Skip to main content

Help us improve the Digital Marketplace - send your feedback

HSO Enterprise Solutions Limited

Azure Virtual Desktop Solutions

HSO stands out as a leader in implementing and managing Azure Virtual Desktop environments. Our expertise as a Microsoft Azure Virtual Desktop Advanced Specialist, combined with our comprehensive approach to cloud solutions, makes us the ideal partner to navigate the complexities of AVD deployment and optimization.

Features

  • Cloud-Based Virtualisation
  • Azure Virtual Desktops (AVD) offers robust security features
  • Dynamic and scalable host pools
  • Seamless Microsoft Integration
  • Comprehensive compliance and policy control
  • Multi-device support
  • Industry leading data protection

Benefits

  • Premier Desktop Virtualisation Service
  • Optimise licensing costs for Azure Virtual Desktop
  • Boosted security and resilience with Azure Virtual Desktop
  • Comprehensive managed service to liberate IT Resources
  • Highly Scalable Desktop Virtualization Solutions
  • Integration with Microsoft 365 for Streamlined AVD Licensing
  • Robust Investment in Security and Infrastructure
  • Innovative Windows 365 Cloud PC via Azure Virtual Desktop
  • Delivered by a Microsoft Inner Circle Partner with ISO27001 accreditation

Pricing

£500 to £1,900 a unit a day

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 UK-GCloud@hso.com. Tell them what format you need. It will help if you say what assistive technology you use.

Framework

G-Cloud 14

Service ID

6 4 6 5 1 9 7 6 5 6 2 8 1 2 7

Contact

HSO Enterprise Solutions Limited Michael Lonnon
Telephone: 07849087668
Email: UK-GCloud@hso.com

Service scope

Software add-on or extension
No
Cloud deployment model
Public cloud
Service constraints
None.
System requirements
  • Users typically need an Internet connection (some apps work offline).
  • Access to an HTML5 Compliant Web Browser - supports BYOD.

User support

Email or online ticketing support
Yes, at extra cost
Support response times
HSO Support's Response times are dependent on severity of the case, starting from 15 minutes
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
Yes, at extra cost
Support levels
HSO provide various Support Level options, starting from an Essential Agreement which is provided by purchasing blocks of Support hours. Further offerings, both reactive and proactive, are available as fixed price agreements, with the ability to raise unlimited Incidents, with unlimited hours spent to resolve them. All Customers will be assigned a dedicated Service Delivery Manager who will be responsible for all services delivered under the Support Agreement. Within these agreements, there is a comprehensive Service Catalogue where customers can choose, and therefore only pay for, the services that they require.
Support available to third parties
Yes

Onboarding and offboarding

Getting started
A key part of any part of any new project is a strong foundation to build on, and as such, HSO's first project phase, regardless of size is a Foundation and Initiation phase. It is during this phase key activities such as those below occur: 1. An Enterprise Architecture enagement is performed (to confirm scope, solution, phases, costs, etc.). 2. Familiarrisation training of the Project team (functional,, technical and / or methodology). 3. Microsoft and HSO best practice material / documentation is shared and 'homework' set re: key activities / decisions / firther familiarisation. 4. Joint Project Planning. 5. Project kick-off to build a single team.
Service documentation
Yes
Documentation formats
  • HTML
  • ODF
  • PDF
End-of-contract data extraction
Your data will typically be held in an SQL database that can be accessed by various tools from simple Excel (either using an ODATA connection, or inbuilt Export to Excel functionality), to reporting packages such as Microsoft Power BI and / or via use of one or more of the inbuilt Data Export tools, such as the Dynamics 365's Data Management Framework or Dataverse. In addition, you may already have a separate Data Warehouse or Data Lake that you are using. Please note that your data will be kept by Microsoft until 3 months after your last user licence has been cancelled, to allow you sufficient time to decide what is needed and how the necessary data will be transferred
End-of-contract process
HSO will agree end of contract scenarios in advance with the Buyer and either tailor to client requirements or provide a standard, predefined solution, based on ITIL v3 processes and guidelines. Additional costs are determined on a case by case basis, dependent on size and complexity
of activities.

