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Computacenter (UK) Ltd

Computacenter - Palo Alto Cortex Xpanse

Cortex Xpanse is an Active Attack Surface Management (ASM) solution that helps your organization actively discover, analyse and respond to unknown risks in all connected systems and exposed services.
Cortex Xpanse provides complete, current, and accurate visibility into your public-facing infrastructure without any manual intervention from your security teams.

Features

  • Monitor/enforce corporate policies and compliance
  • Detect/Manage/Mitigate risk from unknown shadow IT operations
  • Detect/Manage/Mitigate risk from supply chain vulnerabilities
  • Continuous Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning driven security monitoring
  • Provision of daily CFAA-compliant vulnerability scanning of known assets
  • Full 'cradle to grave' Discovery-Analysis-Remediation via integrated automation
  • Ongoing security rule additions/updates via Palo Alto Networks
  • No requirement for Hardware/Software/Agents or Firewall Rule Changes
  • Highly extensible solution with deep integration capabilities
  • Detailed metrics inclusive of pre-built widget driven dashboards

Benefits

  • Reduce the risk of Malware & Ransomware infection
  • Eliminate unknown Shadow IT / Cloud operations
  • Significantly improve on Zero-Day response times
  • Expand due-diligence processes for Merger & Acquisition (M&A) assessments
  • Detect & eliminate supply chain vulnerabilities
  • Gain full visibility of all public facing Internet operations
  • Reduce Cyber Insurance premiums
  • Implementation and compliance with NCSC cyber security guidanc

Pricing

£81.97 a unit

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

Framework

G-Cloud 14

Service ID

8 2 8 4 0 2 9 7 1 0 7 4 9 4 7

Contact

Computacenter (UK) Ltd Karen Baldock
Telephone: +44 (0) 1707 631000
Email: government@computacenter.com

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
1. Attack Surface Management
2. Asset Management
3. Vulnerability Management
4. Supply Chain Management
5. Cyber risk management
7. Vulnerability testing
8. Shadow IT monitoring
9. Cortex XSIAM
Cloud deployment model
Public cloud
Service constraints
Cortex Xpanse is an E-ASM platform that operates outside of the corporate network and sees only what an attacker sees. Cortex Xpanse is therefore only currently applicable to public facing attack surfaces and should not be considered as an internal vulnerability management tool.
System requirements
SaaS based and requires no agent software or internal infrastructure

User support

Email or online ticketing support
Email or online ticketing
Support response times
24x7x365 Support
Priority 1 (Critical) - < 1 Hour
Priority 2 (High) - 2 Hours
Priority 3 (Medium) - 4 Hours
Priority 4 (Low) - 8 Business Hours
Support Service Level Agreements (SLA) are identical for Monday to Friday and Weekends/Public Holidays.
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
24 hours, 7 days a week
Web chat support
No
Onsite support
Yes, at extra cost
Support levels
All Cortex products from Palo Alto Networks come with a standard support offering included which entitles the customer to 24x7x365 email and telephone support.
Other 'enhanced support' options exist inclusive of premium customer success support and provision of dedicated engineers for short or long term engagements - all such options can be negotiated and applied as required
Support available to third parties
Yes

Onboarding and offboarding

Getting started
Online training and user documentation is provided as standard. In addition, through remote or face to face sessions hands on workshops can be arranged to further familiarise each individual customer as required.
Service documentation
Yes
Documentation formats
  • HTML
  • PDF
End-of-contract data extraction
Customers have full access to data through the Expander API. All data may be retrieved and stored in another system prior to contract end date.
End-of-contract process
At the end of the contract, the customer data is not accessible to the customer.

Using the service

Web browser interface
Yes
Supported browsers
  • Microsoft Edge
  • Firefox
  • Chrome
Application to install
No
Designed for use on mobile devices
No
Service interface
Yes
User support accessibility
None or don’t know
Description of service interface
The admin interface provides users the ability to set up integrations with cloud providers and Prisma Cloud, as well as control over active policies.
Accessibility standards
None or don’t know
Description of accessibility
Expander is accessible through the web UI and through its extensive API.
Accessibility testing
N/A
API
Yes
What users can and can't do using the API
There is full parity between the UI and the API
API documentation
Yes
API documentation formats
  • Open API (also known as Swagger)
  • HTML
  • PDF
API sandbox or test environment
No
Customisation available
Yes
Description of customisation
Admin users can adjust available policies based on customer risk tolerance. Can also set up integrations with AWS and Prisma Cloud to ingest known cloud assets.

