Strategic Blue

Value Added SaaS Resale in AWS & GCP

Where software purchases are part of, or a prelude to, wider purchase of AWS through us, we will negotiate and buy the software with the aim to offer the best possible AWS or GCP Marketplace Private Pricing Offer. This service is only available in conjunction with other Strategic Blue services.

Features

• Software deal negotiation
• Cost optimised software SaaS pricing
• AWS marketplace supports over 40,000 different products
• Existing contracts with multiple suppliers for quick turnaround
• Other software purchases available upon request
• Extends the Strategic Blue FinOps service

Benefits

• Cost Optimisation of the your software and SaaS supply
• Software procurement support
• Software purchase cost counts towards OGVA2 targets
• We aim to deliver at or below ISV published price
• Supports vendor metered and cost allocation tagging
• Cheaper custom pricing for SaaS software
• Supports your procurement compliance processes

£1 a unit

• Education pricing available
• Free trial 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 sales@strategic-blue.com. Tell them what format you need. It will help if you say what assistive technology you use.

Framework

G-Cloud 14

Service ID

700577249047647

Contact

James Mitchell
0736 0498154
sales@strategic-blue.com

Service scope

• Software add-on or extension: Yes
• What software services is the service an extension to: Strategic Blue FinOps Service (Lot 1)
• Cloud deployment model:
  • Public cloud
  • Hybrid cloud
• Service constraints: This offering is additional to a Strategic Blue Cloud hosting solution
• System requirements:
  • Resold Cloud Hosting via Strategic Blue e.g.
  • Managed AWS Cost Optimisation & Resale
  • Simple Risk free cost optimisation for AWS
  • Flexible AWS Cost Optimisation & Resale
  • Cloud Resale and FinOps for Education in AWS
  • Guided Cloud Cost Optimisation & Resale

User support

• Email or online ticketing support: Email or online ticketing
• Support response times: General support tickets are answered within 48 hours, Monday to Friday.
• 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: Web chat
• Web chat support availability: 9 to 5 (UK time), Monday to Friday
• Web chat support accessibility standard: WCAG 2.1 AA or EN 301 549
• Web chat accessibility testing: Webchat is provided via a Slack channel. https://slack.com/intl/en-gb/accessibility-plan
• Onsite support: No
• Support levels: Technical support for your cloud is provided via the relevant SaaS provider. Customers can select the level of support that they require. Strategic Blue provides support for billing and invoicing questions and cost optimisation support.
• Support available to third parties: Yes

Onboarding and offboarding

• Getting started: Customers can purchase the Marketplace purchases or software in a way that suits their technical requirements, generally via the AWS or Google Marketplace. The software will be installed in the Account of their choice and operated by the customer. ; Installation and configuration from the software vendor may be included within this service.
• Service documentation: Yes
• Documentation formats: PDF
• End-of-contract data extraction: Customers retain ownership of their data throughout the contract. Specific SaaS offerings will have specific extraction processes, depending on the provider.
• End-of-contract process: At the end of the contract the customer can re-contract or can let the contract lapse. ; There is no charge from Strategic Blue for exit.

Using the service

• Web browser interface: Yes
• Supported browsers:
  • Internet Explorer 11
  • Microsoft Edge
  • Firefox
  • Chrome
  • Safari
  • Opera
• Application to install: No
• Designed for use on mobile devices: Yes
• Differences between the mobile and desktop service: None
• Service interface: No
• User support accessibility: WCAG 2.1 AA or EN 301 549
• API: No
• Customisation available: Yes
• Description of customisation: Strategic Blue provide a cost optimised route for SaaS purchase, alongside Strategic Blue managed cloud hosting.; Customers can purchase AWS Marketplace software via Strategic Blue for a discount.

Scaling

• Independence of resources: This will depend on the SaaS service being purchased, but generally customers have independence through security boundaries, hypervisor separation and segmentation of the services.

