This G-Cloud 10 service is no longer available to buy.

The G-Cloud 10 framework expired on Tuesday 2 July 2019. Any existing contracts with Kainos Software Ltd are still valid.
Kainos Software Ltd

Cloud Performance and Testing Services

Our test specialists provide our clients with a wide range of professional testing services that assure the software product produced, including: functional testing, exploratory testing, test guidance for product owners, test automation, non-functional testing (such as performance, security and accessibility), test strategy, test management and test guidance for developers.

Features

  • Rigorous testing of software products produced by agile teams.​
  • Test Automation supporting rapid promotion of software products to Production.​
  • Test guidance for developers to inform test paths, edge conditions.​
  • Guidance for product owners informing acceptance criteria for user needs.
  • Exploratory testing determining regression and assurance beyond test automation.​
  • Advising on BDD and TDD approaches.​
  • Performance, Load, Stress and Soak testing supporting assurance to Production.
  • Disaster Recovery Testing of digital services to ensure operational stability.​
  • Penetration testing supporting assured promotion of features for internet use.​
  • Advising and supporting clients for UAT activities and signoff.

Benefits

  • Successful software product delivery as part of integrated agile teams.​
  • Integrated multi-disciplinary team testing and development ensuring early test feedback.​
  • Successfully tested software products, including multiple system and supplier integration.​
  • Integration of functional and non-functional testing within single team.​
  • Reduction of regression issues with effective test automation.​
  • Reduction of testing tools cost through using open source technologies.​
  • Reduced risk when delivering value to users in production.

Pricing

£605 a person a day

  • Education pricing available

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

Framework

G-Cloud 10

Service ID

2 0 3 5 0 5 7 7 7 1 4 9 9 5 1

Contact

Kainos Software Ltd Gareth Black
Telephone: 028 9057 1100
Email: presales@kainos.com

Planning

Planning service
Yes
How the planning service works
We will:
Work with your organisation to understand how cloud computing plans fit into the broader agency mission, priorities and architecture.
Help you understand the differences between service categories of infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS), platform-as-a-service (PaaS) and software-as-a-service (SaaS).  
Work with you to consider your options—public/private/hybrid and IaaS/PaaS/SaaS—to best meet your requirements.  
Assess your requirements and help you, if required, develop a cloud strategy.
Help you pick the cloud deployment and migration models that best fit your requirements.
Share our in-depth knowledge of cloud infrastructure models underpinned with lessons learned from what others have delivered to harness the power of cloud.
Help you with governance and management approach to your cloud infrastructure.
Help you with architecture and engineering provided by expert staff.
Advise on cloud security and performance
Advise on day-to-day operational management
Help you launch your cloud implementation by starting small, building incrementally and involving key stakeholders. We will help you create clear goals and ensure there are regular discussions with stakeholders regarding project deliverables, quality of deliverables and performance.  Status reports summarizing activities performed during a specified time-period allow all stakeholders to track progress and build confidence.
Planning service works with specific services
No

Training

Training service provided
Yes
How the training service works
Organisations seeking to utilise cloud-based applications are becoming increasingly aware of the need to develop a sustainable legacy of skills and cultural changes alongside the delivery of cloud solutions and services.
We support organisations on their journey to model best practice with respect to cloud technology, working with the business to encourage an environment that allows enablement to flourish.
We work in mixed teams during engagements to develop skills and coach behaviours required for cloud application delivery. Our teams do this through co-location, code review, pair programming, and peer-to-peer coaching in an environment that develops trust and supports safe learning.
To realise the full benefits of enablement, organisations are challenged to transform beyond just the project team. We engage with clients at all levels to holistically improve how organisational culture, leadership, strategy, structure and process contribute to the creation and delivery of valuable cloud services.
Each organisation is different, so each engagement requires a customised approach. We will work with you to shape the scope, pace and potential benefits of enablement.
Additional training services include:
- Workshops.
- Classroom: bespoke training for particular user-groups, delivered with documentation.
- Train-the-Trainer: training key / super users who then train remaining users.
Training is tied to specific services
No

