IBM United Kingdom Ltd

IBM Aspera for secure and rapid data transfer (SaaS for OFFICIAL)

IBM Aspera - A proven rapid data transfer SaaS offering for sharing large files and data sets in an easy drag-and-drop format, from and to any datacentre, whether cloud or on premises.

Aspera is scalable, secure with encryption as standard.

E.g, Video files, X-Ray Imagery, Forensic Files.

Features

• Built on IBM Aspera’s patented FASP® transport technology
• Delivers data securely with strong encryption and user access controls
• Maximum transfer speed regardless of file sizes, distance or network
• Direct cloud support for IBM Cloud infrastructure, AWS, Azure, Google
• Data stored and accessed from anywhere (on-premise, cloud, built-in)
• Data stored and accessed from anywhere (on-premise, cloud, built-in)

Benefits

• Share files and folders quickly and securely
• Single/multiple files/folders transfer of any size over distance
• Access and manage data in private, public and hybrid Clouds
• Fully utilize available bandwidth, without impacting other network traffic
• Deliver data reliably with real-time reporting of transfer progress
• Leverage rich APIs for application integration

£388 a terabyte a year

• 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 ukcat@uk.ibm.com. Tell them what format you need. It will help if you say what assistive technology you use.

Framework

G-Cloud 14

Service ID

938252590714694

Contact

Anne-Marie Wheeler
0207 202 3000
ukcat@uk.ibm.com

Service scope

• Software add-on or extension: No
• Cloud deployment model: Hybrid cloud
• Service constraints: No constraints
• System requirements:
  • Internet Connection & Web Browser
  • IBM Aspera Connect Plug-in

User support

• Email or online ticketing support: Email or online ticketing
• Support response times: The response goal is two business hours (8AM to 5PM Monday to Friday). For Severity 1 tickets (critical business impact) there is 24x7 support.
• 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: We have a number of different levels of SLA that cover all levels of operational business requirements. Severity 1 impact which is a critical business impact or service down has 24x7 coverage and we aim to respond to your enquiry within 1 hour. Severity 2 impact which has a significant business impact has business hours coverage objectives with a 2 business hour response time. Severity 3 impact which has a minor business impact has business hours coverage objectives with a 4 business hour response time. Severity 4 impact which has a minimal business impact has business hours coverage objectives with a 1 business day response time.
• Support available to third parties: Yes

Onboarding and offboarding

• Getting started: We provide user documentation and self-help videos as well as on-site training for extra charge
• Service documentation: Yes
• Documentation formats:
  • HTML
  • PDF
• End-of-contract data extraction: IBM will return the Client Data within a reasonable period in a reasonable and common format upon receiving written instructions from the Client prior to termination or expiration.
• End-of-contract process: The customer may choose at time of contract initiation to either automatically renew for the same term or automatically terminate. ; Full capabilities of the service are included in the price, plus a fixed amount of Transfer Volume, Cloud Storage, Users and Egress Bandwidth. Excess utilization of these are billed as overages or pay per use charges.

Using the service

• Web browser interface: Yes
• Supported browsers:
  • Internet Explorer 11
  • Microsoft Edge
  • Firefox
  • Chrome
  • Safari
• Application to install: Yes
• Compatible operating systems:
  • Android
  • IOS
  • Linux or Unix
  • Windows
  • Windows Phone
• Designed for use on mobile devices: Yes
• Differences between the mobile and desktop service: We provide native mobile applications for the service.
• Service interface: Yes
• User support accessibility: WCAG 2.1 AAA
• Description of service interface: Aspera offers a web-based management application that provides complete visibility over your Aspera high-speed transfer environment, enables real-time, centralized control over transfers, nodes and users, and maintains comprehensive logging for customized reports and auditing. ; ; See https://asperasoft.com/software/automation-management/aspera-console/ for details.
• Accessibility standards: None or don’t know
• Description of accessibility: IBM Cloud includes the following major accessibility features: - Keyboard-only operation. - Operations that use a screen reader. IBM Cloud uses the latest W3C Standard, WAI-ARIA 1.0 to ensure compliance to US Section 508 and Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0. To take advantage of accessibility features, use the latest release of your screen reader in combination with the latest Internet Explorer web browser that is supported by this product. The IBM Cloud online product documentation and the IBM Cloud user interface framework is enabled for accessibility
• Accessibility testing: Please refer to the IBM Accessibility Checklist at https://www.ibm.com/able/guidelines/ci162/accessibility_checklist.html
• API: Yes
• What users can and can't do using the API: Please see here https://developer.asperasoft.com
• API documentation: Yes
• API documentation formats:
  • Open API (also known as Swagger)
  • Other
• API sandbox or test environment: No
• Customisation available: Yes
• Description of customisation: Administrator of the service can rebrand some parts of the interface; Administrators can choose a custom URL at service onboarding time

Scaling

• Independence of resources: The architecture of IBM cloud services maintains logical separation of client data. Internal rules and measures separate data processing, such as inserting, modifying, deleting, and transferring data, according to the contracted purposes.

