MDS Technologies Limited

Migration to the Cloud

Our Cloud Migration service is designed exclusively for the UK Public Sector, and is compliant with GDPR and suitable for OFFICIAL workloads, based in UK Crown hosting datacentres to ensure data sovereignty.  It is scalable on-demand, flexible, billed by the hour, and with  full support free of charge.

Features

  • Migrate from Hyper-V and Vmware platforms to the cloud
  • Self-service portal to control your migration
  • Ability to failback control to your current site
  • Journals capable of recovery points just seconds apart
  • On demand, only pay for resources when you need them
  • 24/7 service desk included with SLA response times
  • Test cutovers via the Zerto software
  • Assured; UK hosted by SC and NPPV cleared personnel
  • Connect over the internet, PSN, N3 or JANET
  • Based on market leading software from Zerto

Benefits

  • Seamlessly move from your data centre to our secure cloud
  • Control the migration to minimise downtime to just minutes
  • Move safe knowing you can switch back at any point
  • Ensure that there is minimal data loss during your migration
  • Cost effectively deliver your migration plans
  • Feel supported to when you need it most
  • Simulate your migration without effecting live services
  • Have confidence in who has access to your data
  • Choose the right network to connect your solution to
  • Use known technologies to de-risk your migration strategy

Pricing

£0.03 a virtual machine an hour

Service documents

Framework

G-Cloud 12

Service ID

4 4 8 0 4 0 1 0 6 0 4 8 8 4 1

Contact

MDS Technologies Limited Ben Grantham
Telephone: 01225 816280
Email: sales@mds.gb.net

Service scope

Service constraints
Planned maintenance windows are identified in the service description.
Emergency maintenance windows are identified in the service description.
Customers must complete an assurance activity prior to service provision
System requirements
  • Must have appropriate WAN bandwidth available
  • Browsers that support flash and allows downloading of JAVA applets
  • Utilise Vmware ESXI or Microsoft Hyper-V in their primary site
  • Customer must ensure that local software versions match platform requirements

User support

Email or online ticketing support
Email or online ticketing
Support response times
Tickets are responded to on a priority basis. We aim to respond to ALL initial questions within 15 minutes during normal business hours and High Severity tickets will be answered 24/7
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
Support Levels are based on the priority assigned to the incident:
P1 - 15 minute response, 4 working hour resolution (6 hours if logged outside of working hours)
P2 - 15 minute response, 6 working hour resolution
P3 - 30 minute response, 3 working day resolution
P4 - 60 minute response, 7 working day resolution
Support available to third parties
No

Onboarding and offboarding

Getting started
We operate a Service Implementation process to ensure we take on the support and management of the cloud-based platform in a controlled manner. This encompasses:
• Setup of monitoring, alerting and anti-virus utilising the MDS management toolset
• Establishing the key customer service interfaces and information reporting framework
• Providing access and interfaces to our Service Desk
• Establishing maintenance and patching regimes and schedules
• Ensuring the IaaS, PaaS or SaaS platform is fully documented and baselined
• Understanding the security and assurance requirements
• Formal acceptance by our Customer Service team
Service documentation
Yes
Documentation formats
  • HTML
  • ODF
  • PDF
End-of-contract data extraction
The customer has complete autonomy of how data is stored and managed within their virtual environment. Data can be extracted either from within the VM (for example, copying data over virtual networks), or the entire VM (for example, exporting as a VMDK or OVF). Assistance with this process can be provided by MDS and charged using our SFIA rates.
End-of-contract process
Our off-boarding process is focused on ensuring the controlled shutdown of our service and, where appropriate, facilitating the transition to an alternative provider. This encompasses:
• Facilitating the removal of your data and content from the cloud platform
• Securely, and permanently, deleting all data, accounts and access such that they cannot be recovered
We can support the successful transfer of your services to another provider if requested. To support this we may:
• Appoint an Exit Manager
• Appoint a Project team for seamless handover to a new supplier or back to you to ensure service continuity
• Develop an Exit plan with your Exit Manager to identify all tasks and activities, for example:
• Transfer of all data to the new destination and provide backups as required
• Secure removal process for all data, user security, software etc.
• Acceptance and signoff of successful data and system transfer. This will include access by a nominated security cleared client representative or team to verify all data and systems have been successfully transferred and removed
The Exit team will be charged using our SFIA rates.

