EXPONENTIAL-E LIMITED

Object Storage

Exponential-e Object Storage Service (S4) delivers petabyte-scale object storage for commodity infrastructure, providing the simplicity and low-cost benefits of the public cloud, without the risk, compliance, and data sovereignty concerns. The service support APIs including S3, Swift and HDFS protocols concurrently and is billed per-GB with no data transit charges.

Features

• Multi-Protocol Petabyte-Scale Object Store: S3, Swift, HDFS
• Predictable per-GB billing
• Scale Indefinitely and On-Demand
• Offloads objects (files, media, images) from compute resources
• Geo-Replicated Option with Strong Consistency Model
• Storage Gateway Back End for Common Gateway Appliances
• No Data Egress Charges
• Well suited to cold data for long term retention

Benefits

• UK Sovereign: Data is retained in the UK
• Big Data Analytics: Pivotal, Cloudera, Hortonworks and PivotalHD
• No Data Transfer Charges
• HTTP(S) Access: Reduces Load on Server Resources
• Highly Available: 99.99% Availability SLA
• Highly Durable: 99.9999998% Durability SLA
• Reduce cost of storage for long term data retention

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 psbids@exponential-e.com. Tell them what format you need. It will help if you say what assistive technology you use.

Framework

G-Cloud 15

Service ID

577580810785568

Contact

Kay Sugg
02034358835
psbids@exponential-e.com

About your service

• Service categories:

  IaaS

  IaaS Storage

  • Object or Bucket

Service scope

• Service constraints: Planned and Emergency Works; Exponential-e will adhere to the following maintenance windows:; ‘Planned Maintenance’ means pre-planned maintenance the infrastructure relating to the service. Planned Maintenance activity may result in periods of degradation or loss of availability. In such cases, Exponential-e will aim to provide at least 14 days’ notice via email of any planned works and shall aim to perform them between 00:00 and 06:00 GMT/BST.; ‘Emergency Maintenance’; Exponential-e reserves the right to carry out emergency works at any time, without notice. Every effort shall be made to contact customers before the commencement of emergency maintenance.
• System requirements:
  • Object storage API compatible applications
  • Object storage API compatible storage gateway appliances
  • HDFS compatible applications
• Cloud deployment model:
  • Private cloud
  • Community cloud
  • Hybrid cloud

User support

• Email or online ticketing support: Yes
• Support response times: P1 Target Response Time - 15 Minutes; P2 Target Response Time - 15 Minutes; P3 Target Response Time - 30 Minutes; P4 Target Response Time - 30 Minutes
• User can manage status and priority of support tickets: Yes
• Online ticketing support accessibility: WCAG 2.2 AA
• Phone support: Yes
• Phone support availability: 24 hours, 7 days a week
• Web chat support: No
• Onsite support: Yes, at extra cost
• Support levels: Business Hours (09:00 - 17:00), weekdays excl Bank Holidays.; Extended Business Hours (08:00 - 18:00), weekdays excl Bank Holidays.; 24/7/265, including Bank Holidays.
• Support available to third parties: Yes

Onboarding and offboarding

• Getting started: Relevant protocol documentation will be provided on request.
• Service documentation: Yes
• Documentation formats: PDF
• End-of-contract data extraction: The customer may extract their application based data at any point during the contract term by self-service. At the end of the term and/or if the contract is terminated, the Service Migration provisions will apply. If customised data transportation, data extraction or full virtual machine export services are required these will be charged according to the G-Cloud 15 Day Rate card.
• End-of-contract process: At the point of termination, all customer data, accounts and access will be permanently deleted, and will not be able to be subsequently recovered or restored.
• Documentation accessibility standard: WCAG 2.2 AA

Using the service

• Web browser interface: No
• API: Yes
• What users can and can't do using the API: Amazon S3 API; OpenStack Swift; Hadoop HDFS File System
• API automation tools: OpenStack
• API documentation: Yes
• API documentation formats: HTML
• Command line interface: No

Scaling

• Independence of resources: Load balancers are deployed across the clusters.
• Usage notifications: No