Scaling

Independence of resources
The service is provided in a SaaS model, and resources to discover, analyse, store and access the data collected are provided by the underlying cloud platform used to deliver the service. The system is architected for redundancy of capacity and dynamically scales based on the load required.

Analytics

Service usage metrics
Yes
Metrics types
The number of assets discovered
Trend lines for assets discovered
Reporting types
  • API access
  • Real-time dashboards
  • Regular reports
  • Reports on request

Resellers

Supplier type
Reseller providing extra support
Organisation whose services are being resold
Palo Alto

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
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 every 6 months
Penetration testing approach
Another external penetration testing organisation
Protecting data at rest
  • Physical access control, complying with SSAE-16 / ISAE 3402
  • Physical access control, complying with another standard
  • Encryption of all physical media
  • Scale, obfuscating techniques, or data storage sharding
  • Other
Other data at rest protection approach
Data is encrypted at rest using 256-bit Advanced Encryption Standard (AES-256)
Data sanitisation process
Yes
Data sanitisation type
  • Explicit overwriting of storage before reallocation
  • Deleted data can’t be directly accessed
Equipment disposal approach
In-house destruction process

Data importing and exporting

Data export approach
Data may be exported using the Expander API, generated reports, or CSV download.
Data export formats
  • CSV
  • ODF
  • Other
Other data export formats
Some PDF reports
Data import formats
CSV

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
Cortex Xpanse Services shall be
available 99.9% of the time, measured monthly, excluding scheduled maintenance. Further, any downtime resulting from outages of third-party connections or utilities or other reasons beyond the control of Palo Alto Networks will be excluded.

Customers are credited 2% of monthly service fees (downtime credit) for each breach. A breach is defined as a period of 60 consecutive minutes of downtime.
Approach to resilience
The service is designed around a major cloud provider's infrastructure using their services to provide resilience
Outage reporting
Service status is reported at https://expanse.statuspage.io/

Identity and authentication

User authentication needed
Yes
User authentication
  • 2-factor authentication
  • Username or password
Access restrictions in management interfaces and support channels
RBAC are applied across management interfaces and service/support channels
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
No audit information available
Access to supplier activity audit information
No audit information available
How long system logs are stored for
At least 12 months

Standards and certifications

ISO/IEC 27001 certification
Yes
Who accredited the ISO/IEC 27001
BSI
ISO/IEC 27001 accreditation date
28/04/2022
What the ISO/IEC 27001 doesn’t cover
Our ISO/IEC 27001 certification relates to the information security management system and not the products or services of the certified organisation.
ISO 28000:2007 certification
No
CSA STAR certification
No
PCI certification
Yes
Who accredited the PCI DSS certification
Gemserv Ltd
PCI DSS accreditation date
22/09/2021
What the PCI DSS doesn’t cover
As per section 2a of the PCI-DSS certificate, there are no areas that were marked as ‘Not Included’. We therefore confirm we are compliant across all relevant requirements for our services as a Hosting Provider, Managed Services and Payment Processing.
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
  • Other
Other security governance standards
SOC2 Type 2
Information security policies and processes
The Information Protection Process & Procedures Policy establishes controls to ensure that the security policies (that address purpose, scope, roles, responsibilities, management commitment, and coordination among organizational entities), processes, and procedures are maintained and used to manage protection of information systems and assets, including a system development lifecycle to manage systems.

