Red Oak Consulting

HPC Hybrid - Cloud or On-Premises or Both

Red Oak Consulting provides independent, expert HPC advice. Our skilled team guides business's to make the right investment when looking to find and implement the right HPC solution. By taking a deep dive in understanding customer workloads, requirements, challenges we ensure the right solution or hybrid of solution is deployed.

Features

• Understand the differences between Cloud and On-premises
• Workload analysis for right deployment
• Understand storage solutions hosting and costs
• Understand workload data gravity inertia data movement/staging and implications
• Process larger data sets understand sovereignty requirements
• Enhance productivity greater flexibility workload ability
• Gain greater optimisation therefore reducing cost
• Create design build PoC's benchmarking and understand results
• Stakeholder user engagement to fully understand requirements
• Design solution interactive guaranteeing performance from cloud & on-premises

Benefits

• Workload analysis optimisation benchmarking and cost management
• Deployment model which is right: On-prem cloud or hybrid
• Greater HPC production speed functionality agility capability
• Ability to run more complex data sets
• Cloud consumption models cost monitoring and controls
• Reduction in queuing time monitoring total cost management
• Create design build test deploying right solution
• Understand implications of hybrid solutions
• Vendor lock-in data repatriation and security
• Bridge gap between IT and researchers building positivity

£1,850.00 to £3,300.00 a unit a day

Service documents

• Pricing document

  PDF

• Skills Framework for the Information Age rate card

  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 vicki.lockhart@redoakconsulting.co.uk. Tell them what format you need. It will help if you say what assistive technology you use.

Framework

G-Cloud 14

Service ID

921622471826059

Contact

VickiLockhart
07718655024
vicki.lockhart@redoakconsulting.co.uk

Planning

• Planning service: Yes
• How the planning service works: The skill of our consultants has been acquired over many years. Our team also come from various diverse backgrounds including research and academia meaning we are perfectly positioned to make recommendations, deliver the right solution, on time and through the right investment. Our initial step when engaging is to gain an understanding of the customer, user, their challenges and ambitions. Once understood we get to understand the workload applications, utilisation of HPC, review logs and schedulers. When all the information has been gathered and understood we work to create, design and build the right solution. Solution will fit the customer, and is specific to their unique requirements. Be it Cloud, On-premises or hybrid of both. Once customer has approved the recommended solution we will complete testing and migration where applicable. Only once the solution has passed all the testing and met the benchmarks and success criteria of the project will we work with the customer to implement and roll out. Full implementation is delivered in consultation with customer through a proactive project plan and engagement. We also complete full knowledge transfer and training.
• Planning service works with specific services: No

Training

• Training service provided: Yes
• How the training service works: For all HPC Cloud Hybrid projects Red Oak Consulting conducts full training, in a style which meets the needs of the customer. It is vital that at the end of the project the business has acquired the necessary internal knowledge to be able to stand on its own feet and move forward. Therefore our training focuses on ensuring all the processes and procedures are documented, all scripts are appropriately transitioned, and appropriate training for the business User community and IT staff, if required, is undertaken. Our approach is not prescriptive and the training can be made as light touch or expansive as the business requires. We work in consultation with the business to agree a training strategy and execute a training plan. It is vital that a fully sanctioned roll out plan for implementation and usage of cloud is created, managed, monitored, and reported on. It is also critical that the communication around the change, including the significant benefits the new cloud functionality can offer, is also communicated effectively. We work closely with the relevant internal communications department to create a communication plan. We will also ensure all documentation created is current and accurate with updates following 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: Our team of experts have industry leading cloud solution expertise. We work with customers to identify the best & most sustainable HPC solution for all. First we gather the requirements from across the business. We get to understand the workloads, what users need and the critical issues they are facing. We look to the future and establish ambition and any future objectives. We gather this understanding from speaking to users, business owners, divisional heads, researchers and stakeholders. Once all the information is collected we make a recommendation on which solution is best for the business. We identify any gaps that may exist and any work which must be done from the business to get them ready for cloud. We are able to deliver on strategy or business case creation. In collaboration with the business, we design the solution and the rollout plan; our experts are fully certified and are able to design and build the required solution. We deliver incrementally, conducting testing at each stage before migration of workloads. We work to a mutually agreed project plan which includes all timelines, responsibilities and actions. We hold regular progress meetings to ensure continual communication. We manage risks collaboratively with the customer.
• 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: Performance testing forms part of a project. The System Integration Acceptance Test Plan (SIAT), is performed under a formal process before users are migrated onto the system. Both parties agree the test plan which is to include: Performance; Resilience; Availability; Monitoring; Administrative; Red Oak Consulting will complete our internal document highlighting all tests and whether they have passed or failed. We recommend that the User Acceptance Testing (UAT) be undertaken by the customer with support from Red Oak Consulting. The purpose of this test is to ensure user capability and requirement is working correctly and is sustainable.