Analytics

• Infrastructure or application metrics: No

Resellers

• Supplier type: Not a reseller

Staff security

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

Asset protection

• Knowledge of data storage and processing locations: Yes
• Data storage and processing locations: United Kingdom
• User control over data storage and processing locations: Yes
• Datacentre security standards: Complies with a recognised standard (for example CSA CCM version 4.0)
• Penetration testing frequency: At least once a year
• Penetration testing approach: ‘IT Health Check’ performed by a CHECK service provider
• Protecting data at rest:
  • Physical access control, complying with CSA CCM v4.0
  • Physical access control, complying with SSAE-18 / ISAE 3402
  • Physical access control, complying with another standard
  • Encryption of all physical media
• Data sanitisation process: Yes
• Equipment disposal approach: Complying with a recognised standard, for example CSA CCM v4.0, CAS (Sanitisation) or ISO/IEC 27001
• Data sanitisation type:
  • Deleted data can’t be directly accessed / Cryptographic Erasure
  • Explicit overwriting of storage before reallocation / Secure Erase

Backup and recovery

• What’s backed up: Virtual machines
• Backup controls: The Object Storage Service (S4) can act as a target for common Storage Gateway Appliances such as Panzura, Ctera, EMC Isilon Edge, and Nasumi.; ; The system can also act as a repository for common Enterprise Backup applications such as EMC Commvault.
• 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
• Backup and recovery: Yes
• RPO/RTO: Yes

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: Exponential-e are a Stage 3 accredited HSCN CN-SP and our network operability conforms to HSCN Framework Obligations.
• Data protection within supplier network:
  • TLS (version 1.2 or above)
  • IPsec or TLS VPN gateway
  • Other
• Other protection within supplier network: Exponential-e are a Stage 3 accredited HSCN CN-SP and our network operability conforms to HSCN Framework Obligations.

Availability and resilience

• Guaranteed availability: Availability:; - Single Datacentre: 99.99%; - Dual Datacentre: 99.999%; ; Durability:; - Single Datacentre: 99.999998%; - Dual Datacentre: 99.9999998%
• Approach to resilience: Details available on request.
• Outage reporting: Service report outages are reported in real-time via:; - a customer dashboard; - email alerts

Identity and authentication

• User authentication needed: Yes
• User authentication:
  • Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
  • Public key authentication (including by TLS client certificate)
  • Limited access network (for example PSN)
  • Dedicated link (for example VPN)
  • Username or password
• Access restrictions in management interfaces and support channels: Details available on request.
• Access restriction testing frequency: At least once a year
• Management access authentication:
  • Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
  • Public key authentication (including by TLS client certificate)
  • 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

Audit information for users

• Access to user activity audit information: Users receive audit information on a regular basis
• How long user audit data is stored for: At least 12 months
• Access to supplier activity audit information: Users receive audit information on a regular basis
• How long supplier audit data is stored for: At least 12 months
• How long system logs are stored for: At least 12 months

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: Details available on request.

Operational security

• Configuration and change management standard: Complies with a recognised standard, for example CSA CCM v4.0 or SSAE-18 / ISAE 3402
• Configuration and change management approach: Details available on request.
• Vulnerability management type: Undisclosed
• Vulnerability management approach: Details available on request.
• Protective monitoring type: Undisclosed
• Protective monitoring approach: Details available on request.
• Incident management type: Undisclosed
• Incident management approach: Exponential-e’s ITIL-based Incident Management process is integrated into its ISO9001 and ISO20000-1 accredited framework. Pre-defined procedures address common events, with examples including automated scripts for capacity-related issues .Incidents are reported by users via email, phone, or ServiceNow, which generates a tracking number for efficient handling and prioritisation. These incidents are logged, allocated to appropriate teams, and resolved based on their urgency and impact. Incident updates are provided regularly, with detailed reports shared for major incidents. Post-resolution evaluations ensure continuous improvement, supported by root cause analyses and formal Reason for Outage reports.
• Post-quantum cryptography secure: No

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 v4.0)

Separation between users

• Virtualisation technology used to keep applications and users sharing the same infrastructure apart: No

Energy efficiency

• Energy-efficient datacentres: Yes
• Description of energy efficient datacentres: All our Data Centres are ISO14001 accredited organisations with robust environmental management systems • Procuring consumed energy from sustainable energy sources wherever possible • Ensuring the use of hot/cold aisle cooling design in our Data Centres, which reduces energy consumption as the cooling is more efficient and helps our customers to reduce their carbon footprint.