Analytics

• Service usage metrics: Yes
• Metrics types: Service usage metrics are available using the Aspera Analytics solution.; See https://asperasoft.com/nab2016/analytics/ for details.
• Reporting types:
  • API access
  • Real-time dashboards
  • Regular reports
  • Reports on request

Resellers

• Supplier type: Not a reseller

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:
  • United Kingdom
  • European Economic Area (EEA)
  • Other locations
• User control over data storage and processing locations: Yes
• Datacentre security standards: Complies with a recognised standard (for example CSA CCM version 3.0)
• Penetration testing frequency: At least once a year
• Penetration testing approach: ‘IT Health Check’ performed by a Tigerscheme qualified provider or a CREST-approved service provider
• Protecting data at rest:
  • Physical access control, complying with CSA CCM v3.0
  • 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
• Data sanitisation process: Yes
• Data sanitisation type: Explicit overwriting of storage before reallocation
• Equipment disposal approach: Complying with a recognised standard, for example CSA CCM v.30, CAS (Sanitisation) or ISO/IEC 27001

Data importing and exporting

• Data export approach: NA
• Data export formats: Other
• Other data export formats: NA
• Data import formats: Other
• Other data import formats: NA

Data-in-transit protection

• Data protection between buyer and supplier networks:
  • TLS (version 1.2 or above)
  • IPsec or TLS VPN gateway
  • Other
• Other protection between networks: IBM will encrypt content not intended for public or unauthenticated viewing when transferring content over public networks. Further, unless excluded by a TD, IBM will enable use of a cryptographic protocol, such as HTTPS, SFTP, and FTPS, for Client’s secure transfer of content to and from the Cloud Service over public networks.
• Data protection within supplier network:
  • TLS (version 1.2 or above)
  • IPsec or TLS VPN gateway
  • Other
• Other protection within supplier network: Data encryption in transit and at rest with AES-128 , AES-192 and AES-256 cryptography.; FIPS 140-2 Level 1 compliant.

Availability and resilience

• Guaranteed availability: IBM provides the following availability service level agreement (“SLA”) for the Cloud Service as specified in a PoE. The SLA is not a warranty. The SLA is available only to Client and applies only to use in production environments.; If the availability in a contracted month is less than 99% then there will be 2% compensation of the % of the monthly subscription fee for the contracted month that is the subject of a claim.; If the availability in a contracted month is less than 97.5% then there will be 5% compensation of the % of the monthly subscription fee for the contracted month that is the subject of a claim.; Availability, expressed as a percentage, is calculated as: the total number of minutes in a contracted month minus the total number of minutes of Downtime in a contracted month divided by the total number of minutes in the contracted month.
• Approach to resilience: Available at request.
• Outage reporting: Email Alerts

Identity and authentication

• User authentication needed: Yes
• User authentication: Public key authentication (including by TLS client certificate)
• Access restrictions in management interfaces and support channels: IBM maintains individual role-based authorization of privileged accounts that is subject to regular validation. A privileged account is a duly authorized IBM user identity with administrative access to a Cloud Service, including associated infrastructure, networks, systems, applications, databases and file systems.
• Access restriction testing frequency: At least every 6 months
• Management access authentication:
  • Username or password
  • Other
• Description of management access authentication: Provided by Aspera Console access to Aspera deployments. See https://asperasoft.com/software/automation-management/aspera-console/ for details.