Operational security

Configuration and change management standard
Supplier-defined controls
Configuration and change management approach
All application and infrastructure changes require separation of duties, testing, peer review, and approval, before implementation.
Vulnerability management type
Undisclosed
Vulnerability management approach
Critical/Emergency patch must be applied and validated within 72 hrs. when a patch is available, otherwise compensating controls must be invoked.
A security patch that addresses a vulnerability which is rated as high risk must be applied and validated within 30 days.
Vulnerability scans are performed at least weekly.
Protective monitoring type
Undisclosed
Protective monitoring approach
Palo Alto Networks SOC team monitors all environments for potential compromises 24x7. Security event and incident management processes are in place including a formal Information Security Incident Response Plan. Security, availability, and confidentiality related security events are assigned to Information Security for evaluation and resolution.
Incident management type
Undisclosed
Incident management approach
Palo Alto Networks has a incident management program that has been approved by management and communicated to all relevant parties. The incident management program is owned and reviewed by our Information Security department. Reporting procedures are defined in the SLA.

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
  • Covid-19 recovery
  • Tackling economic inequality
  • Equal opportunity
  • Wellbeing

Fighting climate change

Computacenter ensures that our business practices deliver effective stewardship of the environment in line with the Social Value Model. Computacenter's science-based emissions reductions targets are approved with the SBTi. Our Net Zero Journey Group Emissions is now just 16% of 2015 levels as outlined in our carbon reduction plan to achieve ‘Net Zero’ carbon emissions by 2040.

Business travel is necessary, both for our customer requirements and for our staff. We have materially reduced business travel, ensuring all business trips are necessary, helping reduce carbon emissions. We are investing in technology to allow greater use of existing communication platforms as part of our ‘hybrid working’ strategy. One of the key benefits we believe this will help us realise is reducing emissions from business travel by 35 per cent by 2025 (compared to 2019). For G-Cloud services this means that we will drive the use of virtual, technology-enabled meetings as much as possible for all internal and external sessions, including those with our wider supply chain.

Further to this we can provide customer advisory services which include guidance and recommendations on how to improve their sustainability performance to help inform customer decision making whilst achieving the desired commercial and technical outcomes through the services being provided.

Computacenter has introduced incentives to encourage the replacement of the existing Fleet with Ultra Low Emission Vehicles. We have 44 electric charging points across 2 of our locations to encourage the adoption of electric and hybrid vehicles, either through our company car scheme or privately. For this framework specifically, this means that our consultants, project managers and engineering resource will have access to a ULEV vehicle via our company car scheme and the ability to charge a vehicle at Computacenter office locations.

Covid-19 recovery

Throughout the pandemic we have closely followed and implemented government guidance relating to the workplace and COVID-19. We created a COVID-19 risk assessment to enable us to understand the improvements that need to be made to our workplace conditions in line with the Government COVID-19 secure workplace guidelines and the business advice that is now current. It looks at the risks of COVID-19 in the workplace, such as hygiene, & cleaning and then states what we must put in place to mitigate these risks.

As we enter the recovery phase of the pandemic, we have introduced hybrid working for our employees. This will allow most employees including those delivering G-Cloud services increased flexibility in how and where they work ensuring that we still deliver the best service to our customers whilst looking after our people.

Our COVID-19 steering committee is there to identify activities that will improve workplace conditions then plan, build and regularly monitor various programmes focused on supporting the COVID-19 recovery effort. At these meetings, chaired by our Chief People Officer (‘CPO’) Sarah Long, our CIO John Gibbs and Services operations, the steering committee discuss changes that need to be implemented, identify areas of improvement, and review our roadmap of new activities.
Throughout the life of the contract, we will use our existing activities (as well as those that are in development in due course) to continue to improve workplace conditions in support of the COVID-19 recovery effort.

Questions relating to travel were included in the COVID-19 surveys that were issued through the pandemic. The assessment highlighted concerns people had about public transport. To help all employees; managers were coached and given guidance about being flexible with start/finish times. We continue to adapt our approach based on feedback received through the steering committee and employee surveys.

Tackling economic inequality

As a diverse and inclusive organisation with a strong focus on equality and driving in-work progression, our approach to recruitment and employment is aligned to recognised industry best practices such as the 5 principles of quality work as set out in the Good Work Plan.

Our Employee Impact Groups for disadvantaged or minority groups provide representation, support, and community engagement, feeding into our People Panel ensuring all voices are heard, underpinning our wider ambition of building a sustainable business for the long term.