Pricing

• Discount for educational organisations: No
• Free trial available: No

Discount

• Provide your minimum discount applicable to your baseline prices: 5%

Formula for calculating price of your services

• Formula for calculating price of your services:

  Which of the core deployment models you intend to offer

  Private Cloud

  Private Cloud - Formula for calculating price of your services

  ---

  Total Cost

  The Total Cost for a buyer's call off requirement in a Private Cloud Deployment

  =

  Baseline Pricing

  Baseline Pricing for these services will be found under the G-Cloud Service Lines, within the Pricing Document.; ; The applicable price point is determined by factors such as required performance levels, availability requirements, data protection, and scale. ; ; This pricing approach allows buyers to clearly understand entry-level costs while retaining flexibility to scale performance and capacity in line with workload demands. All pricing assumptions and variables will be clearly described to ensure buyers can accurately forecast costs and assess value for money.

  -

  Minimum Discounting

  5%

  +

  Onboarding Activity

  Onboarding costs may vary based on your specific requirements, please confirm with suppliers during the clarification process

  +

  Additional sources of cost

  In addition to baseline pricing, buyers may incur additional costs depending on their existing infrastructure, data volumes, and integration requirements. ; ; One potential cost is dedicated network connectivity. For data-intensive workloads such as digital pathology, GPU computation, or HPC environments, buyers may require enhanced or private connectivity. Where required, dedicated network services can be provided and scoped separately to meet performance, security, and availability needs. For health and care organisations, this may include connectivity via the Health and Social Care Network (HSCN). ; Additional variations in the costs for licencing and compute may also apply.; ; Data migration may also introduce additional costs. Buyers transitioning from existing on-premises or third-party storage platforms may require support to transfer large datasets, validate data integrity, and minimise service disruption. Migration activities are scoped based on data volume, complexity, and delivery timelines and can be delivered as a professional service, including discovery, planning, execution, and post-migration validation. ; ; In greenfield deployments, where no existing data platform is in place, data migration costs would not apply. ; ; Additional costs may arise from optional services such as enhanced resilience, bespoke configurations, or specialist support. Any such services would be clearly defined and agreed with the buyer prior to contract commencement.

  -

  Additional sources of cost reduction

  This model provides several opportunities for cost reduction, depending on the service configuration/scaling over time. The proposed approach uses a hybrid scale-out storage architecture, combining high-performance nodes with archive-optimised nodes to deliver a single, aggregated storage platform, enabling buyers to align costs directly with workload requirements. ; ; A primary source of cost efficiency is the ability to balance performance and archive tiers. High-performance nodes command a higher price per GB within the defined pricing range, while archive nodes offer significantly lower-cost storage for data that is accessed less frequently. By limiting high-performance capacity to only where it is required and increasing the proportion of archive nodes, buyers can reduce the overall cost per GB. ; ; Additional savings are achieved by reducing/removing front-end performance nodes where sustained high throughput is not necessary. The platform can operate predominantly as a scale-out archive solution, optimised for capacity rather than performance. ; ; As service demand grows, cost efficiency is maintained by selectively expanding archive capacity rather than scaling performance uniformly. This targeted approach ensures buyers only pay for capabilities needed at each stage. ; ; Together, these configuration options allow buyers to optimise storage environments over time, lowering unit costs while retaining flexibility and performance appropriately.