Audit information for users

• Access to user activity audit information: Users contact the support team to get audit information
• How long user audit data is stored for: Between 1 month and 6 months
• Access to supplier activity audit information: Users contact the support team to get 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

Standards and certifications

• ISO/IEC 27001 certification: Yes
• Who accredited the ISO/IEC 27001: Bureau Veritas Certification Holding SAS – UK Branch
• ISO/IEC 27001 accreditation date: 19/12/2018
• What the ISO/IEC 27001 doesn’t cover: The infrastructure and platform this offering is run on is ISO/IEC 27001 compliant.
• ISO 28000:2007 certification: No
• CSA STAR certification: Yes
• CSA STAR accreditation date: 30/07/2018
• CSA STAR certification level: Level 1: CSA STAR Self-Assessment
• What the CSA STAR doesn’t cover: The infrastructure and platform this offering is run on has a CSA STAR Self-Assessment certificate. The SaaS side of this offering currently does not have this. The IBM CSA Star Self-Assessment can be viewed here https://cloudsecurityalliance.org/star-registrant/softlayer/
• PCI certification: Yes
• Who accredited the PCI DSS certification: This detail will be confirmed at call-off contract level
• PCI DSS accreditation date: To be confirmed at Call-off
• What the PCI DSS doesn’t cover: This detail will be confirmed at call-off contract level via our online template
• 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
• Information security policies and processes: IBM has an Information Technology (IT) Security policy that establishes the requirements for the protection of IBM's worldwide IT systems and the information assets they contain, including networks and computing devices such as servers, workstations, host computers, application programs, web services, and telephone systems within the IBM infrastructure. IBM’s IT Security policy is supplemented by standards and guidelines, such as the Security Standards for IBM's Infrastructure, the Security and Use Standards for IBM Employees and the Security Guidelines for Outsourced Business Services. Such are reviewed by a cross-company team led by the IT Risk organization every six months.; ; IBM has a dedicated Vice President of IT Security who leads a team responsible for IBM's own enterprise data security standards and practices. Responsibility and accountability for executing internal security programs is established through formal documented policies. IBM Services teams also have dedicated executives and teams who are responsible for information and physical security in the delivery of our client services.

Operational security

• Configuration and change management standard: Conforms to a recognised standard, for example CSA CCM v3.0 or SSAE-16 / ISAE 3402
• Configuration and change management approach: IBM maintains policies and procedures to manage risks associated with the application of changes to its Cloud Services. Prior to implementation, all changes to a Cloud Service, including its systems, networks and underlying components, will be documented in a registered change request that includes a description and reason for the change, implementation details and schedule, a risk statement addressing impact to the Cloud Service and its clients, expected outcome, rollback plan, and documented approval by IBM management or its authorized delegate.
• Vulnerability management type: Conforms to a recognised standard, for example CSA CCM v3.0 or SSAE-16 / ISAE 3402
• Vulnerability management approach: With each Cloud Service, as applicable and commercially reasonable, IBM will a) perform penetration testing and vulnerability assessments before production release and routinely thereafter, b) enlist a qualified and reputable independent third-party to perform penetration testing and ethical hacking at least annually, c) perform automated management and routine verification of underlying components’ compliance with security configuration requirements, and d) remediate any identified vulnerability or noncompliance with its security configuration requirements based on associated risk, exploitability, and impact. IBM takes reasonable care to avoid Cloud Service disruption when performing its tests, assessments, scans, and execution of remediation activities.
• Protective monitoring type: Conforms to a recognised standard, for example CSA CCM v3.0 or SSAE-16 / ISAE 3402
• Protective monitoring approach: IBM maintains and follows policies requiring administrative access and activity in its Cloud Services’ computing environments to be logged and monitored, and the logs to be archived and retained in compliance with IBM’s worldwide records management plan. IBM monitors privileged account use and maintain security information and event management policies and measures designed to a) identify unauthorized administrative access and activity, b) facilitate a timely and appropriate response, and c) enable internal and independent third party audits of compliance with such policies. IBM systematically monitors the health and availability of production Cloud Service systems and infrastructure at all times.
• Incident management type: Conforms to a recognised standard, for example, CSA CCM v3.0 or ISO/IEC 27035:2011 or SSAE-16 / ISAE 3402
• Incident management approach: IBM:; -maintains and follows incident response policies aligned with NIST guidelines for computer security incident handling, and will comply with data breach notification requirements under applicable law.; -investigates security incidents, including unauthorised access or use of content or the Cloud Service, of which IBM becomes aware, and, if warranted, define and execute an appropriate response plan.; -promptly notifies Client upon determining that a security incident known or reasonably suspected by IBM to affect Client has occurred. ; -provides Client with reasonably requested information about such security incident and status of applicable remediation and restoration activities performed or directed by IBM.

