Headless Content Management System (CMS)
Connect’s headless, decoupled CMS solutions separate content management from content delivery for platform-independent means of presenting content across multiple channels and devices. Both use well-supported open source CMS’ for back-end only content management. Built from WordPress or Umbraco, giving you a feature set for controlling content in your website development.
Features
- Set up and configuration of headless CMS: WordPress or Umbraco
- Tailored for your content, taxonomies and meta data
- Content stored in a single database
- Delivers content through standard compliant API to any channel
- Content delivery through embedded widgets/feeds to 3rd party channels
- Implementation of API to deliver content to channels
- Allows unlimited number of back-end content management users
- Supports tailored content workflow
Benefits
- Fast headless content delivery to one/more channels from single source
- Enhanced security
- Manage content through familiar, popular, well-supported, structured CMS
- Deliver content through a flexible, decoupled front-end of your choice
- Front-end developers not limited by technologies used to deliver back-office
- Future proof: integrates easily with new technologies and devices
- Benefit from Connect's WordPress/Umbraco expertise
Pricing
£301 a unit a month
- Free trial available
Service documents
Request an accessible format
Framework
G-Cloud 13
Service ID
7 8 1 2 2 0 4 3 8 8 3 0 1 4 1
Contact
Connect Internet Solutions Ltd
Sam Mooney
Telephone: +44 (0) 1512824321
Email: gcloud@connectinternetsolutions.com
Service scope
- Software add-on or extension
- No
- Cloud deployment model
- Public cloud
- Service constraints
-
Any routine downtime required for system maintenance is scheduled outside normal office hours. A maximum 1 hour per month window is provisionally allocated for system maintenance, if required. In any
month when the maintenance window is to be used, customers are notified at least seven working days in advance.
Expected data transfer 1mbps per transfer. A Fair Usage Policy applies.
Minimum contract period is twelve months. - System requirements
-
- Firefox/Chrome latest versions, Internet Explorer 11, Safari, Opera, Microsoft Edge
- Hardwired broadband/wireless LAN connection, 3G connections dependent on reception/mobile coverage
User support
- Email or online ticketing support
- Yes, at extra cost
- Support response times
-
Target response time:
2 hrs for critical support requests during normal working hours;
4 hrs for non-critical support requests. - User can manage status and priority of support tickets
- Yes
- Online ticketing support accessibility
- None or don’t know
- 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
-
Included:
Helpdesk: 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays)
Hosting support: 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays)
Tickets can be logged 24/7
Out of hours support response (extra cost - see pricing document): 24/7
Contact details for Service Manager will be supplied. - Support available to third parties
- Yes
Onboarding and offboarding
- Getting started
-
The following training support is available:
1. In-line help within the CMS interface
2. Simple User Guide for using the issue-logging system
3. A structured walkthrough on system set-up (delivered either remotely or face-to-face)
4. CMS back-end Training Manual
5. Face-to-face training options are also available. We offer training off-site at customers’ premises.
6. Train-the-trainer options are also available. - Service documentation
- Yes
- Documentation formats
- End-of-contract data extraction
-
When off-boarding, the client has the option of being supplied with either of:
1. An export (image) of the Virtual Machine
2. An export of the file system and database comprising the content and database format .
Data available to the client for exporting includes content, metadata, structure and configuration; where the VM export has been chosen, log files can also be supplied.
Exports are supplied as an encrypted file containing the exported files.
Exported files will be provided in .zip format, database exports will be provided in MySQL compatible format.
Flexible options are available for handing over the export to the client, dependent upon client preferences (Client transfers via SFTP, Connect transfers via SFTP on client’s behalf, physical transfer via appropriate
medium/channel).
On off-boarding all consumer generated data will be provided in the export.
Custom data extractions can be provided on request (chargeable at hourly rates). - End-of-contract process
-
Included:
Single copy of VM in raw format;
Data wipe/disposal.
Additional cost:
Liaison with new supplier;
Transfer of data by non-electronic means;
Custom data extractions can be provided on request
(chargeable at hourly rates).
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
-
Service options:
• Cloud hosted
All our headless and decoupled solutions are available as UK-based, cloud hosted solutions from our ISO27001 accredited hosting centre. On-premises hosting also available.
• Back-end only CMS
Comprises content database, open source CMS (WordPress or Umbraco) and RESTful API, available as headless or decoupled.
• Front-end only content delivery system
Uses API calls to retrieve content. Available in a range of technologies appropriate to channels and devices being targeted, e.g. Cordova, Xamarin, CodeIgniter web framework for php, .net MVC with C#, HTML, JavaScript.
• End to end solution
Comprises headless or decoupled CMS (WordPress or Umbraco), RESTful API and separated front-end delivery layer.
Scaling
- Independence of resources
- Systems are monitored continually. Systems are not over-provisioned. Throttling can be applied.
Analytics
- Service usage metrics
- No
Resellers
- Supplier type
- Not a reseller
Staff security
- Staff security clearance
- Other security clearance
- 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
- User control over data storage and processing locations
- Yes
- Datacentre security standards
- Supplier-defined controls
- 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 another standard
- 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
- Request to support team is made.
