Red Oak Consulting

HPC Cloud Computing Solutions

Red Oak Consulting guides companies through the complexities of High-Performance Computing and its use in the Cloud. We provide high quality, independent, specialist advice for all parts of the HPC lifecycle. We support all sectors including; academia, research, manufacturing, renewable energy, metrological, weather, government and more on HPC Cloud.

Features

• Full HPC Cloud migration, training, knowledge transfer
• System architectural design, build, test and implementation
• Stakeholder, user requirements capture and change management
• HPC Cloud readiness, viability tests, suitability studies
• Cloud TCO (Total cost of ownership) including sustainability
• Cloud comparison & analysis including procurement & change management
• Strategy, business case, policy, procedure review and recommendations
• Cloud Pilots, demonstrators, PoC's, benchmarking
• Workflow Workload analysis and compatibility testing
• Storage, hosting, data sovereignty solutions

Benefits

• Enhances productivity & functionality
• Enhances capability, ability to handle more complex workloads
• Reduces risk and cost
• Optimisation of workloads and running cost
• Leading independent HPC & cloud expertise & knowledge
• Reduces downtime, projects delivered on time and in budget
• Proven experience & reputation, no business risk or unforeseen problems
• Ability to get greater value for money through system enhancements
• Enhanced strategic making and more informed decision making
• Greater research capability through state of the art HPC

£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

925813596006021

Contact

VickiLockhart
07718655024
vicki.lockhart@redoakconsulting.co.uk

Planning

• Planning service: Yes
• How the planning service works: Our consultants work with customers to obtain a unified business outlook. We gather requirements, we meet with users, researchers and stakeholders. This can be done through either one to one interviews or workshops. Our team gets to understand all the various workflows being used, including any potential issues. Once the critical information is obtained and understood we are able to design and build a solution to meet expectations and objectives of the business. We work with the customer to ensure a successful roll out. We mutually agree an implementation plan, which details all actions, roles and responsibilities along with timelines for execution. We create a communication plan, ensuring all areas of the business including users, are kept notified of developments, the rationale as to why and the benefits they will receive once the new solution is implemented. Our team of experts hold unrivalled expertise on all HPC cloud software services and applications. We go further, and also offer training, knowledge transfer to ease the roll out and give that element of reassurance to all. Our Managed Support team are on hand to continue with on-going support for all users through our tiered Managed Service programmes.
• Planning service works with specific services: No

Training

• Training service provided: Yes
• How the training service works: For all Cloud projects Red Oak Consulting conducts Training (be it one on one or as a team), workshops, and knowledge transfer. 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 cloud 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 operates a very agile infrastructure. Whilst based in mainland UK, our team is able to support across the globe. Our team of consultants work to a hybrid approach, that being, from our office in Cheltenham and home. We are able to work remotely and from customer site, if required. At the start of the project we will establish the most effective place of work agreeing with the customer on any site visits. Our consultants work Monday to Friday excl bank holidays from 0900 to 1730, normal UK business times. All have valid full UK driving licences.

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 full 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 for the organisation. 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 elements not covered by our ISO 27001 certification.
• 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.; ; 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.