Astun Technology Ltd

Astun Consultancy Services

Astun provides a consultancy service for the full range of Open Source GeoSpatial (OSGeo) technologies in addition to our own iShare solutions.
The OSGeo stack includes QGIS, PostGIS, GeoServer, GeoNetwork, MapServer, OpenLayers, Leaflet, MapProxy or other OSGeo implementation in the cloud.

Features

  • Design and architecture of a complete cloud geospatial solution
  • Building a OSGeo implementation in the cloud
  • Integrating your local systems and databases with a cloud solution
  • Providing advice on cloud based security, network connectivity and authentication
  • Getting you started with Amazon Web Services
  • Training or mentoring your staff in deploying OSGeo technologies
  • Supporting and/or managing your OSGeo cloud implementation
  • Migrating solutions and data from 'on premise' to the cloud
  • Configuring Enterprise metadata solutions
  • Configuring an iShare in the Cloud implementation

Benefits

  • Access to most knowledgeable Open Source Geo experts in UK
  • Helping you make the most of your investment in iShare
  • Helping you get up and running with the OSGeo Stack
  • Building custom solutions based upon the OSGeo Stack
  • Supporting community through sponsorship of the OSGeo Foundation
  • Consultants include operations technicians, consultants, developers, architects and project managers

Pricing

£675 to £1,250 a person a day

  • Education pricing available

Service documents

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

Framework

G-Cloud 13

Service ID

4 7 3 7 5 8 7 0 9 9 9 8 5 9 8

Contact

Astun Technology Ltd Astun Technology Sales Team
Telephone: 01372 744009
Email: sales@astuntechnology.com

Planning

Planning service
Yes
How the planning service works
Astun can provide the strategic services required to help a customer determine the best solution for them based upon their business needs. We can then provide or design a solution for them with the required functionality that addresses the key issues of cloud based security, network connectivity and authentication.
Planning service works with specific services
No

Training

Training service provided
Yes
How the training service works
Astun provide training in iShare in the Cloud and its other products for System Administrators and End Users (the latter typically in a train the trainer model). Astun also provides private and public training courses in GeoServer, QGIS and PostGIS and mentoring in the wider Open Source Geo Stack through its Open Source Training & Mentoring service .
Training is tied to specific services
Yes
Services the training service works with
  • IShare
  • GeoServer
  • QGIS
  • PostGIS
  • GeoNetwork
  • Python

Setup and migration

Setup or migration service available
Yes
How the setup or migration service works
Astun can provide the services required to enable the migration from an existing on-premise solution supplied by Astun or another supplier to the cloud. Where required this can include data migration. We have already helped numerous customers through this process and have appropriate procedures and scripts to help simplify this.

Astun can also help customers to migrate from a Cloud solution from another supplier.
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
Astun undertake comprehensive QA and performance testing of all new software releases before they are deployed to customer virtual private cloud environments. For new customer deployments, the standard on-boarding project includes a specific User Acceptance Testing phase during which QA and performance testing can be undertaken. Astun supply the customer with a dedicated Service Desk for reporting UAT issues with appropriate prioritisation (1 to 4) which are addressed prior to go live and can include performance tuning as an additional consultancy service where required.

Security testing

Security services
No

Ongoing support

Ongoing support service
Yes
Types of service supported
  • Hosting or software provided by your organisation
  • Hosting or software provided by a third-party organisation
How the support service works
IShare in the Cloud Application Support is included within an iShare in the Cloud Open Enterprise Agreement subscription.

Customers are also encouraged to pre-purchase iShare in the Cloud Customer Specific Support which comprises a number of Geospatial Cloud Consultancy Service days that can be called-off for use by the customer as required.

Open Source Support SLAs for OSGeo products such as GeoServer, QGIS and PostGIS are also available. These comprise call-off time to used by the customer as required. Please see our Geospatial Open Source Training & Mentoring Service.

All helpdesk support (for iShare or Open Source support) is via a dedicated Service Desk staffed with 1st, 2nd and 3rd line support personnel with customers provided real time web based service desk access to all customer tickets. Support also includes on-going monitoring of all hosted services.

Service scope

Service constraints
Remote login by Astun staff will be required to support any on-premise elements of the overall solution architecture, such as support for tools which are used to extract, transform and load data from the customer estate to the cloud environment.

User support

Email or online ticketing support
Email or online ticketing
Support response times
Astun provide the support service during normal working hours, which are between 0900 and 1700 GMT, Monday to Friday, excluding Bank Holidays.

