SOMERFORD ASSOCIATES LIMITED

Okta Workforce Identity

Okta Workforce Identity provides secure access for employees, contractors, and partners to internal applications and resources. Enabling seamless SSO, lifecycle management, and adaptive multifactor authentication. The platform integrates with existing directories and over 7,000 applications, ensuring high availability and compliance with UK government security standards for hybrid and remote work.

Features

• AI-driven real-time detection and automated response to session hijacking.
• Continuous risk scanning and remediation of identity-related security vulnerabilities.
• Ephemeral, just-in-time infrastructure access without permanent standing privileges.
• Risk-based authentication using signals like location, device, and behavior.
• No-code automation for complex identity processes and logic-based tasks.
• Automated user provisioning via SCIM and HR system integrations.
• Unified login protection for macOS and Windows with passwordless sync.
• Secure remote access to legacy on-premises applications without VPN.
• Centralised access using 7,000+ pre-built SAML and OIDC integrations.
• Automated access requests, certifications, and comprehensive audit reporting.

Benefits

• Neutralises active threats across multi-vendor stacks during a session.
• Prevents breaches by identifying misconfigurations before attackers exploit them.
• Reduces attack surface by eliminating static credentials for critical servers.
• Balances high security with low friction for public sector workers.
• Customises complex joiner-mover-leaver processes without expensive custom coding.
• Ensures immediate deprovisioning to prevent unauthorized access by former staff.
• Extends Zero Trust security to the physical workstation login layer.
• Facilitates legacy system modernisation and cloud migration at lower cost.
• Eliminates vendor lock-in by supporting any app, not just Microsoft.
• Meets stringent UK government compliance and regulatory audit requirements.

• Education pricing available
• Free trial available

Service documents

• Pricing document

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

Framework

G-Cloud 15

Service ID

808554885818264

Contact

Penny Harrison
07897075103
info@somerfordassociates.com

About your service

• Service categories:

  Systems Infrastructure Software

  Security

  • Security analytics
  • Governance, risk and compliance

  Identity and access management

  • Access
  • Privilege
• Multi cloud support: Yes

Service scope

• Software add-on or extension: Yes, but can also be used as a standalone service
• What software services is the service an extension to: Any software supporting standards based single sign-on or user provisioning; e.g.; HCM/HR - Workday, SAP Successfactors; Collaboration software - MS Office 365, Google Workspace, Zoom, Slack; Zero Trust - Proofpoint, Crowdstrike, Zscaler; ITSM - ServiceNow, Remedy, Jira; CRM - Salesforce, Dynamics, Zoho; Platforms - AWS, GCP, Azure, VMWare
• Cloud deployment model: Public cloud
• Service constraints: N/A
• System requirements: Appropriate Licensing and access for integration configurations.

User support

• Email or online ticketing support: Yes
• 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
• Onsite support: Yes, at extra cost
• 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.
• Support available to third parties: Yes

Onboarding and offboarding

• Getting started: OKta has a video series dedicated to getting started and learning identity. In addition, OKta has documentation and quickstarts to help get started with the product. If on-site training is required, professional services can be available as a package. Okta customers depending on level of service will also have Customer Success Managers or Technical Account Managers assigned to ensure success. Okta also has a comprehensive learning certification portfolio.
• Service documentation: Yes
• Documentation formats: HTML
• End-of-contract data extraction: APIs can be utilised to extract any data required at any time.
• End-of-contract process: At the end-of-contract the plan automatically gets converted into Free plan with limited features and support.
• Documentation accessibility standard: WCAG 2.2 AA