Using the service

Web browser interface
Yes
Using the web interface
We provide a control panel allowing users to provision, manage and decommission various aspects of this service. It also allows users to interface with the UKCloud service management system including raising tickets and requests. The web interface also provides access to a comprehensive set of documentation and videos. Launch, manage and delete virtual network, compute and storage resources. Display network topology. Manage images including creation and recover of backups. Control access and security including key pairs, API access and floating IPs. Manage load balancers.
Web interface accessibility standard
None or don’t know
How the web interface is accessible
The web interface is accessible using the most common web browsers and is delivered over various public and private networks including the internet, PSN, N3/HSCN and Janet. The web interface is protected by standards-based encryption, two-factor authentication and optionally IP address restrictions. The web interface is entirely HTML5 and does not require any auxilary plug-ins, therefore the web interface is accessible by any modern day desktop or mobile internet browser able to support secure HTTPS connections.
Web interface accessibility testing
None
API
No
Command line interface
No

Scaling

Scaling available
Yes
Scaling type
  • Automatic
  • Manual
Independence of resources
In order to guarantee that users are not affected by the demands from other users, we use resource reservations and shares such as internet bandwidth shaping. In addition, the capacity planning team ensure that usage in terms of all resources are constantly monitored and increased accordingly relating to user demand.
Usage notifications
Yes
Usage reporting
Other

Analytics

Infrastructure or application metrics
Yes
Metrics types
  • CPU
  • Disk
  • Memory
  • Network
  • Number of active instances
  • Other
Other metrics
  • Recovery Point Objective
  • Journal Length
  • Restore status and availability
Reporting types
  • Real-time dashboards
  • Reports on request

Resellers

Supplier type
Reseller providing extra features and support
Organisation whose services are being resold
UKCloud for Cloud Infrastructure, or other platform providers

Staff security

Staff security clearance
Conforms to BS7858:2012
Government security clearance
Up to Security Clearance (SC)

Asset protection

Knowledge of data storage and processing locations
Yes
Data storage and processing locations
United Kingdom
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 every 6 months
Penetration testing approach
‘IT Health Check’ performed by a CHECK service provider
Protecting data at rest
  • Physical access control, complying with CSA CCM v3.0
  • Physical access control, complying with another standard
  • Other
Other data at rest protection approach
Customers are encouraged to protect their own data using encryption technologies where only they have the decryption key. In this way, our customers are assured that their data can never be accessed by a third party.
Data sanitisation process
Yes
Data sanitisation type
  • Explicit overwriting of storage before reallocation
  • Deleted data can’t be directly accessed
  • Hardware containing data is completely destroyed
Equipment disposal approach
A third-party destruction service

Backup and recovery

Backup and recovery
Yes
What’s backed up
  • Virtual machines and associated data
  • Data is stored within UKCloud as a journal
  • Deploy a VM from a previous specific point in time
Backup controls
Customers have complete control of which VMs are protected via the self-service Zerto portal. Alternatively they can request backups through the MDS service desk or Account Manager.
Datacentre setup
Multiple datacentres with disaster recovery
Scheduling backups
Users schedule backups through a web interface
Backup recovery
  • Users can recover backups themselves, for example through a web interface
  • Users contact the support team

Data-in-transit protection

Data protection between buyer and supplier networks
  • Private network or public sector network
  • TLS (version 1.2 or above)
  • IPsec or TLS VPN gateway
  • Bonded fibre optic connections
  • Other
Other protection between networks
We offer the choice of connecting:
• Via the internet using additional encryption such as TLS 1.2
• IPSec VPN tunnels
• Via private networks such as leased lines or MPLS
• Via public sector networks such as PSN, N3, Janet
Data protection within supplier network
  • TLS (version 1.2 or above)
  • Other
Other protection within supplier network
We use dedicated CAS-T circuits between each of our sites to ensure the protection of customer data in-flight. We additionally encrypt this data within our Elevated OFFICIAL platform. All data flows are also subject to our protective monitoring service.

Availability and resilience

Guaranteed availability
99.99%
Approach to resilience
Our service is deployed across a number of sites, regions and zones. Each zone is designed to eliminate single points of failure (such as power, network and hardware). Customers are encouraged to ensure their solution spans multiple sites, regions or zones to ensure service continuity should a failure occur.
Outage reporting
All outages will be reported via the Service Status page and the notifications service within the Portal.  Outages are identified as Planned maintenance, Emergency maintenance, and platform issues.  In addition, the designated Technical Account Manager will proactively contact customers as appropriate.

Identity and authentication

User authentication
  • 2-factor authentication
  • Limited access network (for example PSN)
Access restrictions in management interfaces and support channels
Customers have the option to raise a support request via telephone or email. UKCloud will always authenticate the identity of the user by validating known phone numbers and asking them for specific characters within their pre-agreed memorable word. The management interfaces are only available on the UKCloud network.
Access restriction testing frequency
At least every 6 months
Management access authentication
2-factor authentication
Devices users manage the service through
  • Dedicated device on a segregated network (providers own provision)
  • Dedicated device on a government network (for example PSN)
  • Dedicated device over multiple services or networks
  • Any device but through a bastion host (a bastion host is a server that provides access to a private network from an external network such as the internet)
  • Directly from any device which may also be used for normal business (for example web browsing or viewing external email)

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
LRQA
ISO/IEC 27001 accreditation date
03/11/2017
What the ISO/IEC 27001 doesn’t cover
MDS' risk assessment process has highlighted that the following area of ISO27001 is out of scope:
14.2.7 Information Systems: Outsourced Development
ISO 28000:2007 certification
No
CSA STAR certification
Yes
CSA STAR accreditation date
28/10/2016
CSA STAR certification level
Level 1: CSA STAR Self-Assessment
What the CSA STAR doesn’t cover
Nothing
PCI certification
No
Other security certifications
Yes
Any other security certifications
  • Cyber Essentials Plus
  • PSN Connection Certificate