Analytics

• Service usage metrics: No

Resellers

• Supplier type: Reseller providing extra features and support
• Organisation whose services are being resold: Any Cloud Marketplace SaaS offering

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: European Economic Area (EEA)
• User control over data storage and processing locations: No
• Datacentre security standards: Managed by a third party
• Penetration testing frequency: Less than once a year
• Penetration testing approach: Another external penetration testing organisation
• Protecting data at rest:
  • Encryption of all physical media
  • Other
• Other data at rest protection approach: Customer data protection is dependent on the SaaS offering provided.; ; Strategic Blue data is encrypted at rest
• Data sanitisation process: No
• Equipment disposal approach: A third-party destruction service

Data importing and exporting

• Data export approach: This is dependant on the SaaS offering procured
• Data export formats:
  • CSV
  • ODF
  • Other
• Other data export formats: To be confirmed by SaaS provider
• Data import formats:
  • CSV
  • ODF
  • Other
• Other data import formats: To be confirmed by the SaaS provider

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: SLAs are dependant on the SaaS offering purchased and the support level purchased
• Approach to resilience: Strategic Blue services are cloud-native and highly resilient across multiple availability zones.
• Outage reporting: Outage reporting will depend on the SaaS provider

Identity and authentication

• User authentication needed: Yes
• User authentication:
  • 2-factor authentication
  • Username or password
  • Other
• Other user authentication: As defined by the customer, and depdependant on SaaS provider
• Access restrictions in management interfaces and support channels: As defined by the customer, and depdependant on SaaS provider
• Access restriction testing frequency: At least once a year
• Management access authentication:
  • 2-factor authentication
  • Identity federation with existing provider (for example Google Apps)
  • Username or password
  • Other
• Description of management access authentication: As defined by the customer, and depdependant on SaaS provider.; ; Strategic Blue has no access to the SaaS provision purchased

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
• ISO/IEC 27001 accreditation date: 22 October 2024
• What the ISO/IEC 27001 doesn’t cover: N/A
• ISO 28000:2007 certification: No
• CSA STAR certification: Yes
• CSA STAR accreditation date: 14/02/2023
• CSA STAR certification level: Level 1: CSA STAR Self-Assessment
• What the CSA STAR doesn’t cover: All services are covered
• PCI certification: No
• Cyber essentials: Yes
• Cyber essentials plus: No
• Other security certifications: No

Security governance

• Named board-level person responsible for service security: Yes
• Security governance certified: Yes
• Security governance standards:
  • CSA CCM version 3.0
  • ISO/IEC 27001
• Information security policies and processes: ISO27001, CSA CCM4 (CSA STAR Level 1), Cyber Essentials

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: Dependant on SaaS provider
• Vulnerability management type: Conforms to a recognised standard, for example CSA CCM v3.0 or SSAE-16 / ISAE 3402
• Vulnerability management approach: Dependant on SaaS provider
• Protective monitoring type: Conforms to a recognised standard, for example CSA CCM v3.0 or SSAE-16 / ISAE 3402
• Protective monitoring approach: Dependant on SaaS provider
• 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: Dependant on SaaS provider

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
  • Tackling economic inequality
  • Equal opportunity
  • Wellbeing

  Fighting climate change

  Strategic Blue is committed to achieving Net Zero Greenhouse Gas emissions by 2040 and has a Carbon Reduction Plan on our website. We are certified ISO 14001 Environmental Management compliant. Our Environmental Policy outlines our commitment to minimising the environmental impact of our activities, including embedding environmental sustainability in procurement processes and contract terms to ensure our suppliers are able to demonstrate their commitment to protecting the environment. ; ; In recent years, we've implemented several measures aimed at diminishing our carbon emissions. Initiatives like our electric car salary sacrifice programme and cycle-to-work scheme were launched to promote environmental consciousness among our staff. Embracing a hybrid work approach, we limit travel to essential in-person meetings, thereby lessening our carbon impact. Additionally, our assessment of the supply chain includes an evaluation of supplier environmental credentials and carbon reduction strategies.; ; We believe that through cost optimisation we make the cloud a more attractive financial option, which encourages our customers to move more of their workloads to the cloud. This has the benefit of moving services from inefficient legacy data centres (average PUE 1.6) to cloud data centres (PUE 1.2) with a consequential 25% power saving, and associated carbon emissions reduction. ; Critical to this migration is the buyer’s ability to forecast its future costs, and those future costs benefiting from optimal prices. Strategic Blue’s core proposition thus centres around helping buyers understand their future usage and costs, translating into commitments to hyperscalers, to help these vendors manage their capacity, and thus their carbon footprint.