Using the service

• Web browser interface: Yes
• Supported browsers:
  • Microsoft Edge
  • Firefox
  • Chrome
  • Safari
  • Opera
• Application to install: No
• Designed for use on mobile devices: Yes
• Differences between the mobile and desktop service: The Okta web portal is browser based for both types of devices so only differences will be between the device display properties. The Okta mobile application is available at no extra cost.
• Service interface: Yes
• User support accessibility: WCAG 2.2 AA
• Description of service interface: Okta has many ways to interact, including a web dashboard. The web dashboard is utilised by users to open assigned applications using Okta initiated single sign on (including multi factor). Administrators will use the web interface to do CRUD (Create, Read, Update, Deactivate) of users and groups as well as setup application connections and configure authentication and multifactor policies.
• Accessibility standards: WCAG 2.2 AA
• Accessibility testing: Not Applicable
• API: Yes
• What users can and can't do using the API: OKta implements an API first strategy across the platform to provide extensive APIs for authentication and the management of the tenant. The Authentication API exposes Okta identity functionality, as well as those of supported identity protocols (such as OpenID Connect, OAuth, and SAML).
• API documentation: Yes
• API documentation formats: Open API (also known as Swagger)
• API sandbox or test environment: Yes
• Customisation available: Yes
• Description of customisation: Okta offers a very customizable & extensible solution where customers can bring their own business logic and branding.; To name a few points, OKta allows you to customize the look & feel of the Login; Pick and choose MFA factors; Integrate with any Identity Provider that leverages open standards like OIDC, OAuth2.0, SAML, WSFED; Customize the authentication and authorization pipeline.

Scaling

• Independence of resources: Being able to scale is only one part of the equation. Today’s users expect a seamless experience while IT adapts to an increasing demand. Interruptions and downtime can severely hurt organization’s productivity. Okta is built to handle this challenge with a guaranteed 99.9% uptime, and zero planned downtime. Furthermore, Okta has maintained a 100% global uptime in the last 2 years, with no major service disruption, as it scaled 640% in the amount of authentications per month it needed to handle. Okta is never taken offline for updates or maintenance.

Analytics

• Service usage metrics: Yes
• Metrics types: Okta’s Enterprise Workforce Suite delivers factual, real-time usage metrics essential for UK Government reporting:; ; Identity Threat Protection: AI-driven logs track session-based risk signals, continuous authentication events, and automated remediation actions (e.g., universal logout).; ; Identity Security Posture: Reports identify misconfigurations, over-privileged admins, and ""orphan"" accounts, mapping risks to NIST/ISO standards.; ; Privileged Access: Detailed audit trails capture just-in-time session activity, vault access, and SSH/RDP session recordings via the pam namespace in System Log.; ; Workflows: Provides real-time execution log streaming (SIEM integration) and 30-day historical analysis of flow status, latency, and resource consumption.; ; Lifecycle Management: Audits automated provisioning/deprovisioning velocity and SCIM-driven account changes.
• Reporting types: API access
• Resource tagging: No
• FOCUS resource tagging: No

Resellers

• Supplier type: Reseller providing extra features and support
• Organisation whose services are being resold: Okta

Staff security

• Staff security clearance: Conforms to BS7858:2019
• Government security clearance: 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: Yes
• Datacentre security standards: Managed by a third party
• 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 SSAE-18 / ISAE 3402
  • Other
• Other data at rest protection approach: Stored data are encrypted using AES and a 256-bit encryption key specifically created for the customer tenant (with each customer assigned their own). The tenant master keys are themselves encrypted with a master key stored within Amazon's Key Management Service (KMS).
• Data sanitisation process: Yes
• Equipment disposal approach: Complying with a recognised standard, for example CSA CCM v4.0, CAS (Sanitisation) or ISO/IEC 27001
• Data sanitisation type: Data Erasure

Data importing and exporting

• Data export approach: Users can export data in CSV or JSON
• Data export formats:
  • CSV
  • Other
• Other data export formats: JSON
• Data import formats:
  • CSV
  • Other
• Other data import formats: JSON