Security governance

Named board-level person responsible for service security
Yes
Security governance certified
Yes
Security governance standards
  • ISO/IEC 27001
  • Other
Other security governance standards
Cyber Essentials Plus, PSN connection compliance, ISO 9001, ISO 14001, OHSAS 18001
Information security policies and processes
We follow the policies and procedures laid down in ISO 27001:2013 standard. In particular, our Information Security Management System contains all of the policies that support our security management approach. Our Information Security Policy provides the highest level policy statements which is supported by a comprehensive Acceptable Use Policy which all staff must sign before being granted any system/Network access. Additional policies cover key areas including Security Incident Management, Management Review, Document Control, Data Protection, Access Control, Business Continuity, Encryption, Patch Management and Auditing.

As part of our Service Implementation Process we carry out a pre-handover security audit to ensure that we have met the required MDS Security standards as well as any specific customer security requirements which have been agreed.

All of the above is supported by an extensive internal and external (UKAS accredited) Audit programme which ensures that we maintain the high level of security standards laid down in our processes.

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
Configuration and Change management processes are fully aligned to ITIL best practise and documented within our Information Security Management System.

New customer environments are deployed using our scripted deployment tools to ensure a consistent and reliable build. Configuration changes to these environments are closely managed throughout the project to ensure that configuration records are maintained.

All changes to customer environments require both MDS and customer approval. This ensures that customers are fully aware and agree to any work being implemented within their environment.

The MDS Change Advisory Board meets weekly although Emergency Changes can be processed at short notice.
Vulnerability management type
Conforms to a recognised standard, for example CSA CCM v3.0 or SSAE-16 / ISAE 3402
Vulnerability management approach
Our vulnerability management processes are compliant with ISO27001:2013 and supported by a comprehensive Patch Management policy. We undergo regular vulnerability assessments and also continually monitor a number of recognised sources of new vulnerability and threat information as well as any known exploits for them.

Our Patch Management process includes the regular and timely application of patches to software whilst minimising the potential impact of problem updates through testing and evaluation.
Protective monitoring type
Conforms to a recognised standard, for example CSA CCM v3.0 or SSAE-16 / ISAE 3402
Protective monitoring approach
MDS can implement a GPG-13 compliant Protective Monitoring solution through our relationship with Assuria. The Assuria Log Manager (ALM) application is a CESG CCTM accredited Forensic SIEM/Log Management Solution. ALM is cloud ready, Scalable, Flexible and provides analysis and real time alerting as well as full compliance reporting.

The ALM architecture allows the collection and management of almost any format and supports a wide range of log standards. Although ALM can work agentless, the installation of an ALM Agent (available for a wide range of platforms) enhances the service with automated log collection, rotation, digital signing and forwarding.
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
MDS’ Information Security Incident Management Policy fully complies with ISO27001:2013 and includes:
• Potential or actual breaches of confidentiality of a company or supported customer information asset, or potential or actual breaches of confidentiality of a supporting asset
• Potential or actual breaches of integrity of a company or supported customer information asset, or potential or actual breaches of integrity of a supporting asset
• Potential or actual interruptions to the availability of a company or supported customer information asset

The Policy applies to all employees, contractors and third party users of MDS information systems, and other related infrastructure.

Secure development

Approach to secure software development best practice
Independent review of processes (for example CESG CPA Build Standard, ISO/IEC 27034, ISO/IEC 27001 or CSA CCM v3.0)

Separation between users

Virtualisation technology used to keep applications and users sharing the same infrastructure apart
Yes
Who implements virtualisation
Supplier
Virtualisation technologies used
VMware
How shared infrastructure is kept separate
At the compute/storage layer, consumers are separated via robust hypervisor controls based on VMware vSphere technology. This solution has been previously been validated by the NCSC PGA and the implementation is regularly tested via regular PGA scoped independent IT Security Health Checks conducted by a CHECK service provider.

Energy efficiency

Energy-efficient datacentres
Yes
Description of energy efficient datacentres
UKCloud’s services (if UKCloud's platform is chosen) are CarbonNeutral® cloud services. We achieved this certification by working with Natural Capital Partners to measure and reduce our CO2 emissions across all sources used to deliver our cloud services to our customers. These include direct emissions from all owned or leased stationary sources that use fossil fuels and/or emit fugitive emissions, and emissions from the generation of purchased electricity and steam (including transmission and distribution losses) to power our servers. For our cloud services to achieve CarbonNeutral® status, an independent assessment of the CO2 emissions produced from direct and indirect sources required to deliver them was carried out, followed by an offset-inclusive emissions reduction programme. This means that for every tonne of greenhouse gas emissions we produce in delivering cloud services, we buy a verified carbon offset which guarantees that an equivalent amount of greenhouse gas emissions is reduced from the atmosphere through a renewable energy or clean technology project.

Pricing

Price
£0.03 a virtual machine an hour
Discount for educational organisations
No
Free trial available
No

Service documents