Somerford Associates Limited

BlueVoyant - Supply Chain Defence Cyber Risk Management

We help government organisations obtain clear visibility into cybersecurity risks across their supply chain by proactively identifying, prioritising and remediating cyber risks posed by business partners and supply chain relationships.

Features

• 3rd Party Risk monitoring and reduction platform as managed service
• Continuous monitoring of third parties, vendors, portfolio companies, acquisition targets
• Prioritisation of risk findings, actionable findings and directed mitigations
• Asset and attack surface profiling and curation
• Emerging vulnerabilities identification and remediation
• Streamlined, customisable vendor questionnaire module with advanced analytics
• API access for programmatic automation
• Pre-procurement reports for informed, sound procurement decisions
• Expert led third-party cyber risk management consulting and workshops
• Cloud-native and highly scalable platform

Benefits

• Monitor entire supply chain with existing resources on your behalf
• Ongoing monitoring of cyber risk for all your external vendors
• Noise removal and triage by identification of key risk exposure
• Helps eliminate false positives to focus on key risks
• 24x7 managed service coverage ensures response to critical cyber risks
• zero-days efficiently and effectively managed in minutes following disclosure
• Actionable views into your supply chain to help limit risk
• Significantly reduce resource constraints and required expertise
• Expert SOC disciplines enhance third-party cyber risk management
• Mature your organisations approach to third party risk management

£1,033.06 a unit a year

• Education pricing available

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 penny.harrison@somerfordassociates.com. Tell them what format you need. It will help if you say what assistive technology you use.

Framework

G-Cloud 14

Service ID

615041321809314

Contact

Penny Harrison
07897075103
penny.harrison@somerfordassociates.com

Service scope

• Software add-on or extension: No
• Cloud deployment model: Public cloud
• Service constraints: The Government Supply Chain Cyber Risk Management service derives external cyber risk identification using external visibility of client and third-party internet facing infrastructure only.
• System requirements: Internet browser access

User support

• Email or online ticketing support: Email or online ticketing
• Support response times: Mon-Fri 9am-5:30pm excl bank holidays customers receive an initial response within one business hour
• 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
• Onsite support: Yes, at extra cost
• Support levels: We provide support from priority 1 to priority 4 cases on any existing configuration or part of the platform that is in total or partial failure as well as not working as expected. We also provide configuration guidance and recommendations for use cases. Each customer receives their own Account Manager who works closely with Support and ensures that cases can be followed up. Somerfords Support desk is available as a value added service in addition to the maintenance and support purchased alongside the license.
• Support available to third parties: Yes

Onboarding and offboarding

• Getting started: Onboarding program delivered online or onsite, assignment of a Client Success Manager and PDF service collateral is provided
• Service documentation: Yes
• Documentation formats:
  • HTML
  • PDF
• End-of-contract data extraction: Clients can request an export of their data and BlueVoyant will facilitate
• End-of-contract process: Client will have 30 days from the expiry of the contract to request the receipt of client specific data (at no additional cost). Any proposed transition services will be provided at BlueVoyant’s then-current prices. BlueVoyant will not provide transition services in the event of termination by the client for convenience or in the event of termination by BlueVoyant for the client’s material breach.

Using the service

• Web browser interface: Yes
• Supported browsers: Chrome
• Application to install: No
• Designed for use on mobile devices: Yes
• Differences between the mobile and desktop service: User Interface
• Service interface: Yes
• User support accessibility: None or don’t know
• Description of service interface: Web based portal
• Accessibility standards: None or don’t know
• Description of accessibility: The Portal interface provides cyber risk finding visibility and status for all configured third-party companies. Users are able to review risk findings, view remediation progress as well as gaining granular visibility into the cyber risk posture of their supply-chain companies.
• Accessibility testing: N/A
• API: Yes
• What users can and can't do using the API: BlueVoyant 3rd Party Cyber Risk Service API is a REST based API that provides access to our risk scores and findings along with additional services and capabilities. You can find the full list of capabilities https://api.bluevoyant.com/docs/#/; ; Users can use the API to:; ; Access BlueVoyant 3PR Risk Scores / Findings / Data ; Manage Companies including functionality to add, remove, move; Manage Portfolios including functionality to create, update, delete, view; Access a Company's Footprint including functionality to get and view; Manage Attributes including functionality to view, add, edit, remove; Manage Entity ID including functionality to view, add, edit, remove
• API documentation: Yes
• API documentation formats: Open API (also known as Swagger)
• API sandbox or test environment: No
• Customisation available: Yes
• Description of customisation: - Third Party engagement policies; - Risk thresholds; - Assignment of companies to portfolios; - Use of external assessment reports