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: 99.99%
• Approach to resilience: Okta leverages Amazon Web Services (AWS) for our infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) and hosting environment. By utilizing AWS' EC2 and S3 environments, Okta has access to virtually unlimited capacity, which enables utilization of multiple AWS availability zones , with each zone being equivalent to one or more physical, tier-4 data centers , across multiple distinct geographical compute regions. Okta maintains high availability among virtual instances within each availability zone, as well as across zones. Operational details of how Okta leverages AWS for hot standby are included in our SOC2 Type II report.; ; Amazon information on regions and availability zones: https://docs.aws.amazon.com/AWSEC2/latest/UserGuide/using-regions-availability-zones.html; ; How Okta Builds and Runs Scalable Architecture: https://www.okta.com/resources/whitepaper/how-okta-builds-and-runs-scalable-infrastructure/; ; Okta's High Availability Architecture Whitepaper: ; https://www.okta.com/sites/default/files/2022-09/Okta%20High%20Availability%20Architecture_Whitepaper.pdf
• Outage reporting: The service is designed to be highly available with zero down time. When outages are experienced, customer are notified and updated via email and through help desk announcements until the service is back up and running. If there is a workaround available to reduce the outage risk, Okta's Customer Support team will proactively inform customers about such options. Information is always avaialble at https://status.okta.com/

Identity and authentication

• User authentication needed: Yes
• User authentication:
  • Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
  • Public key authentication (including by TLS client certificate)
  • Identity federation with existing provider (for example Google Apps)
  • Username or password
• Access restrictions in management interfaces and support channels: Only Okta’s technical operations team can access the production environment. This is secured via IP allow-lists, encrypted VPNs, and SSH key pairs, with mandatory hardware MFA (e.g., YubiKey).; ; Customer support has exclusive access to a limited impersonation tool for troubleshooting. This feature allows support to navigate administrative dashboards but prohibits authenticating into downstream applications. Usage requires customer initiation, ensuring they maintain data control. All actions are logged and audited. For details on granting access, refer to Okta’s documentation.
• Access restriction testing frequency: At least once a year
• Management access authentication: Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

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: Between 1 month and 6 months
• Access to supplier activity audit information: Users have access to real-time audit information
• How long supplier audit data is stored for: Between 1 month and 6 months
• How long system logs are stored for: Between 1 month and 6 months

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: Okta's current security certifications and policies are always available on Okta's Security Trust Center at https://security.okta.com ; This resource provides comprehensive information and documents detailing Okta and Auth0's security, compliance, and robust security framework.
• Information security policies and processes: Okta's information security policy is based on best practices, such as AICPA Trust Services Principles and Criteria, ISO 27001:2022, ISO 27017:2015, ISO 27018:2019, and NIST's Cloud Computing Matrix. The policy covers key areas, such as information classification policy, data handling, encryption, acceptable use, change management, and network security. This policy document can be provided to prospects under NDA. The fidelity and efficacy of the policies outlined in this document are audited and attested to in Okta and Auth0 SOC2 Type II reports, which can also be provided to prospects under NDA.; ; Okta's information security policies and procedures are available in our internal wiki pages, accessible to all employees. Employees are required to sign an agreement to acknowledge having received and reviewed the information security policy. Security and privacy awareness training is conducted annually and is mandatory for all employees.
• Software Security Code of Practice: Yes