Using the service

Web browser interface
Yes
Supported browsers
  • Microsoft Edge
  • Firefox
  • Chrome
  • Safari
Application to install
No
Designed for use on mobile devices
Yes
Differences between the mobile and desktop service
There is similarity of functionality between mobile, tablet and desktop, each tailored to provide a simplified and responsive user interface.
Service interface
Yes
User support accessibility
WCAG 2.1 AA or EN 301 549
Description of service interface
Typically, Microsoft Dynamics 365 and its associated wider cloud-based technology stack, are accessed via a simple HTML5 compliant internet browser. This can be on a laptop, desktop or other mobile device such as a tablet or mobile phone. Microsoft Dynamics is partially compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.1 AA standard (WCAG, 2.1) Any exceptions to that compliance can be found in Microsoft’s conformance statement in Please see the following Microsoft link for further Accessibility information: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/compliance/regulatory/offering-WCAG-2-1
Accessibility standards
WCAG 2.1 AA or EN 301 549
Accessibility testing
As a reseller of Microsoft products and not the author, HSO have not explicitly carried out any user accessibility tests. However, Microsoft take accessibility very seriously and have carried out tests. Further information from Microsoft re: accessibility of Dynamics 365 and other associated Microsoft products can be found here: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/compliance/regulatory/offering-WCAG-2-1
API
Yes
What users can and can't do using the API
The API for Dynamics 365 is comprehensive, however, all API services are typically agreed separately with customers in line with their requirements. Dynamics 365 unifies the capabilities of CRM business software and ERP systems by providing intelligent applications that seamlessly work together in the cloud. Please see this link for more information regarding Dynamics 365 REST API's:: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/rest/dynamics365/
API documentation
Yes
API documentation formats
  • Open API (also known as Swagger)
  • HTML
  • ODF
  • PDF
API sandbox or test environment
Yes
Customisation available
Yes
Description of customisation
There are many ways the service can be customised to meet customer requirements. All customisations are agreed with the customer and implemented following the best practice methodology.

Scaling

Independence of resources
The service leverages the Microsoft Cloud Service. This is designed to meet the needs of operating a service at scale. Other key components include: robust security, scalability, performance, tenant isolation, serviceability, and monitoring.

Analytics

Service usage metrics
Yes
Metrics types
There are many metrics available as standard. Service and reporting metrics are agreed with customers on a contract by contract basis.
Reporting types
  • API access
  • Real-time dashboards
  • Regular reports
  • Reports on request

Resellers

Supplier type
Reseller providing extra features and support
Organisation whose services are being resold
Microsoft

Staff security

Staff security clearance
Other security clearance
Government security clearance
Up to Security Clearance (SC)

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 3.0)
Penetration testing frequency
At least every 6 months
Penetration testing approach
Another external penetration testing organisation
Protecting data at rest
  • Physical access control, complying with CSA CCM v3.0
  • Physical access control, complying with SSAE-16 / ISAE 3402
  • Physical access control, complying with another standard
  • Encryption of all physical media
  • Scale, obfuscating techniques, or data storage sharding
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

Data importing and exporting

Data export approach
Subject to security controls, data can be exported using various methods including inbuilt data export tools and various third-party solutions.
Data export formats
  • CSV
  • ODF
  • Other
Other data export formats
Microsoft Excel
Data import formats
  • CSV
  • ODF
  • Other
Other data import formats
  • Microsoft Excel.
  • XML
  • TXT (Text file format).

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
Microsoft guarantees High Availability - 99.9%.
Approach to resilience
The Microsoft datacentres adhere to the Microsoft Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery (BCDR) standard. Detailed information is available upon request.
Outage reporting
Outage reporting methods include, but are not limited to, Public Dashboards, APIs, Mobile App Push notifications and Email Alerts.

Identity and authentication

User authentication needed
Yes
User authentication
  • Identity federation with existing provider (for example Google Apps)
  • Username or password
Access restrictions in management interfaces and support channels
Internal access control policies, user licencing and service based security roles are used to limit access to only authenticated users.
Access restriction testing frequency
At least every 6 months
Management access authentication
  • 2-factor authentication
  • Identity federation with existing provider (for example Google Apps)
  • Username or password

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 have access to real-time audit information
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
British Assessment Bureau - Certificate Number 212127
ISO/IEC 27001 accreditation date
Initial Certification: 23 April 2018, Latest Issue: 21 June 2021.
What the ISO/IEC 27001 doesn’t cover
N/A - Covers ALL HSO UK trading companies: HSO Enterprise Solutions, HSO CRM Solutions & HSO Customer Service.
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
  • Other
Other security governance standards
Cyber Essentials Plus.

Note: HSO have answered this section from an HSO (reseller and implementer) only perspective. Microsoft also holds both these certifications plus many more.
Information security policies and processes
HSO work to Industry and Microsoft Security standards, with the Microsoft Cloud Services complying to ISO/IEC 27001 and CSA CCM v3.0.

Operational security

Configuration and change management standard
Supplier-defined controls
Configuration and change management approach
HSO has a dedicated Information Security Manager (ISM) and Information Security Management System.

Configuration and Change Management processes at HSO include, but are not limited to:
1. Published processes, and education / training- new starter induction and ongoing refresher training.
2. Use of system tools to capture request, obtain approval and record outcome / actions, e.g. DevOps registers.
3. Steering committee review and approval needed for changes.
4. Regular review and audit of our configuration and change management processes during our ISO 27001 (Information Security) and Cyber Essentials Plus audit and ongoing certification renewal.
Vulnerability management type
Supplier-defined controls
Vulnerability management approach
HSO has a dedicated Information Security Manager (ISM) who is responsible for out Information Security Management System and all underlying Policies within HSO UK.

Vulnerability Management processes at HSO include, but are not limited to:
1. Published processes and education / training - new starter induction and ongoing refresher training.
2. Regular internal vulnerability tests, e.g. through use of dummy phishing emails looking to capture user details.
3. Regular vulnerability tests by external Security specialists.
4. Regular review and audit of our vulnerability processes during our ISO 27001 (Information Security) and Cyber Essentials Plus audit and ongoing certification renewal.
Protective monitoring type
Supplier-defined controls
Protective monitoring approach
As above, HSO has a dedicated Information Security Manager and Information Security Management System.

