Agile Software Development with Microsoft .NET and Azure
Sword are trusted experts in the design, build and implementation of custom software, using best-practice methodologies.
Our team has extensive experience delivering applications using Microsoft .NET, including the latest and preview versions of .NET, and past versions of .NET Core and .NET Framework.
Features
- Development of new solutions, enhancement of existing systems
- Microsoft .NET applications in the Microsoft Azure cloud and on-premises
- Development team with many combined years of full-stack experience
- Flexibility to adapt to change through Agile product delivery
- Full lifecycle: discovery, design, build, test, and support
Benefits
- Purpose-built to meet your requirements
- Solve complex problems unique to your organisation
- Create a competitive advantage that you control
- Modern, cloud-native or on-prem architecture
- Flexibility to change with your organisation
Pricing
£550 to £1,250 a unit a day
- Education pricing available
Service documents
Request an accessible format
Framework
G-Cloud 13
Service ID
8 9 6 0 9 5 0 2 6 4 9 7 8 0 0
Contact
Sword IT Solutions Ltd
Louise Barwell
Telephone: 07709 376719
Email: louise.barwell@sword-group.com
Planning
- Planning service
- Yes
- How the planning service works
-
Sword has a team of experienced .Net developers. We provide the full development lifecycle including design, build, test and support.
We work with you to understand your business objectives and from these will create the following artefacts.
• Create High Level Design
• Create Detailed Design
• Establish Project Plan
• Establish Testing Plan
• Allocate Resource Schedule
• Establish Communications Plan - Planning service works with specific services
- Yes
- Hosting or software services the planning service works with
- Microsoft .Net
Training
- Training service provided
- Yes
- How the training service works
- We provide bespoke training relevant to the individual’s job role allowing the user to understand how to use the application/service in the context of their work processes. We also provide technical training through knowledge transfer during the implementation stage of the project
- Training is tied to specific services
- No
Setup and migration
- Setup or migration service available
- Yes
- How the setup or migration service works
-
Sword have developed a proven methodology for migrating existing workloads to a cloud based operating platform. Our approach includes lessons learned from our extensive history in migration projects, using the Microsoft platform. Our structure approach is outlined below:
Develop Migration Strategy
• Define appropriate migration approach
• Identify any migration tools needed
• Identify resources required to support migration
• Identify migration constraints
Test Migration
• Identify a subset of data to migrate
• Carry out test migration
• Record performance figures and results
Refine Migration Strategy
• Update as required, based on output of test
Develop Migration Plan
• Identify migration windows
• Schedule resource availability
• Develop communication plan
Execute Migration
• Carry out migration in line with plan and strategy
Remediation and Support
• Identify any issues
• Resolve errors and re-migrate as required - Setup or migration service is for specific cloud services
- Yes
- List of supported services
-
- Microsoft Azure
- Microsoft .Net
Quality assurance and performance testing
- Quality assurance and performance testing service
- Yes
- How the quality assurance and performance testing works
-
Sword offer a full range of testing services to ensure that our solutions meet the business and performance requirements of our customers.
Unit Testing
• Granular testing of any bespoke code
• Automated using appropriate testing framework
System Testing
• Create a system test script
• Create a system test plan
• Ensure the implemented solution satisfies the defined system tests
Regression Testing
• Create a regression test plan
• Undertake regression testing following any changes or updates
User Acceptance Testing
• Coordinate and support the UAT process
• Remediate any issues which are identified
Performance Testing
• Define performance testing metrics
• Create a performance test plan
• Select appropriate testing framework
• Facilitate performance testing process
Security testing
- Security services
- No
Ongoing support
- Ongoing support service
- Yes
- Types of service supported
-
- Buyer hosting or software
- Hosting or software provided by your organisation
- Hosting or software provided by a third-party organisation
- How the support service works
- We provide a variety of support services to our customers. This encompasses on premise private cloud support through to hosted, leading edge technology solutions. Support can be provided remotely or on-site or a hybrid.
Service scope
- Service constraints
- No
User support
- Email or online ticketing support
- Email or online ticketing
- Support response times
- Response will be Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. SLA will be provided as required
- 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
-
1st line support – Resolving common issues at the point of contact, logging of calls and escalation of calls to 2nd line support if required.