The response times for calls logged by the customer are set out in the accompanying Astun Platform Terms & Conditions document.
User can manage status and priority of support tickets
Yes
Online ticketing support accessibility
None or don’t know
Phone support
Yes
Phone support availability
9 to 5 (UK time), Monday to Friday
Web chat support
No
Support levels
Our Open Source Support SLAs can be used to provide support for open source products such as GeoServer, QGIS and PostGIS. A Customer may use OSS SLA time on a call-off basis by logging a request on Astun’s Support Portal. First line support is provided via a permanently staffed Service Desk with second and third line support by consultancy and development teams for fault diagnosis and resolution. Customer access to web based Service Desk provides real time ticket management and correspondence on all customer tickets. For more details, please see our Open Source Support SLA service.

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)

Standards and certifications

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

Social Value

Fighting climate change

Fighting climate change

Our Environmental and Sustainability Policy (E&SP) helps us minimise our environmental impact.

We monitor our carbon footprint, have made the SME Climate Change Commitment and are members of Race to Zero. We’ll cut our greenhouse gas emissions by half before 2030. Staff are required to turn off equipment when not in use.

We operate fully remotely, reducing travel and heating emissions. If an employee prefers to work from a shared space, we fund their use of a local co-working space.

We have a ‘virtual meetings first’ policy. If travel is essential for business or wellbeing we encourage the use of carsharing or public transport.

We prefer to deliver training courses remotely.

IT equipment is securely recycled or refurbished/ rehomed where possible. Disposal is a last resort.

We encourage a ‘paperless’ office mindset. We share electronic collateral where possible.

We take environmental criteria into account in the procurement of goods and services, e.g. recycled pencils for giveaways or phones from Fairphone.
Our cloud services are hosted on AWS, an energy and water-efficient platform that’ll be 100% renewable energy powered by 2025.

In 2022, we’ll undergo EcoVadis assessment to drive further improvements.

We are evaluating how we can drive more environmental awareness across our supply chain. Sub-contractors are already asked to comply with our E&SP.

To influence environmental protection and improvement, we respond to clients’ requests for products/services which help improve the environment, such as a mobile GIS that will enable councils to monitor the health of trees. iShare, our popular web mapping solution, is used by councils to promote the use of green spaces and recycling centres.

We publicise environmentally-friendly initiatives. For example, we publicise how we helped The Ramblers gather the information needed to protect paths for future generations. We also post about our own commitments.
Covid-19 recovery

Covid-19 recovery

We follow specialist recruitment and employment guidance. We create permanent jobs in preference to contracting. We’ve employed and mentored graduates through their early careers. Many activities, such as structured 1:2:1s, align with the Good Work Plan. We’ll give particular consideration to requests for work/student placements or internships made by those affected by COVID-19. We’ve committed to the EcoVadis assessment.

We allow employees to request changes to employment contracts and flex their hours. Everyone is eligible for bonuses, pension and pay above our Living Wage commitment plus training and progression opportunities based on skills matrices and structured 1:2:1s. We encourage mentoring and internal recruitment. Employee salaries are paid by Astun Technology, not a subsidiary.

We improve workplace conditions by following best practice and encouraging employees’ ideas, e.g. via surveys.

Our activities reduce the demand for health and public services. Examples included in other themes include: measures to reduce employee loneliness, mentoring, reviews, transparency, encouraging volunteering and ensuring employees recognise the part they play in our success.

We support the GIS community, e.g. through sponsorship.

We’ve introduced GP/counselling support services, plus life assurance. We’re evaluating a Mental Health First Aider training scheme.

Many activities are embedded in policies, such as Equal Opportunities and Recruitment/Promotion.

We involve local stakeholders and users in the design of services. We ensure services are intuitive for a diverse user range and can be used remotely. We’re willing to adapt service delivery to meet user needs following community consultant and engagement.

We help clients communicate their activities and GIS-enabled service improvements to stakeholders, e.g. via case studies and presentations.

We provide training videos and comprehensive user guides for clients’ employees and their user communities.
Tackling economic inequality

Tackling economic inequality

Despite our limited supply chain, we’re open to using new businesses and SMEs as suppliers (subject to risk evaluation). Staff and clients can make recommendations. We pay suppliers fairly and promptly.

We pay above our Living Wage Commitment. The differential between our lowest and highest-paid employee is 1-5x. All employees are eligible for bonuses, pension and cost of living rises. We benchmark salaries.