  ---

• Total Cost: The Total Cost for a buyer's call off requirement in a Private Cloud Deployment
• Baseline Pricing: Baseline Pricing for these services will be found under the G-Cloud Service Lines, within the Pricing Document.; ; The applicable price point is determined by factors such as required performance levels, availability requirements, data protection, and scale. ; ; This pricing approach allows buyers to clearly understand entry-level costs while retaining flexibility to scale performance and capacity in line with workload demands. All pricing assumptions and variables will be clearly described to ensure buyers can accurately forecast costs and assess value for money.
• Minimum Discounting: 5%
• Onboarding Activity: Onboarding costs may vary based on your specific requirements, please confirm with suppliers during the clarification process
• Additional sources of cost: In addition to baseline pricing, buyers may incur additional costs depending on their existing infrastructure, data volumes, and integration requirements. ; ; One potential cost is dedicated network connectivity. For data-intensive workloads such as digital pathology, GPU computation, or HPC environments, buyers may require enhanced or private connectivity. Where required, dedicated network services can be provided and scoped separately to meet performance, security, and availability needs. For health and care organisations, this may include connectivity via the Health and Social Care Network (HSCN). ; Additional variations in the costs for licencing and compute may also apply.; ; Data migration may also introduce additional costs. Buyers transitioning from existing on-premises or third-party storage platforms may require support to transfer large datasets, validate data integrity, and minimise service disruption. Migration activities are scoped based on data volume, complexity, and delivery timelines and can be delivered as a professional service, including discovery, planning, execution, and post-migration validation. ; ; In greenfield deployments, where no existing data platform is in place, data migration costs would not apply. ; ; Additional costs may arise from optional services such as enhanced resilience, bespoke configurations, or specialist support. Any such services would be clearly defined and agreed with the buyer prior to contract commencement.
• Additional sources of cost reduction: This model provides several opportunities for cost reduction, depending on the service configuration/scaling over time. The proposed approach uses a hybrid scale-out storage architecture, combining high-performance nodes with archive-optimised nodes to deliver a single, aggregated storage platform, enabling buyers to align costs directly with workload requirements. ; ; A primary source of cost efficiency is the ability to balance performance and archive tiers. High-performance nodes command a higher price per GB within the defined pricing range, while archive nodes offer significantly lower-cost storage for data that is accessed less frequently. By limiting high-performance capacity to only where it is required and increasing the proportion of archive nodes, buyers can reduce the overall cost per GB. ; ; Additional savings are achieved by reducing/removing front-end performance nodes where sustained high throughput is not necessary. The platform can operate predominantly as a scale-out archive solution, optimised for capacity rather than performance. ; ; As service demand grows, cost efficiency is maintained by selectively expanding archive capacity rather than scaling performance uniformly. This targeted approach ensures buyers only pay for capabilities needed at each stage. ; ; Together, these configuration options allow buyers to optimise storage environments over time, lowering unit costs while retaining flexibility and performance appropriately.

Mandatory certifications

• Mandatory certifications:

  Are you are bidding to offer IaaS and/or PaaS as a reseller or are you in sole control of the infrastructure

  Sole Control of the Infrastructure

  ISO 9001 certification

  Provided

  ISO 14001 certification

  Provided

  ISO 27001 certification

  Provided

  ISO 20000-1 certification

  Provided

  ISO 27017 certification

  Provided

  Are you bidding to provide services under Lot 1b or both Lot 1a and Lot 1b?

  No

Cyber Essentials

• Do you have a Cyber Essentials Plus certificate?: Yes
• Cyber Essentials Plus certificate Number: 5dd79cac-9d43-47c5-89dc-7942d72666ee

Non-mandatory Standards and certifications

• ISO 28000:2022 certification: No
• Quality management systems (QMS): Yes
• CSA STAR certification: Yes
• CSA STAR accreditation date: Saturday 13 April 2024
• CSA STAR certification level: Level 1: CSA STAR Self-Assessment
• What the CSA STAR doesn’t cover: N/a
• PCI certification: Yes
• Who accredited the PCI DSS certification: PCI Security Standards Council
• PCI DSS accreditation date: Friday 30 January 2026
• What the PCI DSS doesn’t cover: Not applicable.
• Other security certifications: Yes
• Any other security certifications:
  • HSCN CN-SP Stage 2
  • SOC Type 1 & 2
  • ISO 27017

Social value

• Section B - Commitment for Future: Delivery:

  • Mission: Kick start economic growth. To secure the highest sustained growth in the G7 - with good jobs and productivity growth in every part of the country making everyone, not just a few, better off.

