve DAST coverage through functional test automation
  • Gen-AI Security Assurance: Assure against plagiarism, copyright, vulnerabilities
• Certified security testers: Yes
• Security testing certifications:
  • CREST
  • Other
• Other security testing certifications:
  • CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker)
  • OSCP (Offensive Security Certified Professional)
  • CISM (Certified Information Security Manager)
  • CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professional)

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: As part of our service we may provide Qualitest's inhouse developed and hosted accelerators and tools. We may also resell and install 3rd party tools. We will maintain and support these throughout our contract. Support will not be extended beyond the contract end by default, extended support can be arranged on a case-by-case basis.

Service scope

• Service constraints: There are no constraints to our service. We can provide this service onsite and in person, or remotely from onshore or offshore locations.

User support

• Email or online ticketing support: Email or online ticketing
• Support response times: Formal Service Levels are not applicable to this service. ; ; In an Agile environment our resources and management will be available on-site or online to collaborate in real time. We provide email support and escalation paths as part of our Account Management process and acknowledge within 24 hours and respond within 3 working days maximum. For online requests for support using collaboration tools our teams respond in real time. If you have specific response time requirements we will agree these with you in drafting up the Call-off Contract.
• User can manage status and priority of support tickets: No
• Phone support: Yes
• Phone support availability: 9 to 5 (UK time), Monday to Friday
• Web chat support: No
• Support levels: We provide an Account Delivery Manager with a dedicated phone number and email for the engagement, and they are your Point of Contact, and you will have direct access to them. They are focused on the successful delivery of our services, and manage the governance and reporting. This will be built into the cost of the service.; ; Basic support is 8.30am to 5.30pm Monday to Friday, additional support can be arranged as needed, there may be an additional charge. Weekend cover can be provided for escalations and cutover activities on arrangement.; ; Governance and escalations are defined as a matrix which is ratified with you as the customer.

Resellers

• Supplier type: Not a reseller

Staff security

• Staff security clearance: Conforms to BS7858:2019
• Government security clearance: Up to Developed Vetting (DV)

Standards and certifications

• ISO/IEC 27001 certification: Yes
• Who accredited the ISO/IEC 27001: Centre for Assessment Ltd
• ISO/IEC 27001 accreditation date: 26/07/2023
• What the ISO/IEC 27001 doesn’t cover: A.14.1.2 Securing applications services on public networks (Not Applicable, as Qualitest Group do not provide services on public networks);; A.14.1.3 Protecting application services transactions (Not Applicable, as Qualitest Group do not provide application services transactions);; A.14.2.4 Restrictions on changes to software packages (Not Applicable, as Qualitest Group do not produce or provide any software packages as a service); ; A.14.2.7 Outsourced development (Not Applicable, as Qualitest Group do not provide any Outsourced Development)
• ISO 28000:2007 certification: No
• CSA STAR certification: No
• PCI certification: No
• Cyber essentials: Yes
• Cyber essentials plus: Yes
• Other security certifications: No

Social Value

• Social Value:

  Social Value

  • Fighting climate change
  • Covid-19 recovery
  • Tackling economic inequality
  • Equal opportunity
  • Wellbeing

  Fighting climate change

  Qualitest is committed to reducing waste, energy and water usage, and to recycling whenever possible. We encourage homeworking wherever possible, subject to our client's requirements. We leverage technology to reduce travel through online collaboration, and our expenses policy mandates the use of public transport when it is required. We have closed underutilised offices to reduce emissions and commuting. Less commuting improves air quality, reduces greenhouse emissions and the consumption of fossil fuels, while also reducing paper and single-plastic use, and office energy consumption. We provide a Cycle to Work scheme as well as an electric car hire program for our staff.; ; Qualitest Group is registered with EcoVadis. EcoVadis is a company that provides business sustainability ratings. It is known as the world's most trusted in this field. Over 1000 multinational companies work with EcoVadis to manage risks, reduce costs and drive innovation and new revenue. We currently hold the silver rating with EcoVadis. We have detailed policies and processes which outline our ESG commitments. Our Environment and Sustainability policy commits our business to: ; •Comply with all relevant environmental legislation, regulations, and approved codes of practice.; •Protect the environment by preventing and minimising our contribution to pollution of land, air, and water.; •Keep wastage to a minimum and maximise the efficient use of materials and resources.; •Manage and dispose of all waste responsible. Train our staff so that we all work in accordance with this policy and within an environmentally aware culture.; •Regularly communicate our environmental performance to our employees and other significant stakeholders.; •Develop our management processes to ensure that environmental factors are considered during planning and implementation.; •Monitor and continuously improve our environmental performance.; •Leverage our environmental impact by encouraging clients to improve their environmental performance.