We share performance information at monthly meetings. Employee feedback is gathered during an annual survey and 1:2:1s.

We base training and development opportunities upon skills matrices, progression plans, 1:2:1s and requests. We encourage in-house mentoring and volunteering for GIS-related charities or groups, including MapAction for whom we have provided free training.

Employees have the autonomy to manage their own workload and work flexibly.

We improve delivery, productivity and quality by researching, evaluating and adopting new technologies. We expect our suppliers to do the same.

We take a solution-led approach, co-designing services with users, suppliers and other stakeholders. Client input is gathered at regular meetings. Feedback from internal QA processes, user acceptance testing and customer surveying drives service design and innovation.

We review projects and share lessons learned.

We share our learnings with the wider GIS and client community, e.g. by giving talks. We seek learning opportunities from our business and GIS communities, e.g. from the ODI and the AGI.

We share innovative functionality to benefit others.

We have an Information Security (IS) policy and Cyber Essentials/Plus certification. We have signed up for the Cyber Security Information Sharing Partnership and the South East Cyber Resilience Centre. Backups are held in disparate locations. We advise clients about cyber issues and close off vulnerabilities. We’re evaluating cyber training and ways to audit our supply chain. We promote our IS measures.
Equal opportunity

Equal opportunity

As an SME, we use external HR consultants to ensure compliance. We are members of the Equality Register and have made the Mental Health at Work Commitment. We have Equal Opportunities, Diversity and Recruitment/Promotion policies. We will be EcoVadis assessed this year.

Our recruitment practices are inclusive and accessible, including initial redacted CV scoring. We are open to making further changes to allow the disabled a more level playing field. We encourage employees to apply for internal vacancies.

We are open to using Occupational Health and Access to Work to support employees.

Flexible working and learning/development opportunities encourage all employees to grow. Sub-contractors can work flexibly, if appropriate.

We pay competitive salaries that exceed our Living Wage Commitment plus bonuses.

One of our team chairs the AGI task force on Diversity & Inclusion during work time.

We encourage progression by holding regular, structured reviews based on a collaborative document. We use skills audits and matrices used to identify skill gaps.

Staff use a task management platform to allocate SMART tasks and monitor their own performance.

We have a company-wide budget for training and development. Training needs are identified during the review process. Staff can request training and books on demand. There is a shared library.

We encourage mentoring at all levels. Junior staff enjoy mentoring for a significant proportion of their work.

Employees are encouraged to take part in out of work learning events. For example, we pay international travel costs so employees can attend FOSS4G events.

Employee achievements are recognised internally and externally, e.g. via newsletter.

We have a zero-tolerance approach to modern slavery. We have a Modern Slavery policy. It includes a whistleblowing procedure and a commitment to fair pay. New employees are subject to reference and identity checks.
Wellbeing

Wellbeing

We have a Social Value policy.

We reduce loneliness/disconnect via virtual chats, coffee meetings, ‘pub’ and company-wide meetings plus regular in-person meetings/socials.

We fund ‘co-working’ spaces for staff who prefer to work outside the home. Employees can work from anywhere with no change to pay.

We offer flexible working which allows employees to exercise and attend classes/appointments during the day. They can use technology to silence work messages outside working hours. We believe in ‘family first’ in case of family ill-health and emergencies.

We have an ‘open door’ policy for confidential 1:2:1s about health and wellbeing as well as regular structured reviews.

Employees can access an employee support programme that provides 24/7 GP consultations, fitness advice, health checks and counselling.

To help drive further improvement, we conduct an annual staff engagement, wellbeing and working conditions survey. This evaluates the success of current activities and encourages staff to help identify further support measures. We have recently made the Mental Health at Work commitment and will improve our reporting measures as a result. EcoVadis assessment will also help drive further initiatives.

In terms of influencing support for health and wellbeing, we talk openly on digital platforms, including newsletters, websites and social media, about our commitment to improving the health and wellbeing of our workforce. This helps to encourage employees, suppliers, customers and the wider GIS community to take similar measures.

We recognise that we have limited ability to influence support for health and wellbeing within our largest suppliers. For example, AWS already offer an employee support programme and a Working Well initiative. However, we plan to evaluate how we can further encourage and measure health and wellbeing measures amongst suppliers as part of our EcoVadis commitment.

Pricing

Price
£675 to £1,250 a person a day
Discount for educational organisations
Yes

Service documents

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