Operational security

• Configuration and change management standard: Supplier-defined controls
• Configuration and change management approach: The Service maintains documented application and infrastructure change management policies and procedures to communicate company’s expectations regarding the change management process to Okta personnel, and to ensure any unauthorized changes are not made to production systems. Engineering teams meet in weekly planning and daily stand-ups to discuss and communicate current and upcoming changes and their effects on the system. The change management process adds oversight, visibility, and control of changes to the Okta environment.
• Vulnerability management type: Supplier-defined controls
• Vulnerability management approach: If a potential vulnerability is identified, it is triaged among the security, engineering, and technical operations teams. Okta Security employs a risk ranking system for technical vulnerabilities which accounts for published risk rankings within the Okta environment. Critical- and high-risk issues are addressed as quickly as possible within the context of business feasibility. Okta has formal vulnerability management procedures that detail how Okta identifies, manages and remediates vulnerabilities. This document is available to prospects under NDA and current customers under contract via our Security Trust Center at security.okta.com
• Protective monitoring type: Supplier-defined controls
• Protective monitoring approach: As a normal course of business, Okta monitors for and responds to broad attacks that impact Okta's services. Okta utilizes a number of monitoring tools with centralized logging and SIEM using our own correlation rules for security monitoring, analysis, and alerting. Okta monitors all outbound traffic from our production environment for anomalies using both proprietary and commercial traffic monitoring and intrusion detection systems.
• Incident management type: Supplier-defined controls
• Incident management approach: Okta has a formally documented Cyber Security Incident Response Plan that describes the processes and procedures that Okta follows to respond to, remediate and resolve a security incident involving a potential or actual compromise of Company Information or Okta system. It includes discovery, investigation, escalation, containment, notification, documentation and evidence chain-of-custody controls.; ; Okta's IRP is tested at least annually and is available to prospects under NDA.; ; Security breach and/or incident notifications go out to impacted customers via email. Notifications are delivered to customers in accordance with their MSA.
• Post-quantum cryptography secure: Yes

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 v4.0)

Public sector networks

• Connection to public sector networks: No

Pricing

• Discount for educational organisations: Yes
• Free trial available: Yes
• Description of free trial: The Integrator Free Plan provides a non-production sandbox for development and testing. It includes access to SSO, MFA, Universal Directory, and Lifecycle Management for up to 10 active users and 5 Workflows. It excludes technical support, custom email templates, and production SLAs. Access expires after 180 days of inactivity.
• Link to free trial: https://www.okta.com/uk/free-trial/

Discount percentage by annual call-off contract value (excluding VAT)

• Less than £250,000: 1%
• Between £250,000 and £500,000: 1%
• Between £500,001 and £1,000,000: 1%
• Between £1,000,001 and £2,500,000: 1%
• Between £2,500,001 and £5,000,000: 1%
• Over £5,000,001: 1%

Non-mandatory Standards and certifications

• ISO/IEC 27001 certification: No
• ISO 28000:2022 certification: No
• ISO 9001 certification: Yes
• Who accredited the ISO 9001 certification: SGS
• ISO 9001 accreditation date: Tuesday 15 March 2022
• What the ISO 9001 doesn’t cover: As our staff are a fully remote workforce the company physical office location is not covered. Clause 7.1.5 (calibration) is not in the scope. ISO 9001 does not cover financial processes.
• Quality management systems (QMS): Yes
• CSA STAR certification: No
• PCI certification: No
• Cyber essentials: Yes
• Please provide your Cyber Essentials Certificate Number: F416f438-c625-443c-8b8d-a1b8f3b804e3
• Cyber essentials plus: Yes
• Please provide your Cyber Essentials Plus Certificate Number: 8d0e7cb8-30a3-4374-b713-d15f8d7f0c7d
• Other security certifications: Yes
• Any other security certifications: IASME Cyber Assurance Level 1 Certificate

Social value

• Section B - Commitment for Future: Delivery:

  • Mission: Kick start economic growth. To secure the highest sustained growth in the G7 - with good jobs and productivity growth in every part of the country making everyone, not just a few, better off.

    Policy Outcome 1: Fair work: That offers fair wages and good working conditions. Help people get a job, stay in work, and progress in their careers, with good employment opportunities across the country. Notes: Where there is a large proportion of labour costs in the contract, commercial teams should consider MAC in Outcome 1 as a priority