Setup and migration

Setup or migration service available
Yes
How the setup or migration service works
Cloud strategy: we work with you to understand and determine how your organisation will use and deploy cloud services.  
Guidance: we provide guidance on cloud provider options that meet business needs.
Cloud readiness assessment: we evaluate your existing applications and software delivery processes to assess readiness to move to cloud.
First steps: we help you establish solid foundations to ensure technology and processes are in place for a smooth transition to the cloud, considering network connections, governance models, security and key processes.
File transfer: we help you transfer files easily, using proven methods, including automated delivery of workloads being migrated to the destination cloud.  
Security: our cloud security architects provide security guidance required for cloud implementations.
New platforms: we design and implement new platforms based on agreed High Level Designs and security best practice.
Application re-platforming:  we help you migrate applications to the cloud, reducing risk through proven planning and testing approach.
Managed service: we manage migrated or newly deployed cloud-based solutions through a comprehensive managed service. This includes Flexible Support through which we support cloud hosted applications and data platforms. All services are ISO27001 accredited and managed from our PSN certified UK support centre by security cleared staff.
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
We have an integrated test capability that provides clients with a wide range of professional services that assure the cloud application, including: functional testing, exploratory testing, test guidance for product owners, test automation, non-functional testing (such as performance, security and accessibility), test strategy, test management and test guidance for developers.
Testing is integral to the successful delivery of cloud applications, particularly when released to live cloud services early and often. We involve specialist testers to ensure each iteration of the cloud application is fully tested and assured.
Non-functional testing of cloud applications is also vital to success. We have significant experience testing and assuring transactional services that have large user bases and are sensitive to downtime. We optimise and tune cloud applications during development and can monitor their performance during production use to proactively identify issues. It is important to identify non-functional issues early in the product implementation so that they can be resolved without affecting users.

Security testing

Security services
Yes
Security services type
  • Security strategy
  • Security risk management
  • Security design
  • Cyber security consultancy
  • Security testing
  • Security incident management
  • Security audit services
  • Other
Other security services
  • Continuous security pipeline
  • Security training
  • Incident playbooks
Certified security testers
Yes
Security testing certifications
Other
Other security testing certifications
OSCP

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 deliver expert support services that relieve organisations’ IT departments from the day-to-day demands of maintaining their cloud based applications. We have extensive experience of running and optimising a broad range of bespoke and off-the-shelf (COTS) business applications in a wide range of cloud environments. For many of our customers we support legacy applications and integration points, and we have specifically transitioned support from existing service providers or ESCROW to ourselves. We quickly resolve problems and performance issues, which raise user satisfaction levels.
Our ISO 20000 accredited support methodology is based on the rigour of ITIL and the flexibility of Agile principles and a Dev Ops culture.  Services offered include incident investigation, service desk, change controls, service and supplier management, consultancy, hosting and cloud services, solution upgrades and training.
Our ISO 27001 accreditation allows us to support data marked as Official (previously IL0 to IL3) IaaS platforms for Government departments. Many cloud applications we support are securely administered via the Internet but we have a Code of Connection and associated Code of Practice to enable administration and support of environments with PSN Protected connectivity. Similarly, for health customers we have a direct connection to the NHS N3 network.

Service scope

Service constraints
No constraints are envisaged. Each service will be tailored to meet the client’s support requirements and priced accordingly.

User support

Email or online ticketing support
Email or online ticketing
Support response times
Our standard support response times range from 30 minutes to 5 days depending on the incident categorisation and prioritisation as defined in a tailored service level agreement (SLA) per service.
The tailored SLA also defines the agreed hours of support service availability which can range from 24x7 to weekdays 09:00 to 17:00.
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
Web chat
Web chat support availability
9 to 5 (UK time), Monday to Friday
Web chat support accessibility standard
None or don’t know
How the web chat support is accessible
Web chat allows our support clients to chat directly to support engineers in private skype groups sharing information on support activities over the internet.   Clients and support engineers are able to share text, documents, voice and video within the boundaries of information security protocols.
Web chat accessibility testing
For many of our support clients we configure private skype groups to allow the client real-time access to the support team.
However, we have not performed any web chat testing with assistive technology users.
Support levels
Our mature cloud support service blends continued service improvement with defect resolution, to ensure user needs, business goals and performance targets are realised and user satisfaction is maximised.
We offer a range of support levels (from 2nd to 4th line) which are aligned to client’s support requirements and defined in a tailored service level agreement.  Our support methodology is based on the rigour of ITIL and the flexibility of Agile principles and a Dev Ops culture.  This blend results in a robust break-fix service and pragmatic service targets which are ITIL-aligned and underpinned by our ISO 9000, ISO 20000 and ISO 27001 accreditation.
We provide flexible charging models for support that accommodate both peaks and troughs in business-as-usual support along with ongoing development requirements. This pay-as-you-use approach means you are only charged when you require support, but also allows you to draw on a wide range of skills as required.
A typical support team is led by a technical account manager who is responsible for day-to-day support and allocation of support requests to multiple cloud support engineers.  This approach provides a resilient support service with sufficient cover to ensure all support requests are managed in an effective and efficient manner.

Resellers

Supplier type
Not a reseller

Staff security

Staff security clearance
Other security clearance
Government security clearance
Up to Security Clearance (SC)

Pricing

Price
£605 a person a day
Discount for educational organisations
Yes

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