Somerford Associates Limited

Somerford Associates Support

Support desk and services to ensure our Buyers gain continued value from the solutions we provide.

Features

  • Professional Services
  • Support Desk
  • Incident response
  • Technical assistance
  • Use case consolidation
  • Health-check of solutions
  • Implementation and Migration
  • Cloud Risk Assessments
  • Data Risk Assessments
  • Cloud Security

Benefits

  • Resolution to support on first line service desk
  • Keeps solution running by resolving technical incidents
  • Skilled Professional Service Consultants SC/DV Cleared
  • Enablement Workshops
  • Business Value Consuting
  • Documentation
  • Target Operating Model (TOM)
  • Efficient Project Management to ensure successful deployment
  • Adoption Packs
  • Integration

Pricing

£1,250 a unit a day

  • Education pricing available

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

Framework

G-Cloud 13

Service ID

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

Contact

Somerford Associates Limited Penny Harrison
Telephone: 07897075103
Email: penny.harrison@somerfordassociates.com

Planning

Planning service
Yes
How the planning service works
Prior to any implementation, it is critical to identify the correct cloud hosting or services solution by gathering the specific requirements of the solution, understanding the as-is solution and the reasons for a change. Once the data is gathered, a Somerford Cloud Architect will propose the best fit architecture in accordance with the technology and cloud architecture best practices aligned to the open group architecture framework, TOGAF. Included in this process is optimising and right sizing the buyer’s requirements and migrated services.
Planning service works with specific services
Yes
Hosting or software services the planning service works with
  • AWS
  • GCP
  • Azure
  • HashiCorp
  • Netskope
  • Mnemonic
  • BlueVoyant
  • Lacework
  • Confluent
  • Splunk

Training

Training service provided
Yes
How the training service works
For all our solutions we provide training and enablement to train our Buyers to utilise the solution to best practice. These sessions are often lab based and practical and utilise the Buyer's real data so that the attendees can contextualise the context easily. Shadowing and Knowledge transfer during projects is also available which allows technical teams to become independent and competent technically.
Training is tied to specific services
Yes
Services the training service works with
  • Splunk
  • Netskope
  • Varonis
  • HashiCorp
  • Okta
  • Security Solutions
  • Delinia

Setup and migration

Setup or migration service available
Yes
How the setup or migration service works
Somerford Architect will conduct a number of scoping exercises with the goal to maximise efficiency and security of the cloud migration in line with minimising disruption to end user services. We will look at the architecture of the current environment, the data residing within that environment and the specific requirements for the migration. Somerford will then provide recommendations to the buyer and all respective stakeholders, detailing the reasons for each recommendation, noting any alternative options available whilst highlighting any risks associated with each option.
The plan will be a continuity of service offering to migrate the buyer to the Cloud Environment, depending on the solution at play, this process will be conducted generally in one of two high level methodologies.
By horizontally scaling the as-is environment outwards into the cloud, utilising the technologies seamless scalability, then gradually reducing the as-is architecture footprint by removing systems whilst maintaining service at all times.
Dual running both a new cloud environment and the as-is environments for a period of time, whilst the to-be environment is being built and configured. Conducting full testing and quality assurance of the to-be environment and once agreed to a date, migrate the active environment.
Setup or migration service is for specific cloud services
No

Quality assurance and performance testing

Quality assurance and performance testing service
Yes
How the quality assurance and performance testing works
During the migration phase, data is fully backed up to maintain disaster recovery scenarios, knowledge transfer is provided throughout to assist the administrative team in working on the new cloud based environment. A thorough testing programme will be developed and adhered to, in order to minimise any significant unforeseen challenges and issues. A key part of this will be conducted in unison with any outgoing service providers to ensure the migration is successful and secure throughout.

Security testing

Security services
Yes
Security services type
  • Security strategy
  • Security risk management
  • Security design
  • Cyber security consultancy
  • Security testing
  • Security incident management
  • Security audit services
Certified security testers
Yes
Security testing certifications
  • CREST
  • Other
Other security testing certifications
SANS

Ongoing support

Ongoing support service
Yes
Types of service supported
Hosting or software provided by a third-party organisation
How the support service works
All the solutions that we resell come with a value adding wrap of support services and professional services. There is a 9-5 x 5 days a week support desk. We can resolve 95% of tickets in house without escalating to the vendor.

Service scope

Service constraints
We provide services for each of our partner technologies. There are staff with Security Clearance and DV clearance. We can work onsite or remote.

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
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.

Resellers

Supplier type
Reseller providing extra features and support
Organisation whose services are being resold
Splunk,Netskope,Varonis,HashiCorp,AWS,GCP,Okta,Lacework,Confluent,Mnemonic,BlueVoyant,Knowbe4

Staff security

Staff security clearance
Conforms to BS7858:2019
Government security clearance
Up to Developed Vetting (DV)

Standards and certifications

ISO/IEC 27001 certification
No
ISO 28000:2007 certification
No
CSA STAR certification
No
PCI certification
No
Cyber essentials
Yes
Cyber essentials plus
Yes
Other security certifications
No

Social Value

Fighting climate change

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/
Covid-19 recovery

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

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:

* In the past 5 years, 20% of our staff entered our employment from leaving school, college or university;
* We have supported 12 apprenticeships;
* We run an internal academy scheme to build a broad range of technical skills in those who have the inherent skills, attitude and capability to become our next generation of experts;
* We actively participate in the Armed Forces Covenant Scheme and help to redeploy and reskill leavers from the Armed Forces. So far, 16 staff have joined us in this way;
* The ethnic mix of our staff is more diverse than that of our local community.

Strong technical skills are key to the delivery of services to our customers, so we’ve invested heavily in staff training - in 2020 alone, staff successfully completed over 100 technical courses.
Equal opportunity

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

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
£1,250 a unit a day
Discount for educational organisations
Yes

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