Security testing

• Security services: No

Ongoing support

• Ongoing support service: Yes
• Types of service supported:
  • Buyer hosting or software
  • Hosting or software provided by a third-party organisation
• How the support service works: Red Oak Consulting provides highly skilled HPC expertise for those organisations who require on-going managed support for all HPC users and researchers with their cloud solution. This on-going support guarantees the right level of knowledge and skill is delivered to your team of users and frees up internal staff to focus on core business. Red Oak Managed Services offers a complete proactive, professional service which can be categorised as follows: HPC Sys Admin Support Reactive support: incident management, including ticket-based support, and troubleshooting Proactive support: including monitoring, patching & updates, system & usage reporting, and ticket analysis. Cost & Usage Analysis: including analysis of usage patterns, and implementation planning. Business Orientated Report: including KPI analysis, cost & budget planning, and ESG reporting. Some of the typical tasks include: day-to-day sysadmin tasks, managing of quotas, software installation, infrastructural support (eg system rebuild), pipeline creation/modification/support, project support, cost management support, etc. Our expert team of HPC Specialists have a wealth of expertise and all come with a background in the research, academia and government as HPC users. They fully understand the user environment and potential challenges. Their knowledge also leads them with the required skillset of performing an RSE role.

Service scope

• Service constraints: Red Oak Consulting is a UK based company but does support customers overseas. Our Managed Services team offer on-going HPC Cloud support on a remote basis, Monday to Friday excluding UK bank holidays. The hours of operation are 0800 to 1800 hours. ; Our Consultancy team generally work remotely, however, they do attend in person, on-site meetings, as required by the customer. They are available Monday to Friday, normal working hours excluding UK bank holidays.; Dependent on the type of project or the support required once the tasks and deliverables have been scoped, specific project dependencies and constraints will be noted.

User support

• Email or online ticketing support: Email or online ticketing
• Support response times: For on-going Managed Services support a ticketing portal where tickets can be raised is utilised. This platform is fully transparent and allows the user to see the status of his or her issue in real time. SLAs for tickets (first response, updates, target time to completion) form part of the KPI's as discussed and agreed with the organisation. They can range from one hour to four hours depending on priority of issue. From a consultancy perspective our consultants are available during normal business hours. Whilst working on a project a full & detailed communication plan is agreed between all parties.
• 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
• Support levels: Red Oak Consulting offers both consultancy support and managed services support. Our team of HPC consultants lead with a diverse skill set in both HPC and Cloud Computing. All certified cloud solutions architects our consultants work with organisations to understand their objectives, business, challenges, requirements and ambitions. Our consultants range from those who are highly technical to those that excel in softer, non functional, arena such as relationship building, strategy and business case support. We take a deep dive into the organisation to fully understand the environment and people. Once understood we can recommend, design and build the right HPC solution - Hybrid, Cloud, or On-Premises. We can support from the ground up. From initial strategy, business case, TCO, analysis to procurement. Design, build, test, migrate, benchmark, knowledge transfer and training. Our consultants work in pairs, work to the prince methodology for project management, and always see a project through. It is through the trust and respect gained that a successful project is delivered. Our consultants rates are set out in the pricing template. For on-going HPC Cloud support we offer Managed Services which gives users access to a highly skilled HPC team for on-going Sys Admin / RSE support.