We put specific measures in place to provide opportunities to under-represented groups or those who face barriers to employment, including comprehensive outreach programmes for schools and universities, as well as partnerships with non-profit organisations within our communities. We continue focus on reaching harder to reach groups and people who are underrepresented in our sector by working with charities and schools in the local community to offer career talks and work experience opportunities. Our school outreach programme has over 130 volunteers dedicating over 2,600 hours running activities for employability and life skills in schools, colleges, and universities.

Computacenter is one of the 9 founding members of ‘Technology Community for Racial Equality’ (‘TC4RE’), a group set up to drive racial equality throughout the technology industry, with which we are delivering a half-day virtual event on ‘Enabling Ethnic Diversity’ featuring a series of expert keynotes, live panel discussions and interactive workshops with representation from across the UK technology community.

Furthermore, Computacenter are a silver level partner in the Armed Forces Covenant and has introduced a programme that provides the opportunity to attain a degree and ServiceNow certification whilst receiving full salary for armed forces leavers. This programme is the first of many programmes we intend on running to help ex-forces personal transition back into the workplace and the IT industry.

Equal opportunity

Computacenter is committed to providing equal opportunities to all through fair recruitment practices and employment conditions across our organisation.
We are a Disability Confident ‘Committed’ employer, committed to making lasting changes to our business creating a diverse talent pool. We work with partners through our community outreach, who are specialists in disability. An example is our work with Knightsfield School in Welwyn Garden City, a specialist school for deaf children.  We run at least 3 ‘get work ready’ events with them, as well as offer up to 4 work experience opportunities and onsite visits every year.

For this contract, we will use existing initiatives (as well as others that are in development) to provide career opportunities for individuals from under-represented groups to address requirements for specific skills or roles with a focus on increasing skillsets through the life of the contract. This will include apprenticeships aligned to security and cloud/infrastructure departments, as well as industrial placements and graduate schemes for our ServiceNow Centre of Excellence, with specific focus on delivering cloud-based services to our customers.

Our workforce for services delivered under this framework will have access to existing initiatives aimed at supporting in-work progression and development for those from disadvantaged/minority groups. For example, our gender diversity initiatives include our Growing Together programme, which over 150 women have been through so far, of which over one-third have been promoted or taken a new role within a year following the mentoring and coaching provided.

We are also committed to driving racial equality across our business and the wider technology industry. We are a founding member of ‘Technology Community for Racial Equality’ which recently delivered a half-day virtual event on ‘Enabling Ethnic Diversity’ featuring a series of expert keynotes, live panel discussions and interactive workshops with representation from across the UK technology community.

Wellbeing

We understand how important employee Wellbeing is for a sustainable business model, therefore we are committed to creating a sustainable supply chain. Ensuring the wellbeing of our employees are looked after will positively affect productivity, recruitment, and retention rates.

In November 2021, a designated UK wellbeing manager was appointed and has since launched our wellbeing strategy, which aligns with the Social Value Model and the 6 standards of the Mental Health at Work Commitment, signed in July 2021. We are actively implementing the enhanced mental health standards as recommended through the ‘Thriving at Work’ review, and NICE mental health at work guidelines, as part of our Wellbeing strategy. The strategy encompasses four pillars of wellbeing, mental, physical, financial, and social.  We are a Menopause friendly organisation and have created a support network for those in need.

We have 109 Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) accredited staff in the UK, trained by Mind, who act as Wellbeing Champions providing mental health first aid support and promoting our wellbeing services which those delivering G-Cloud service provisions will have access to. These champions are from every business area and from different seniority. We hold events throughout the year organised by our UK wellbeing manager and Champions, which have included celebrating World Mental Health days, Menopause awareness, financial wellbeing webinars and sponsored events to raise money for our mental health charity partners.

2021 also saw the launch of our new groupwide app-based programme ‘Be Well’ which gives our people access to over 3,000 fitness, nutrition, health and wellbeing courses through Humanoo. Through this app we have launched an extremely popular groupwide step challenge and has encouraged our people to be more active, with over 35% of our workforce now using the app and covering over 1.8bn steps so far.

Pricing

Price
£81.97 a unit
Discount for educational organisations
No
Free trial available
No

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