  Covid-19 recovery

  Qualitest's homeworking policy (subject to our client's requirements) allows us to expand our diversity across gender and race through flexible working, encouraging an inclusive culture, and allows us to employ people in economically disadvantaged locations, including those people and regions affected by COVID.; ; We offer universal training opportunities to all our staff, with tailored development plans aligned to career aspirations and performance evaluations, promotions aligned to achievement and capability, and role rotation policies to allow everyone a chance to grow and develop.; ; We support positive mental and physical health through our Employee Assistance programme which provides 24/7 confidential support, online resources for self-help for wellbeing and links to medical resources for health concerns and access to trained wellbeing and financial councillors.; ; We support our local communities through our Charity sponsorship programs which in the UK include the Greggs Foundation Breakfast Club for schools programmes targeted at deprived areas and under-privileged children, and our Re-Engage partnership which supports old er people experiencing loneliness through social connection. All our staff also have the opportunity to get personally involved in the support of these charities.

  Tackling economic inequality

  Qualitest encourages homeworking wherever possible, subject to our client's requirements. This allows us to employ people in economically disadvantaged locations across the UK. Qualitest pays all staff above the National Living Wage. The home working also means less commuting which as well as reducing our carbon footprint also reduces the financial burden on our employees, and supports a healthy work/life balance.; ; Educational Attainment; We offer universal training opportunities to all our staff, with tailored development plans aligned to career aspirations and performance evaluations, promotions aligned to achievement and capability, and role rotation policies to allow everyone a chance to grow and develop. ; ; Fair Treatment:; Qualitest's recruitment practices and employment conditions are compliant with the five foundational principles of quality work set out in the Good Work Plan (i.e. fair pay, participation and progression, voice and autonomy). Every employee has an assigned manager with oversight and visibility of their work, and a regular feedback process with a bi-annual formalised Performance Review process linked to guided career progression, role rotation and pay progression. We hold global, regional and sector Town Halls ensuring everyone in the company has visibility of and access to the highest levels of the organisation, and a regular top-down communication and collaborative engagement from everyone through the Q&A sessions.; ; Innovation and disruptive technologies:; We have a Centre of Excellence structure dedicated to Research & Development of innovation to increase efficiency and reduce costs for our customers. We leverage AI to automate data-driven decisions and validation and generation of everything from risk assessment and requirements to test planning and deployment decisions. Our accelerators deliver measurable efficiencies, reduce cost and increase both velocity and quality.; ; Supporting our supply chain:; We have standard 30-day payment terms and target 95% of all undisputed invoices being paid within 60 days.

  Equal opportunity

  Qualitest's Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) Committee is led by our senior leadership team who define and enact our D&I Strategy. Our strategy identifies groups within our organisation and/or industry that are underrepresented and required additional support, these are:; •LGBTQ+ *; •Women **; •People of Colour (BIPOC); •People with Disabilities; •People returning to work; •Veterans ; ; Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) have their own committee, C-level Sponsor, goals and targets:; ; *Qualipride provides a safe online space for sharing of experiences without judgment, professional and personal support, and education and online resources on LGBTQ+ terminology, history and challenges. Well over 40% of our global community has participated in global or local Qualipride events.; ; **Women@Qualitest is open to women and men who wish to support their colleagues, friends and family and educate themselves through regular forums and sharing sessions. Women@Qualitest hosts external guest speakers who offer experience and advice on issues impacting women in particular and provides a safe space for sharing challenges and successes.; ; We are driving down the gender pay gap every year (in 2022 we reduced it by almost 30%) and awarding larger bonuses to our women (we saw an increase of more than 8% in 2022).; ; Every employee has access to 24/7 online training and mentorship schemes for skill attainment, an assigned manager with visibility of their work, and a regular feedback process with a bi-annual formalised Performance Review process linked to guided career progression, role rotation and pay progression.; ; We communicate our “Corporate Values” message as the Qualitest Spirit (video on our Careers page / YouTube channel). This puts into practice our group policies at every level of our organisation, building on the compulsory Learning & Development-led training.; ; We have zero tolerance towards slavery and human trafficking and our statement is on our website.

  Wellbeing

  Qualitest encourages homeworking wherever possible, subject to our client's requirements. Less commuting not only helps the environment, but reduces the financial burden on our employee and improves their work/life balance and supports their mental wellbeing.; ; We support positive mental and physical health through our Employee Assistance programme which provides 24/7 confidential support, online resources for self-help for wellbeing and links to medical resources for health concerns and access to trained wellbeing and financial councillors.; ; We provide wellbeing programs which are open to all employees, including but not limited to online yoga classes during the working day, mental health first-aiders, mental health champions, hold seminars and sharing sessions with guest speakers and training organisations, including internal management sharing their own mental health journeys and techniques. We regularly share hints and tops in bites-size communications to remind all our employees to take care of their mental health.; ; Our Cycle to Work Scheme also provides tax-efficient cycle purchase options for all staff, allowing them to increase their exercises, as well as reduce their financial burden through non-motorised travel options.

Pricing

• Price: £95 a unit a day
• Discount for educational organisations: Yes

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 simon.blackmore@qualitestgroup.com. Tell them what format you need. It will help if you say what assistive technology you use.