Secure development

• Approach to secure software development best practice: Supplier-defined process

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

  IBM are committed to achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions globally by 2030. On this path, IBM are on track to have reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 65% (against 2010 base) in 2025, and 75% of our global electricity consumption will be from renewables by 2025. The IBM UK Carbon Reduction Plan (CRP) is published annually in which we report progress in achieving Net Zero; most recent in September 2023.; In fulfilling our responsibilities under our contracts, our staff operate in line with our IBM Environmental Policy and implemented through our worldwide Environmental Management System (EMS), which covers objectives including achieving our net zero greenhouse gas commitment, reduction in water use, reduction in waste going to landfill, creating green space, enhancing the natural environment and improving air quality. Local initiatives are in place around IBM and client’s locations, promoting e.g. shared or zero-carbon travel, various cycle-to-work and car-share initiatives/incentives as well as environmentally focused volunteering.; ; To influence staff, suppliers, customers and communities through the delivery of the contract to support environmental protection/improvement, we include Social Responsibility and Environmental Management requirements in subcontracts and encourage staff to work with the wider teams on improvements. In some locations, an ‘Environmental Business Resource Group’ promotes Green sustainability, also through community-based activities.; ; In 2020 IBM launched the ‘responsible.computing’ initiative, which addresses modern computing challenges and integrates aspects of sustainability, climate, ethics, openness, privacy, and security. We assess proposed technical solutions against efficient energy usage.; IBM began detailed tracking and monitoring of our environmental footprint in 1990 - being forthright and transparent in our impact long before it was fashionable or required. We have made significant improvements over the last 30 years and will continue to report transparently on impacts and progress, using ‘Sustainable by Design’ framework and tools such as CO2 Emissions-Estimator and/or Envizi.

  Covid-19 recovery

  We have continued promoting initiatives created to support COVID-19 recovery aimed at both communities and our/partners’ workforce. To help local communities manage and recover from the impacts of COVID-19 IBM have created employment and re-training opportunities. IBM provided a free, fully online offering called SkillsBuild Reignite, tailored for job seekers, and those needing to grow their digital skills. Once an initial 30-hours of online learning was completed, Reignite offered free one-on-one coaching, seminars and facilitated discussions from IBM volunteers.; ; IBM encourage our staff, suppliers, and customers to support our local communities through IBM Community Engagement Portal. The IBM.org Volunteer’s Portal manages over 1.3 million hours of volunteering by IBM employees. IBMers are allowed to make a charitable contribution of £7 for every hour of volunteering to their chosen charity.; ; We support our extensive ecosystem of external SME's managing/recovering from the impacts of COVID-19. IBM has invested to help reduce barriers to entry that may preclude participation in delivery by SMEs. This could relate to financial standing, ability to accept risk, invest in bids, or ability to supply sufficient volumes of resources.; ; We have had several initiatives to support staff with the impact of the COVID-19 and extended those initiatives to clients/partners. Mental health support has been available at all times to all of our staff and their families, and we have trained volunteering staff as mental health first aiders, with programmes in place to tailor a gradual return to work e.g. following illness.; ; IBM reimagined many of our workplaces and policies to support COVID-19 recovery. We have implemented our Work from Home Pledge & Hybrid Working Pledge for all staff, which ensures we establish and respect new boundaries and support each other in this new way of working and living. IBM continue promoting an ongoing Hybrid working approach.

  Tackling economic inequality

  IBM invest to understand of the causes and effects of inequality. We run multiple initiatives to attempt to level opportunity, focused on our stated social-responsibility goal to support education and skills development in Science and Technology, with a specific focus on those who may not otherwise be attracted, or have the opportunity, to develop those skills.; ; The ‘IBM Ignite’ scheme, a national Movement to Work programme, offers vocational traineeships and work experience to disadvantaged youth unemployed. Together with City Gateway, our London charity partner, IBM offer 2-week, onsite, workplace programmes to break the cycle of ‘no work experience, no job’.; ; IBM are proud to have created skillsbuild.org. This is a global programme, and for the UK offering IBM have partnered with ACH.org.uk, a social enterprise working to resettle refugees through labour market and social integration, City Gateway, a London charity working with disadvantaged young people, women and families in deprived areas to build skills and ambition, and SaluteMyJob, a charity creating opportunities for ex-Servicemen and women under the armed forces covenant. The SkillsBuild programmes offer training, in-person support, credentials and opportunities to put the learning into practice. In addition to the direct training through charity partners, SkillsBuild is now also available free to all online. The SkillsBuild training gives recognised qualifications to those searching for employment in a digital economy. In addition, the programme gives job-search skills, teaches agile methods and design thinking, and has specific training in growing IT fields, such as cybersecurity, big data, artificial intelligence.; ; IBM UK employ around 100 school-leaver apprentices every year. Our award-winning programme offers apprenticeships ranging from Level 3 to Level 6, with all apprentices employed as permanent employees from Day 1. We also launched Early Professional Affiliates Hiring programme enabling us to further acquire talent from underrepresented groups.