    • New or retained jobs on the contract workforce in the relevant area that meet the criteria set out in MAC 1b, 1c and 1d
    • Providing opportunities for, and measuring and monitoring of, staff workforce conditions over time, including employee engagement, involvement in decision-making and satisfaction and adapting to any changes in the results, with clear processes for acting on issues identified
    • Employment contracts that reflect actual hours worked; steps taken to ensure employees understand their contracts and have the ability to review and adjust them if actual hours regularly exceed contracted hours
    • Activities that support an environment where staff are educated about, and feel empowered to, address their physical wellbeing
    • Activities that support an environment where staff are educated about and feel empowered to report and address bullying and harassment
    • Payment of more than the National Minimum Wage or National Living Wage (as appropriate) to the contract workforce
    • Measures to support in-work progression to help people in the contract workforce, to move into higher paid work by developing new skills relevant to the contract
    • Support for educational attainment relevant to the contract, including training schemes that address skills gaps and result in recognised qualifications
    • Outline policies and practices to be applied to or put in place for the contract to mitigate and manage modern slavery risks, including: Pre-employment checks, recruitment practices. Workplace conditions, safeguarding plans and processes in place and regular monitoring with relevant groups considered, which may include sampling

  • Mission: Kick start economic growth. To secure the highest sustained growth in the G7 - with good jobs and productivity growth in every part of the country making everyone, not just a few, better off.

    Policy Outcome 2: Skills for growth: Supporting growth sectors and addressing skills gaps.

    • Support for educational attainment relevant to the contract, including training schemes that address skills gaps and result in recognised qualifications

  • Mission: Kick start economic growth. To secure the highest sustained growth in the G7 - with good jobs and productivity growth in every part of the country making everyone, not just a few, better off.

    Policy Outcome 3: Resilient, innovative and flexible supply chains: Support economic growth through enabling resilient businesses, opportunities for small businesses and voluntary, community and social enterprises

    • Activities that demonstrate a collaborative way to work with a diverse range of businesses as part of the supply chain
    • Plans for positive actions with community groups.

  • Mission: Make Britain a clean energy superpower: To cut bills, create jobs and deliver security with cheaper, zero-carbon electricity by 2030, accelerating to net zero

    Policy Outcome 4: Sustainable procurement practices: Reducing carbon footprints, minimising waste, and promoting the use of clean energy and green technologies.

    • Understanding of opportunities for additional environmental benefits delivery in the performance of the contract, including working towards net zero carbon emissions and use of clean energy and green technologies
    • Delivery of additional environmental benefits through the performance of the contract, including working towards net zero carbon emissions and use of clean energy and green technologies
    • Understanding of how to influence staff, suppliers, customers, communities and/or any other appropriate stakeholders through the delivery of the contract to support climate and nature protection and improvement

  • Mission: Break down barriers to opportunity: By reforming our childcare and education systems, to make sure there is no class ceiling on the ambitions of young people in Britain

    Policy Outcome 6: Employment and training: For those who face barriers to employment

    • Advertising, promotional and outreach activities designed to raise awareness of the offer to reach the target cohort
    • Offering a range of quality opportunities with routes of progression if appropriate, e.g. T Level industry placements, students supported into higher level apprenticeships.
    • Understanding of the issues affecting inequality in employment, skills and pay in the market, industry or sector relevant to the contract, and in the supplier’s own organisation and those of its key sub-contractors. Measures to tackle inequality in employment, skills and pay in the contract workforce

  • Mission: Break down barriers to opportunity: By reforming our childcare and education systems, to make sure there is no class ceiling on the ambitions of young people in Britain

    Policy Outcome 7: Creating a pipeline of opportunities: For the contract workforce, reducing barriers to entry for under-represented groups.

    • Other measures to offer development opportunities for the target cohort(s) in the contract workforce
    • Advertising, promotional and outreach activities designed to raise awareness of the offer to reach the target cohort
    • Creation of outreach activities to create a pipeline of employees for the future contract delivery
    • Advertising, promotional and outreach activities designed to raise awareness of the offer to reach the target cohort

  • Mission: Build an NHS fit for the future: That is there when people need it; with fewer lives lost to the biggest killers; in a fairer Britain, where everyone lives well for longer.

    Policy Outcome 8: Increasing productivity through physical and mental wellbeing: In the supply chain and communities in the relevant area.

    • Understanding of issues relating to health and wellbeing, including physical and mental health, in the contract workforce

Service documents

• Pricing document

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