- Data export formats
- Other
- Other data export formats
-
- File system
- Database backup
- Data import formats
- CSV
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
- Data protection within supplier network
-
- TLS (version 1.2 or above)
- Other
- Other protection within supplier network
- Systems are managed using Secure Shell. Where web interfaces are used for management, this is provided over HTTPS/SSL. Management interfaces are separately firewalled from the other networks.
Availability and resilience
- Guaranteed availability
-
Availability: 99.9%
In any calendar month in which we have unscheduled down time that causes the service level to drop below agreed performance level, the basic monthly charge is reduced by 10% for each full percentage below the agreed level, up to a maximum credit in that month of 100%. - Approach to resilience
- Available on request.
- Outage reporting
- Email/telephone alerts.
Identity and authentication
- User authentication needed
- Yes
- User authentication
-
- Dedicated link (for example VPN)
- Username or password
- Other
- Other user authentication
-
Standard WordPress authentication uses username and password.
It can also be:
Restricted to pass traffic only over a private dedicated VPN;
Integrated with Active Directory for SSO;
Integrated with 2FA for increased security;
Integrate with other authentication providers/mechanisms on request.
Standard Umbraco authentication uses username and password. It can also be: Restricted to pass traffic only over a private dedicated VPN; Integrated with Active Directory for SSO; Integrated with 2FA for increased security; Integrate with other authentication providers/mechanisms on request. - Access restrictions in management interfaces and support channels
- Management interfaces are available to Connect Internet Solutions Ltd staff only. Roles and responsibilities are defined at project initiation and access to support channel granted to named contacts.
- Access restriction testing frequency
- At least every 6 months
- Management access authentication
-
- 2-factor 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
- Alcumus ISOQAR
- ISO/IEC 27001 accreditation date
- 15/07/2020
- What the ISO/IEC 27001 doesn’t cover
- Our ISO27001 accreditation covers only web hosting server platforms, their operation, management and control.
- ISO 28000:2007 certification
- No
- CSA STAR certification
- No
- 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
- ISO/IEC 27001
- Information security policies and processes
-
Every manager at every level throughout Connect makes regular reviews of security controls and procedures in their area of responsibility so as to provide and maintain secure working environments for employees and the security of Connect’s assets, including information. They must ensure that sufficient resources are allocated to carry out this policy in their areas of responsibility. Reviews take place to ensure commitment to continual improvement and in order to satisfy applicable requirements for the management of information security.
Every individual within the company is expected to work in conjunction with their managers in all aspects of security to ensure that information security controls and procedures are implemented and operated properly and fully.
Security incidents must be reported to the managers concerned and to the Connect’s Management Directors. Information security incidents must be reported to the Connect's Security Manager. Major breaches of security must be reported immediately to the Security Manager, who may take charge of investigations or direct what action should be taken.
Operational security
- Configuration and change management standard
- Supplier-defined controls
- Configuration and change management approach
-
Connect’s change management process ensures that no change is made to the operating environment without the necessary authority and ensures that a log of any changes made is completed. A Request for Change Form is completed when a change is deemed necessary. This is signed by all relevant parties before the change can take place. Areas under change control usually include:
• New hardware installations
• Software changes for the operating system / software
• Network upgrades for any change in hardware, upgrades to equipment, changes in topology/protocols/addresses.
Changes assessed for potential security impact as part of our ISO27001 processes. - Vulnerability management type
- Supplier-defined controls
- Vulnerability management approach
- We monitor potential threats from a variety of sources including CERT, supplier notifications and industry updates Potential threats are assessed by technical team. Critical patches are deployed as soon as possible. Non-critical patches are applied on a weekly basis.
- Protective monitoring type
- Supplier-defined controls
- Protective monitoring approach
- We identify potential compromises using log analysis and host intrusion detection system. Compromised system is isolated, treated, brought back into service. Response is immediate.
- Incident management type
- Supplier-defined controls
- Incident management approach
- Processes for incident management are defined within ISO27001. Incidents can be reported by end user, staff or other channel. Incident reports detail whether confidentiality, integrity or availability has been compromised. Incident reports are provided in document format.
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
- Fighting climate change
-
Fighting climate change
» Cycle-to-Work scheme.
» Use of videoconferencing to reduce environmental impact of travel.
» Energy saving lighting.
» Electronic communication.
» Local suppliers (where required) used to reduce transport impact. - Covid-19 recovery
-
Covid-19 recovery
» Providing face masks, lateral flow tests to staff so they can take responsibility and be considerate of the community around us.
» Home-working option.
» Taking on new staff to be trained to address skills gaps. - Tackling economic inequality
-
Tackling economic inequality
» Work experience for young graduates of local Universities. 5 interns taken on since 2012. - Equal opportunity
-
Equal opportunity
» Equal Opportunities policy.
» Disability Confident Committed Employer.
» Accessible solutions. - Wellbeing
-
Wellbeing
» Staff benefit from: free eye care vouchers, free organic fruit, cycle to work scheme.
» Encouraging inclusivity/harmonious workplace with social events for staff.
» Option for home-working.
Pricing
- Price
- £301 a unit a month
- Discount for educational organisations
- No
- Free trial available
- Yes
- Description of free trial
-
A demonstration of the service can be provided.
Remote access can also be provided to a CMS sand-box area for 3 days.