SMARTER TECHNOLOGIES GROUP LIMITED

Zero Trust Desktop as a Service

Proven deployment of 20,000+ end user devices using NCSC design principles for Zero Trust Networking. Delivers end-to-end services using Zscaler and integration with IDAM services, including Okta, Azure, SAML. The perfect model for government desktop-as-a-service, as used by DESNZ, DSIT, DBT and ALBs / POs as 'Cirrus'.

Features

• Zero trust DaaS service model
• Integrates with various IDAM services for SSO & 2FA
• Easily/immediately scalable as proven during COVID-19
• Adheres to NCSC best practices
• Proactive service monitoring & reporting
• Delivered by Microsoft, Okta & Zscaler Partners
• Enables rapid migration to Cloud services
• Reach back to legacy application
• Enables BYOD strategic planning
• Fully-managed evergreen service

Benefits

• Work securely from anywhere
• No need for legacy VPN services, enabling rapid scalability
• Enables simplified cross government experience and federation
• Options to re-use existing licenses
• Options to re-use existing hardware
• Options for a full managed service
• Secure by design
• User needs based development following GDS Standards/Guidelines
• Reduced cost/complexity with centralised simplified management (Workspace 1, InTune/JAMF)
• Increase productivity. Securely collaborate and access your applications

£30 a licence

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

Framework

G-Cloud 14

Service ID

692818860558479

Contact

Elaine Glock
+44 (0)330 223 5000
enquiries@smartertechnologies.com

Service scope

• Software add-on or extension: No
• Cloud deployment model:
  • Public cloud
  • Private cloud
  • Hybrid cloud
• Service constraints: N/A
• System requirements: Internet Connectivity

User support

• Email or online ticketing support: Email or online ticketing
• Support response times: Within an hour
• User can manage status and priority of support tickets: Yes
• Online ticketing support accessibility: WCAG 2.1 AAA
• Phone support: Yes
• Phone support availability: 24 hours, 7 days a week
• Web chat support: Web chat
• Web chat support availability: 24 hours, 7 days a week
• Web chat support accessibility standard: WCAG 2.1 AAA
• Web chat accessibility testing: Our chat software has been tested with various web browsers which support various assistive technologies, including Dragon and Jaws.
• Onsite support: Yes, at extra cost
• Support levels: Monday - Friday 0800-1800 Saturday - Sunday 1000-1600 Technical Account Manager is assigned to the client for initial on boarding and on a regular basis to ensure service satisfaction.
• Support available to third parties: Yes

Onboarding and offboarding

• Getting started: User Documentation is freely available from the client portal. Additional configuration and on boarding can be arranged according to our SFIA rate card.
• Service documentation: Yes
• Documentation formats:
  • HTML
  • ODF
  • PDF
• End-of-contract data extraction: Export of policy configuration and operational reports.
• End-of-contract process: At the end of the contract, the service will terminate. Customers will simply need to repoint their DNS services to an alternative service and remove the client application from the central software deployment tool.

Using the service

• Web browser interface: Yes
• Supported browsers:
  • Internet Explorer 11
  • Microsoft Edge
  • Firefox
  • Chrome
  • Safari
  • Opera
• Application to install: Yes
• Compatible operating systems:
  • Android
  • IOS
  • Linux or Unix
  • MacOS
  • Windows
  • Windows Phone
• Designed for use on mobile devices: Yes
• Differences between the mobile and desktop service: Mobile devices can operate via a dedicated secure connection. This can be included in your Mobile Device Management (MDM) deployment.
• Service interface: Yes
• User support accessibility: WCAG 2.1 AAA
• Description of service interface: Accessed via a web browser to our secure ISO27001 accredited and GDPR compliant cloud service. We can also provide on-site services if required.
• Accessibility standards: WCAG 2.1 AAA
• Accessibility testing: Testing completed with Jaws and Dragon.
• API: Yes
• What users can and can't do using the API: Testing completed with Jaws and Dragon.
• API documentation: Yes
• API documentation formats:
  • Open API (also known as Swagger)
  • HTML
  • ODF
  • PDF
• API sandbox or test environment: Yes
• Customisation available: No

Scaling

• Independence of resources: Public hosted cloud service with 99.99% uptime over the last 5 years. Fully scalable to millions of users without any impact on service performance. Resilient routing.

Analytics

• Service usage metrics: Yes
• Metrics types: Full reporting engine on end user devices, by user, device, group, location. Full reports on security activity by threat, location, type.
• Reporting types: Real-time dashboards

Resellers

• Supplier type: Not a reseller

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:
  • United Kingdom
  • European Economic Area (EEA)
  • 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: ‘IT Health Check’ performed by a CHECK service provider
• Protecting data at rest: Encryption of all physical media
• Data sanitisation process: Yes
• Data sanitisation type: Deleted data can’t be directly accessed
• Equipment disposal approach: In-house destruction process

Data importing and exporting

• Data export approach: Within the web portal.
• Data export formats: CSV
• Data import formats: CSV

Data-in-transit protection

• Data protection between buyer and supplier networks: IPsec or TLS VPN gateway
• Data protection within supplier network: IPsec or TLS VPN gateway

Availability and resilience

• Guaranteed availability: 99.99% service availability.
• Approach to resilience: Resilient routing to resilient public cloud data centres.
• Outage reporting: Email alerts and a public dashboard.