  Equal opportunity

  In 1942, IBM hired blind psychologist Michael Supa to create a programme for hiring and training people with disabilities. Supa then worked in IBM institutionalising disability representation and equality for 37 years, and 80 years after he was hired IBM continue to lead in Accessibility, Inclusive hiring, and Representation to reduce the disability employment gap. The Accessible Workplace Connection portal makes it easy for managers to accommodate IBMers who consider themselves to have disabilities, and all recruitment activities are accessible and open. IBM support all employees in training and developing new skills relevant to them, with at least 40 hours of structured training required every year; called THINK40. The training can link to recognised, external qualifications, building skills relevant to the contract. IBM is accommodating of those with additional needs, ensuring all training is inclusive.; ; IBM believes that a diverse and inclusive work environment drives higher quality delivery. We have created employment/training opportunities for those with protected characteristics in the UK since 1912. Our 300+ employee-led communities support ethnic minorities, neurodiversity, LGBTQ+, females, veterans and more through regular events within their communities. Every IBMer completes regular mandatory Diversity & Inclusion training, including on unconscious bias. Based on 2022 survey nearly 9 in 10 IBMers felt comfortable being themselves at work with ~5,000 more recommending IBM as a great place to work. IBM run a “BeEqual” campaign and programmes, with tens of thousands of employees making a BeEqual pledge of allyship to colleagues from minority groups and 6000 IBMers globally are certified as LGBT+ Allies, with 90+ events across UK and Ireland in 2023 focusing on inclusion, with approximately 3.5K attendees. IBM have a culture of promotion and recruitment aiming to addresses workforce inequality for all to have the opportunity to fulfil their potential.

  Wellbeing

  IBM has an advanced Health and Wellbeing Programme, recognising the criticality and benefits of a healthy and supported workforce. A wide-ranging Employee Assistance Program is provided confidentially to all employees 24/7, at no cost to them, backed up by medical insurance with annual health assessments available. IBM operate a Mental Health First Aid Programme, with over 200 qualified mental health first-aiders volunteering in the UK. These colleagues make themselves approachable as a first step. IBM UK have Disability Confident Level 2 status, winning in 2023 UK-IT-Industry Award – DEI and in 2021 the Best Employer for Diversity and Inclusion award from WM UK, due to the broad focus on D&I throughout the pandemic, including hidden disabilities and neurodiversity. IBM has a global neurodiversity hiring program (ND@IBM).; In the new model of home/hybrid working, various initiatives have been created to maintain and improve both mental and physical health when working remotely. The IBM Working from Home Pledge includes commitments to take time out for yourself, and to check-in regularly on colleagues. It was recognised that working alone can be challenging for some, and regular sessions, support programmes and training in place to keep people connected. Managers have undertaken training to recognise those struggling and have tools of early support. A “2020 health challenge” was taken up by 20% of the permanent employee population, with 69% of participants reported being less stressed, 74% exceeded 10,000 steps a day. We continue organising ‘Exercise challenges’ on miles walked/weight loss linked to e.g. World Heart Day. Ergonomic equipment to create a better working-from-home environment is available to all.; ; Within projects/programmes, and as part of contract delivery, IBM seek to make these various initiatives available to joint team of staff/suppliers/customers and communities. Project and colleague-based support and health initiatives are expanded where possible to all.

Pricing

• Price: £388 a terabyte a year
• Discount for educational organisations: Yes
• Free trial available: Yes
• Description of free trial: Free 30-day trial. Free trial ends after 30 days or 100 GB in data transfers, whichever occurs first
• Link to free trial: https://www.ibm.com/ms-en/marketplace/high-speed-file-sharing-saas/details

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 ukcat@uk.ibm.com. Tell them what format you need. It will help if you say what assistive technology you use.