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: BSI
• ISO/IEC 27001 accreditation date: 28/10/2021
• What the ISO/IEC 27001 doesn’t cover: There are no business elements not covered.
• 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

• Social Value:

  Social Value

  • Fighting climate change
  • Equal opportunity

  Fighting climate change

  Red Oak’s Environmental Policy aims to demonstrate commitment to protecting the environment, to the principles of sustainability and to incorporation of environmental principles into company operations wherever possible. We also aim to support and influence the communities of which we are a part in any way that we are able as a small business.; ; It is our intention to lead by example through minimising negative environmental impact and promoting positive impacts and communicating this to our stakeholders.; ; 1. This policy aims to:; ; · Encourage stakeholders to actively engage in sustainable initiatives, including those initiated by our office landlord and national schemes such as Fairtrade.; ; · Communicate the environmental policy and its aims to stakeholders.; ; · Engage with employees to understand their needs in order to provide a healthy and comfortable working environment.; ; · Comply with relevant environmental legislation and other environmental requirements.; ; · Promote improvement in environmental awareness and performance through clear messaging and targets.; ; · Reduce energy consumption and resource use, particularly by optimum heat settings, low energy lighting, printing double-sided whenever possible.; ; · Manage waste generated from business operations according to the principles of reduction, re-use and recycling, especially paper and toner cartridges.; ; · Encourage stakeholders to adopt sustainable travel methods, such as cycling, car share etc.; ; · Require employees to use public transport for business travel wherever reasonably possible.; ; · Promote a purchasing policy which considers environmental impacts and performance, particularly for company car purchases or leases.

  Equal opportunity

  Red Oak Consulting is committed to encouraging equality and diversity among our workforce, and eliminating unlawful discrimination. We want our workforce to be truly representative of all sections of society and our customers, and for each employee to feel respected and able to give their best. We also, while providing our services, commit to preventing unlawful discrimination against customers or the public. ; ; We commit to: ; ; encouraging equality, diversity and inclusion in the workplace as they are good practice and make business sense. ; ; creating a working environment free of bullying, harassment, victimisation and unlawful discrimination; promote dignity and respect for all, where individual differences and the contributions of all staff are recognised and valued. ; ; training all employees about their rights and responsibilities under the Equality Policy. Responsibilities include staff conducting themselves to help the company provide equal opportunities in employment and prevent bullying, harassment, victimisation and unlawful discrimination ; ; taking seriously complaints of bullying, harassment, victimisation and unlawful discrimination by fellow employees, customers, suppliers, visitors or others in the course of our work activities. ; ; making opportunities for training, development and progress available to all staff, to help and encourage development of their full potential, so their talents and resources can be fully utilised to maximise the efficiency of the company. ; ; making decisions concerning staff based on merit (apart from in any necessary and limited exemptions and exceptions allowed under the Equality Act). ; ; reviewing employment practices and procedures when necessary to ensure fairness, and updating them and the policy to take account of changes in the law. ; ; taking regard of the make-up of the workforce regarding age, gender, ethnic background, sexual orientation, religion or belief and disability in encouraging equality, diversity and inclusion and in meeting the aims and commitments set out in this policy.

Pricing

• Price: £1,850.00 to £3,300.00 a unit a day
• Discount for educational organisations: No

Service documents

• Pricing document

  PDF

• Skills Framework for the Information Age rate card

  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 vicki.lockhart@redoakconsulting.co.uk. Tell them what format you need. It will help if you say what assistive technology you use.