  Tackling economic inequality

  Strategic Blue fully recognises the importance of creating new opportunities for all individuals to acquire relevant digital skills. ; Strategic Blue works as part of the Cloudbank consortium, funded by the NSF, to enable cloud research and facilitate easy access to digital skills development. ; We continue to support UK-based university customers, including those early in their cloud journey, helping researchers and support staff enhance their digital skills. We desire to build on this foundation to establish a UK-based Cloudbank initiative.; We freely expand the Cloud FinOps knowledge available within the broader cloud user community through blogs and podcasts on cost optimisation and control, on our website, events and through our active contribution to the FinOps Foundation.; We have established a Core Competency and Values framework, outlining necessary competencies and core values for all at Strategic Blue. We shall be formulating learning and development initiatives that will be integral to tackling the digital skills gap. These initiatives will empower Strategic Blue to establish impactful apprenticeships and internships, targeting marginalised communities and individuals confronted by economic obstacles, and granting them access to valuable opportunities.; We aim to forge partnerships with non-profit organisations specialising in addressing economic inequality and the digital skills gap. By collaborating, we can amplify our impact and reach a broader audience, possibly involving joint initiatives, outreach programmes, or financial support.; With expanding business demands, we will hire additional Account Managers, Technical Support personnel, and Portfolio specialists, creating new digitally skilled jobs. Nurturing an inclusive culture valuing diverse perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds, we create an inviting environment that attracts talent from various communities.

  Equal opportunity

  Strategic Blue is committed to promoting awareness of and taking positive action to address workforce inequality across multiple dimensions, including employment, skills, pay, and development. We ensure that our recruitment processes are fair and inclusive, actively seeking candidates from diverse backgrounds and underrepresented groups. We have implemented policies and practices that prevent discrimination based on factors such as race, gender, age, disability, or socioeconomic status. Our goal is to create a workforce that reflects the diversity of the communities we serve.; We invest in continuous skills development programmes for our employees, providing training opportunities that enhance their professional growth and aim to close skills gaps within our organisation. We provide access to training and development initiatives, ensuring that all employees have an equal chance to acquire new skills and advance their careers.; We conduct regular and thorough pay equity analyses to identify and rectify any disparities in compensation based on any protected characteristics. Our aim is to ensure that all employees receive fair and equitable remuneration for their contributions, regardless of their background.; We have clear pathways for career advancement and development within our organisation. We implement performance evaluation systems that are unbiased and objective, provide opportunities for mentorship, and offer transparent criteria for promotions. By creating an environment that fosters equal opportunities for growth, we actively tackle workforce inequality.; As a small to medium-sized business we are constrained in our capacity to guarantee the dedication of our suppliers to uphold fairness in their workplaces. However, we assess our suppliers within our approved supplier process and conduct yearly audits. These steps are taken to verify that our supply chain aligns with our principles concerning equality, diversity, and respect.

  Wellbeing

  Strategic Blue prioritises the holistic health and wellbeing of its workforce, fostering a culture of support and encouragement that extends beyond the workplace. We give all employees access to an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) that offers vital resources such as counselling and tailored nutrition advice, ensuring employees have access to professional guidance for both physical and mental health challenges.; ; Recognising the importance of mental health awareness, all new starters undergo specialised training to equip them with the knowledge and tools to navigate mental health issues effectively. Additionally, our commitment to employee wellbeing is underscored by mandatory training for managers on 'How to Support Employee Wellbeing', empowering them to create a nurturing environment conducive to optimal health outcomes.; ; We also provide staff with access to two medical benefit providers that offer a diverse range of services tailored to address both mental and physical wellbeing, ensuring our employees have access to comprehensive support networks. Furthermore, our dedicated mental health support folder provides a repository of valuable resources, including expert advice and informative documents, accessible to all employees.; ; Strategic Blue goes beyond mere provision, actively fostering a culture of wellbeing through regular events designed to promote team cohesion and mental health awareness. From team-building activities to stress-relief initiatives like yoga classes, these events serve as vital outlets for employees to unwind and prioritise self-care.; ; Central to our ethos is the cultivation of a supportive workplace culture that champions work-life balance and open dialogue around wellbeing. By encouraging transparent communication and fostering an environment where employees feel valued and supported, we strive to create a community where holistic health is prioritised and nurtured.

Pricing

• Price: £1 a unit
• Discount for educational organisations: Yes
• Free trial available: Yes
• Description of free trial: Free trial is available for most SaaS solutions, details will depend on the SaaS provider terms.
• Link to free trial: https://strategic-blue.com/public-sector/

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