Identity and authentication

• User authentication needed: Yes
• User authentication:
  • Public key authentication (including by TLS client certificate)
  • Identity federation with existing provider (for example Google Apps)
  • Limited access network (for example PSN)
• Access restrictions in management interfaces and support channels: Web-based API controlled by username and password - to be granted to service and security managers only. Access within the portal can be restricted by individual or group of users.
• Access restriction testing frequency: At least every 6 months
• Management access authentication: 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: Peers Quality Assurance Limited
• ISO/IEC 27001 accreditation date: 30/03/2024
• What the ISO/IEC 27001 doesn’t cover: Nothing.
• 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
• Information security policies and processes: Independently verified processes for Security. ISO27001 for public hosted cloud service.

Operational security

• Configuration and change management standard: Supplier-defined controls
• Configuration and change management approach: Public hosted service with 99.99% uptime. Change management beyond our control.
• Vulnerability management type: Supplier-defined controls
• Vulnerability management approach: Manage the full end to end threat analysis with machine learning and artificial intelligence applications.
• Protective monitoring type: Supplier-defined controls
• Protective monitoring approach: Manage the end-to-end service for protective monitoring.
• Incident management type: Supplier-defined controls
• Incident management approach: Manage the end-to-end Incident Management approach.

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: No

Social Value

• Social Value:

  Social Value

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

  Fighting climate change

  Smarter Technologies is dedicated to combating climate change by assisting our clients in reducing their carbon footprint and dependency on natural resources. At the heart of our business is the provision of equipment which offers comprehensive insights into energy and water consumption, empowering businesses to adopt more sustainable practices. We believe that fostering this understanding leads to tangible behavioural changes and the adoption of eco-friendly solutions, paving the way for a greener future.; We offer affordable smart energy monitoring solutions tailored for built estates. These solutions enable the collection, analysis, and intuitive presentation of energy consumption data, aligning with government policies aimed at increasing energy cost awareness, promoting energy efficiency measures, and mitigating climate change impact. Our technology is utilised by various industries, including large, well-known brands, to fulfil regulatory obligations such as Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SERC), as well as to enhance productivity and reduce operational costs.; Over the past six years, we have collaborated with nearly 1200 businesses, providing pro bono support to charitable organisations, academic research programs, Armed Forces sports initiatives, and local community groups. Notable achievements include assisting an SME in reducing gas consumption by over 180MWh annually, equivalent to almost 10% of their total energy usage.; Looking ahead, we remain committed to aiding companies in achieving their Net Zero targets. Under the leadership of our Head of Sales, we pledge to support at least two charitable organisations annually by providing our smart metering solution free of charge, enabling them to reduce energy consumption and operating costs. Additionally, we aim to have 20% of our employed staff certified as Carbon Literate by 2024, with a goal of reaching 100% by the end of the year, as part of our commitment to social value and environmental stewardship.

  Covid-19 recovery

  Amidst the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Smarter Technologies prioritised the health and well-being of our employees. We swiftly implemented rigorous public health measures to safeguard against infection risks and seamlessly transitioned to remote work arrangements, placing employee welfare at the forefront of our operational strategy. ; Throughout the height of the pandemic, we took proactive steps to address individual needs and concerns, fostering a supportive environment where mental and physical health issues can be openly addressed, and home office requirements are met. Even though the worst of the pandemic is behind us, we are committed to adaptability.; In our pursuit of aiding the COVID-19 recovery effort, we've implemented a range of initiatives aimed at improving workplace conditions, including effective social distancing measures, remote working solutions, and sustainable travel alternatives. Among these initiatives is a ride-to-work benefit encouraging cycling to reduce resource consumption. ; Additionally, we've adopted a 4.5-day work week, granting Friday afternoons off to allow employees more time for personal pursuits and family. Our Remote Working Policy offers flexibility, enabling staff to balance work with personal commitments, while ensuring a healthy work-life balance.; Recognising the importance of continuous learning and self-reliance, we've instituted comprehensive training courses covering health, safety, security, and more for all staff. We've equipped employees with necessary resources to facilitate confident remote work, while updating security policies to align with remote working practices.; Furthermore, we've extended our efforts beyond internal operations, actively promoting employment opportunities across diverse job boards, particularly in the tech and development sectors, to support individuals affected by unemployment due to COVID-19. Our hiring practices prioritise ethical and fair treatment, contributing to community resilience and recovery. Leveraging an external HR consultancy, we've addressed the physical and mental health needs of individuals impacted by COVID-19, thereby reducing the strain on health and care services.