    Policy Outcome 1: Fair work: That offers fair wages and good working conditions. Help people get a job, stay in work, and progress in their careers, with good employment opportunities across the country. Notes: Where there is a large proportion of labour costs in the contract, commercial teams should consider MAC in Outcome 1 as a priority

    • New or retained jobs on the contract workforce in the relevant area that meet the criteria set out in MAC 1b, 1c and 1d
    • New apprenticeships on the contract workforce in the relevant area that meet the criteria set out in MAC 1b
    • Providing opportunities for, and measuring and monitoring of, staff workforce conditions over time, including employee engagement, involvement in decision-making and satisfaction and adapting to any changes in the results, with clear processes for acting on issues identified
    • Plans to engage the contract workforce in deciding the most important workplace issues to address
    • Employment contracts that reflect actual hours worked; steps taken to ensure employees understand their contracts and have the ability to review and adjust them if actual hours regularly exceed contracted hours
    • Activities that support an environment where staff are educated about, and feel empowered to, address their physical wellbeing
    • Activities that support an environment where staff are educated about and feel empowered to report and address bullying and harassment
    • Measures to support in-work progression to help people in the contract workforce, to move into higher paid work by developing new skills relevant to the contract
    • Support for the contract workforce by providing career advice, and providing opportunities for staff working on the contract with in-work progression career development into known skills shortages or high growth areas
    • Support for educational attainment relevant to the contract, including training schemes that address skills gaps and result in recognised qualifications
    • Volunteering opportunities for staff

  • Mission: Kick start economic growth. To secure the highest sustained growth in the G7 - with good jobs and productivity growth in every part of the country making everyone, not just a few, better off.

    Policy Outcome 2: Skills for growth: Supporting growth sectors and addressing skills gaps.

    • Support for educational attainment relevant to the contract, including training schemes that address skills gaps and result in recognised qualifications
    • Delivery of apprenticeships, supported internships and T Level industry placement opportunities (Level 2, 3 and 4+) in relation to the contract

  • Mission: Make Britain a clean energy superpower: To cut bills, create jobs and deliver security with cheaper, zero-carbon electricity by 2030, accelerating to net zero

    Policy Outcome 4: Sustainable procurement practices: Reducing carbon footprints, minimising waste, and promoting the use of clean energy and green technologies.

    • Understanding of opportunities for additional environmental benefits delivery in the performance of the contract, including working towards net zero carbon emissions and use of clean energy and green technologies
    • Delivery of additional environmental benefits through the performance of the contract, including working towards net zero carbon emissions and use of clean energy and green technologies

  • Mission: Break down barriers to opportunity: By reforming our childcare and education systems, to make sure there is no class ceiling on the ambitions of young people in Britain

    Policy Outcome 6: Employment and training: For those who face barriers to employment

    • Understanding of the issues affecting inequality in employment, skills and pay in the market, industry or sector relevant to the contract, and in the supplier’s own organisation and those of its key sub-contractors. Measures to tackle inequality in employment, skills and pay in the contract workforce

  • Mission: Build an NHS fit for the future: That is there when people need it; with fewer lives lost to the biggest killers; in a fairer Britain, where everyone lives well for longer.

    Policy Outcome 8: Increasing productivity through physical and mental wellbeing: In the supply chain and communities in the relevant area.

    • Understanding of issues relating to health and wellbeing, including physical and mental health, in the contract workforce
    • Understanding barriers to access to health and social care services or employment opportunities e.g. digital inclusion
    • Inclusive and accessible recruitment practices, development practices and retention policies that support-focused activities including those provided in the Guide for line managers on recruiting, managing and developing which support people with a disability or health condition
    • Actions to invest in the physical and mental health and wellbeing of the contract workforce

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 psbids@exponential-e.com. Tell them what format you need. It will help if you say what assistive technology you use.