Scaling

• Independence of resources: Both the web portal and APIs are enables by High Availability Proxies which load balance and most services are backed by auto-scaling processes

Analytics

• Service usage metrics: Yes
• Metrics types: We have guarantees on availability for the portal. They are specifically for M-F business hours 98% uptime
• Reporting types: Reports on request

Resellers

• Supplier type: Reseller providing extra features and support
• Organisation whose services are being resold: BlueVoyant

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: Other locations
• User control over data storage and processing locations: No
• 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
• Data sanitisation process: Yes
• Data sanitisation type: 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

Data importing and exporting

• Data export approach: Risk Findings data can be exported from the platform via the user Portal and via the API. Client can request additional data exports via their Client Success Manager or the Risk Operations Centre.
• Data export formats:
  • CSV
  • Other
• Other data export formats: JSON
• Data import formats:
  • CSV
  • Other
• Other data import formats: Text file uploaded by the Risk Operations Centre

Data-in-transit protection

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

Availability and resilience

• Guaranteed availability: We have guarantees on availability for the portal. They are specifically for M-F business hours 98% uptime; ; Service levels are not applicable for any outages of data providers; and client experience related to the delivery of the Supply Chain Cyber Risk; Management Service or alerts to the Platform.
• Approach to resilience: This information is available on request
• Outage reporting: Any service outages are addressed by the Customer Success Manager or the Risk Operation Centre and will be communicated via email.

Identity and authentication

• User authentication needed: Yes
• User authentication:
  • 2-factor authentication
  • Public key authentication (including by TLS client certificate)
  • Username or password
• Access restrictions in management interfaces and support channels: We use Role Based Access Controls to limit access throughout the system.
• Access restriction testing frequency: At least every 6 months
• Management access authentication:
  • 2-factor authentication
  • Public key authentication (including by TLS client certificate)
  • Dedicated link (for example VPN)
  • Username or password

Audit information for users

• Access to user activity audit information: Users contact the support team to get audit information
• How long user audit data is stored for: At least 12 months
• Access to supplier activity audit information: Users contact the support team to get audit information
• How long supplier audit data is stored for: At least 12 months
• How long system logs are stored for: At least 12 months

Standards and certifications

• ISO/IEC 27001 certification: Yes
• Who accredited the ISO/IEC 27001: Citation
• ISO/IEC 27001 accreditation date: 01/03/23
• What the ISO/IEC 27001 doesn’t cover: N/A
• ISO 28000:2007 certification: No
• CSA STAR certification: No
• PCI certification: No
• Cyber essentials: Yes
• Cyber essentials plus: Yes
• Other security certifications: Yes
• Any other security certifications: ISO9001 :2015

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: Our information security policies are aligned to the ISO/IEC 27001 framework. To ensure that they are followed we audit both ourselves internally and use third parties to renew our accreditations.

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: Our configuration and change management processes are documented within BlueVoyant's SDLC policy/SOC2 report, which can be provided upon request.
• Vulnerability management type: Conforms to a recognised standard, for example CSA CCM v3.0 or SSAE-16 / ISAE 3402
• Vulnerability management approach: BlueVoyant's vulnerability management process is documented within BlueVoyant's Threat and Vulnerability Management policy, which can be provided upon request.
• Protective monitoring type: Conforms to a recognised standard, for example CSA CCM v3.0 or SSAE-16 / ISAE 3402
• Protective monitoring approach: BlueVoyant's protective monitoring process is documented within BlueVoyant's Threat and Vulnerability Management policy, which can be provided upon request.
• 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: BlueVoyant's incident management process is documented within BlueVoyant's incident Management E-Discovery and Cloud Forensics policy and our SOC2 report, which can be provided upon request.