  Tackling economic inequality

  Addressing economic inequality lies at the core of Smarter Technologies' mission. We firmly believe that through global collaboration, we can collectively shape a future that offers better opportunities and fosters smarter decision-making for all.; In our pursuit of inclusivity and equal opportunity, we are committed to actively promoting opportunities through targeted engagement initiatives. This includes active participation in women in STEM programs and leveraging specialist job board advertising to reach diverse talent pools. Our recruitment and promotion processes are rooted in fairness and transparency, utilising skill- and competency-based assessments to select the best candidates equitably. Under the guidance of our Finance Director, inclusivity training has been given to all senior leaders and hiring managers, reinforcing our commitment to fostering an inclusive workplace culture.; We are dedicated to continuously reviewing and updating our recruitment and promotion procedures, soliciting feedback from our employee-led focus group to ensure alignment with best practices. Complementing our commitments to the Disability Employment and Race at Work charters, we pledge to sign the Armed Forces Covenant and strive to achieve Bronze Award status in the Defence Employers Recognition Scheme.; We also focus on nurturing talent in the community from an early age. We have pledged to:; Fund Code Ninjas placements in South Wales and London, targeting underprivileged neighbourhoods like Ringland in Newport and Church Street in Westminster. We'll prioritise identifying pupils with IT aptitude, with a special emphasis on girls.; Offer week-long work experience placements to pupils at local schooling institutions, providing valuable exposure to the industry.; Establish an A Level 2 Apprenticeship program for local youngsters without academic qualifications for T-Level apprenticeships, promoting vocational skills development.; Facilitate T-Level industry placements in our regional offices to bridge the gap between education and employment, providing invaluable real-world experience.

  Equal opportunity

  At Smarter Technologies, we are dedicated to fostering an inclusive workplace environment that celebrates diversity and promotes equal opportunities for all. ; Aligned with our commitment to equal opportunity, we are implementing the Good Work Plan. This initiative underscores our dedication to promoting high-quality jobs for individuals from all backgrounds and circumstances. Key components of the plan include Fair Pay, the formal adoption of the living wage policy to ensure fair compensation for all employees; Participation, regular staff surveys to gather feedback and insights from our diverse workforce; Progression, enhanced support for Career Development Plans (CDP) with transparent career pathways; Voice, the establishment of an employee-led focus group to promote open dialogue and inclusivity; and Autonomy, the encouragement of flexible working arrangements and outcomes-based work planning.; Our commitment to diversity is reflected in our workforce statistics, with 39% of our staff identifying as non-white, surpassing regional and sector averages. While we have achieved significant representation in senior leadership positions, we recognise the need to further improve gender balance. To this end, we are dedicated to increasing the proportion of women on our team over the next five years. We actively promote opportunities through targeted engagement initiatives, such as active participation in women in STEM programs and specialist job board advertising.; We are deeply committed to supporting government initiatives aimed at aiding the long-term unemployed through the Restart Scheme. Collaborating with local providers like Serco, we seek to provide meaningful employment opportunities and strengthen the ethnic diversity of our workforce. We are also committed to promoting disability inclusion by becoming a Disability Confident employer and signing the Disability Employment Charter. Our policies will be extended to support flexible working arrangements for carers of disabled family members, further enhancing accessibility and inclusivity.

  Wellbeing

  At Smarter Technologies, we prioritise the well-being of our employees, recognising that a healthy and supportive work environment is essential for everyone. We have taken proactive steps to foster a workplace culture that encourages healthier choices and supports personal well-being, regardless of job position or status. Our comprehensive support system ensures that employees feel respected, valued, and able to communicate openly about any health concerns, both present and future. This commitment is embedded within our HR system, guided by evidence-based best practices to achieve optimal outcomes for our employees' health and improvement.; In line with our dedication to employee well-being, we have implemented various initiatives to promote work-life balance and flexibility. This includes transitioning to a 4.5 day work week, granting Friday afternoons off to allow employees more time to spend with loved ones. Our Remote Working Policy provides flexibility for staff to manage their daily commitments according to personal needs, fostering a conducive work environment regardless of location. ; We prioritise ongoing education and development through comprehensive training courses covering health, safety, security, and more. This empowers our employees to be self-reliant and informed, particularly in remote work settings where independence is crucial. We have equipped our staff with necessary tools and resources to work remotely with confidence, while updating our security policies to ensure information security remains paramount.; We believe in the principles of co-design with local communities for any contract we undertake. We hold sessions to understand and inform ourselves of the local issues and how our work on the contract can assist communities and bring them further value than just that of the contract. We actively try to improve community integration with a system of feedback and open calls for input from community leaders.

Pricing

• Price: £30 a licence
• Discount for educational organisations: No
• 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 enquiries@smartertechnologies.com. Tell them what format you need. It will help if you say what assistive technology you use.