Protective Monitoring processes at HSO include:
1. Published processes and training - new starter induction and ongoing refresher training.
2. Use of Microsoft Entra ID's security, logging and audit-related capabilities, e.g. Multi-factor authentication and access log reviews.
3. System alerts to notify IT of unusual behaviour. Potential issues also reported through HSO's internal IT department using dedicated Security Incident Case types.
4. Regular review and audit of our protective monitoring processes during our ISO 27001 (Information Security) and Cyber Essentials Plus audit and ongoing certification renewal.
Incident management type
Supplier-defined controls
Incident management approach
As above, HSO has a dedicated Information Security Manager (ISM) and Information Security Management System.

Protective monitoring processes at HSO include:
1. Published processes and training - new starter induction and ongoing refresher training.
2. Such incidents are investigated immediately, assessed and reported to the appropriate internal, and if necessary, external parties.
3. Once resolved, a Lessons Learnt review is performed to prevent recurrence. We also perform internal Risk Mitigation reviews regularly to constantly improve.
4. Regular review and audit of our incident management processes during our ISO 27001 (Information Security) and Cyber Essentials Plus audit and ongoing certification renewal.

Secure development

Approach to secure software development best practice
Conforms to a recognised standard, but self-assessed

Public sector networks

Connection to public sector networks
Yes
Connected networks
Other
Other public sector networks
  • No Out of the box connectors for above PS networks.
  • However, inbuilt integration tools enable access to any existing application.

Social Value

Social Value

Social Value

  • Fighting climate change
  • Covid-19 recovery

Fighting climate change

Planet - Sustainable, greener, and cleaner future.

In the quest for a more sustainable tomorrow, HSO embraces a holistic approach to sustainability. Unwaveringly committed to reducing carbon footprint and maximising supply chain opportunities. Our vision encompasses more than just environmental responsibility; it embodies a philosophy of harmonising growth and innovation with a profound respect for the planet.

Embedding sustainable practices

HSO is committed to environmental excellence and pollution prevention. It works to surpass industry standards and lessen our impact on the local and global environment by conserving energy, water, and other natural resources; reducing waste generation; recycling and reducing our use of toxic materials. Emphasising efficient resourcing, responsible procurement, and innovation, HSO strives for a greener future.

By combining HSOs expertise as a Microsoft solutions provider with the power of Microsoft’s sustainable technologies and solutions, we’re able to support customers in achieving their net zero goals. To find more about how we can do this and help your organisation, please read page 10 of our latest Social Value brochure which can be found here:
https://www.hso.com/media/j15bdjwu/hso-social-value-brochure-2024-2.pdf

HSO can also provide our customers with the following service - an ESG Assessment. We analyse your Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) reporting and support you in closing gaps to enable automated reporting. Please see the following HSO website link for further details:
https://www.hso.com/consultancy-offering/esg-assessment

Covid-19 recovery

Prosperity - Skills, opportunity, and liberating lives.

A prosperous economy supports thriving communities and, in turn, people. HSO's commitment to ethical business practices, giving back to our communities, fair trade and responsible sourcing, ensures our growth and success go hand in hand with the well-being of wider communities.

Supporting the wider community: HSO works with multiple charities. For 2023/24, these are The Stroke Association, British Heart Foundation, and Alzheimer’s Research UK. To date, HSO's employees have raised over £114,000 for charity, which HSO has matched.

Putting technology and skills to good use: As well as time and money, HSO uses our skills to help non-profit organisations do more, eg. during lockdown, KidsOut, faced volunteer shortages affecting toy distribution to children in care and living in refuges. HSO built an app to streamline toy box scanning and tracking nationwide. Before this, KidsOut used a paper-based system to manage toy donations. The app removed time-consuming manual tasks, aiding volunteers, enabling growth and ensured efficient delivery despite employee / volunteer limitations.

Local economic development: HSO people are encouraged to involve themselves in local economic development initiatives. This can involve infrastructure projects or community facilities, leading to new business opportunities and job creation.

Education and training initiatives: HSO works with organisations to support training and apprenticeship programmes. This bridges the skills gap by offering practical, industry-specific training to individuals seeking to enter work.

By combining HSOs expertise as a Microsoft solutions provider with the power of Microsoft’s sustainable technologies and solutions, we are able to support you achieve your organisation's goals, improving lives of those in your community. Please read our latest Social Value brochure:
https://www.hso.com/media/j15bdjwu/hso-social-value-brochure-2024-2.pdf

HSO can provide our customers with an ESG Assessment. We analyse your Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) reporting, helping close gaps to enable automated reporting. Please see:
https://www.hso.com/consultancy-offering/esg-assessment

Pricing

Price
£500 to £1,900 a unit a day
Discount for educational organisations
No
Free trial available
No

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 UK-GCloud@hso.com. Tell them what format you need. It will help if you say what assistive technology you use.