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)

Public sector networks

• Connection to public sector networks: No

Social Value

• Social Value:

  Social Value

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

  Fighting climate change

  As an organisation that works closely with the public sector, Somerford is keen to demonstrate our commitment to supporting the achievement of the Net Zero target of greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.; ; Management and staff at Somerford have been conscious of our impact upon the environment even before the Climate Change Act was introduced, and we’ve adopted environmentally friendly practices as the business has grown. Consequently, Somerford ‘s business already has a reasonably low carbon footprint, and will continue to strive for further reductions wherever possible because this is beneficial for our business, our stakeholders and the environment.; ; We will use our influence as a value added reseller of leading edge software products and supporting professional services to select supplier-partners whose own carbon reduction philosophy and plans are aligned with ours, and who can show commitment to the Net Zero target. In practical terms, this means we participate in a carbon-net-zero supply chain in the delivery of the solutions from our supplier-partners to our customers.; ; For further details, please see our Carbon Reduction Plan online at https://www.somerfordassociates.com/carbon-reduction-policy-and-plan/ As an organisation that works closely with the public sector.

  Covid-19 recovery

  During the Covid-19 pandemic, our robust business continuity measures, prudent fiscal policy, and the benefits of a highly flexible team, meant we were well prepared for the difficulties ahead. ; ; Staff wellbeing has been at the forefront of our Covid-19 recovery plans, taking care of their physical and mental health, including;; ; * home working to avoid unnecessary exposure to the virus; * providing safe office space where staff personal circumstances dictated; * regular contact, albeit remotely, to prevent isolation; * organised e-based social events to maintain interaction; ; ; As a result we have been able to:; ; * give uninterrupted service to our customers; * move our staff to home working; * avoid compulsory redundancies and minimised furlough; * in 2020, gain an 11% increase in revenues; * continue to grow the workforce by over 10% in the same year; * take on new partners to enhance our solutions portfolio; * invest in staff education to meet future customer needs. ; ; Changes in business practices due to Covid-19 have shown that flexible work patterns can be very effective, and we’re unlikely to fully return to our previous style of working. ; ; Our solutions have also helped customers to cope with their changing work patterns too - supporting their Covid recovery by providing the infrastructure, tooling and monitoring to support their own remote, flexible and sustainable ways of working.

  Tackling economic inequality

  Somerford is a healthily growing business, and actively strives to create employment opportunities that are inclusive of all socio-economic groups. For example:; ; * 47% of our staff joined us as junior.; * 17 of our team have joined us as apprentices or graduated from our in house technical academy; * We actively participate in the Armed Forces Covenant Scheme and help to redeploy and reskill leavers from the Armed Forces. So far, 18 staff have joined us in this way;; ; Strong technical skills are key to the delivery of services to our customers, so we’ve invested heavily in staff training, as is demonstrated by 47% of our staff starting with us as juniors.

  Equal opportunity

  Somerford is an equal opportunities employer and does not discriminate on the grounds of gender, sexual orientation, marital or civil partner status, pregnancy or maternity, gender reassignment, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief or age.; ; We do not discriminate on the grounds of disability. We take particular care to respect the rights of those with disabilities, throughout all stages of recruitment and employment. We make reasonable adjustments to ensure those with disabilities are not disadvantaged in the workplace, eg. adjusting working hours or providing special equipment to help to do their job.

  Wellbeing

  Somerford is committed to promoting and supporting the wellbeing of all of its staff. We aim to create a culture which focuses on prevention of issues in the workplace that can adversely affect staff health and wellbeing, and where issues are identified, they are managed promptly before they can have a detrimental impact.; ; This includes:; * providing staff with clarity and purpose regarding their job role;; * ensuring staff have the capability, training, support and encouragement to conduct their role confidently and effectively;; * providing a physical working environment that is suitable for the work to be carried out effectively;; * encouraging staff to maintain a sensible work-life balance;; * minimising the stressful impacts of work;; * ensuring bullying and harassment have no place in the working environment;; * managing sickness and absence effectively;; * considering requests for career breaks and sabbaticals;; * providing medical assistance to staff;; * encouraging employee fitness;; * promoting dignity at work.

Pricing

• Price: £1,033.06 a unit a year
• Discount for educational organisations: Yes
• 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 penny.harrison@somerfordassociates.com. Tell them what format you need. It will help if you say what assistive technology you use.