2nd line support – Provision of individuals with more in-depth knowledge of the specific application/service and liaising with product vendors and partners.
3rd line support – If we have access to the source code for an application and can provide bug fixes.
The cost will be determined by the specific service and SLA's required by the customer.
A range of costs can be found in the Pricing template
We can provide a Technical Account manager or Cloud support engineer and the team would be managed by a Service Delivery Manager
Resellers
- Supplier type
- Not a reseller
Staff security
- Staff security clearance
- Other security clearance
- Government security clearance
- Up to Security Clearance (SC)
Standards and certifications
- ISO/IEC 27001 certification
- Yes
- Who accredited the ISO/IEC 27001
- Lloyds Register
- ISO/IEC 27001 accreditation date
- 31/07/2022
- What the ISO/IEC 27001 doesn’t cover
- We can confirm that everything is covered by the ISO /IEC 27001 certification
- ISO 28000:2007 certification
- No
- CSA STAR certification
- No
- PCI certification
- No
- Cyber essentials
- No
- Cyber essentials plus
- No
- Other security certifications
- No
Social Value
- Fighting climate change
-
Fighting climate change
Optional, no response - Covid-19 recovery
-
Covid-19 recovery
Optional, no response - Tackling economic inequality
-
Tackling economic inequality
Optional, no response - Equal opportunity
-
Equal opportunity
Our Recruitment strategy and campaigns follow both our Equal opportunities and Ethics policies, ensuring we remove any potential for discrimination through inclusive language and equal treatment practices. We take seriously our commitment to increased diversity and inclusion through our recruitment procedures and accreditations (e.g. Disability Confident Employer, Microsoft Business Pledge, Living Wage accreditation), promoting accessibility to our organization and internal promotion and development opportunities. Our advertisement of vacancies spans across a network of traditional job boards, social media and specialist networks including ethnic diversity, gender balance, LGBTQ and neurodiversity. We actively promote our employee referral scheme to encourage our diverse talent pool to recommend peers within their personal network.
At the initial stages of our recruitment authorisation process, pay based on experience and skill level are analysed, with skills-based assessment tasks and structured interviews undertaken to remove any chance of bias or questioning which could lead to discrimination. We actively encourage where at all possible for a shortlist of more than one woman to be included based on relevant skills and experience. We have recently invested in internal skills-based assessment tools for a selection of technical roles which is applied fairly to support assessing applicants in a fully objective manner. As part of our advertising, we promote our flexible-working culture, available to both men and woman, which is also promoted from Senior Management who champion flexible working where at all possible.
Both our Central recruitment team and Hiring Mangers undergo relevant training on our Policies and Practices which are electronically signed to evidence their understanding and respect of diversity and inclusion. These are repeated on a structured calendar basis. This training is also integrated into our quarterly leadership training and through our induction process. - Wellbeing
-
Wellbeing
Sword has made significant investment in our ongoing commitment to encouraging positive wellbeing and good mental health throughout our workforce. We recognise that balancing everyday life with the requirements of work and home can create increasing pressures for all. With advances in technological developments to support remote working, we recognise that it is vital within Sword that we ensure that there's a productive, healthy environment for our staff and contractors that is conducive to a healthy and balanced lifestyle. We have a dedicated Stress and Wellbeing policy to ensure we formalise and take a pro-active approach in support of positive mental wellbeing. At Sword, we have various Private Medical Insurance initiatives and Health Shield Cash Plans available to all our staff which includes both physical and mental health support and promotion of positive wellbeing.
Our partnership with Vitality provides all our staff with access to monthly health and wellbeing webinars and the support, tools and rewards to help our staff with positive health and wellbeing. From mental health and menopause support, to discounts on popular health and fitness brands, and rewards for being active.
We also have engaged with Health Assured as our Employee Assistance Programme Provider which provides a complete support network that offers expert advice and compassionate guidance 24/7, covering a wide range of issues. At Sword, we strongly believe in providing an EAP service that offers not only reactive support when someone needs it but also proactive and preventative support to deliver the best possible outcomes.
Our staff not only have access to mental health and CBT support and counselling, but also Wellbeing portals and Health e-Hub Mobile Apps which positively support the challenges faced by many trying to balance the pressures of work and demands of home life
Pricing
- Price
- £550 to £1,250 a unit a day
- Discount for educational organisations
- Yes