Thursday 24 December 2015




Our very own Sharon Allen went for a bold new look for Christmas - and it's really paid off, as she has raised thousands of pounds for good causes.

Sharon is Group Finance Director at award-winning, Basingstoke-based Centerprise International, and both she and colleagues have pledged to use their fundraising muscle to support three charities over the next 12 months - Ark Cancer Centre Charity, Help for Heroes, and MCCH, which helps people to manage mental well-being challenges.

To get the fundraising ball rolling, Sharon decided to lose her locks in time for Christmas - and her brave feat has paid dividends for charities.

The donations came pouring in, and by the time the scissors and clipper were wielded on December 23rd, Sharon had raised more than £5,700 in online and offline donations, and has every hope that the final figure will top £6,000.

Sharon's purple and pink locks were lopped off in front of colleagues at the company's Hampshire International Business Park headquarters in Chineham.

The hair was sent tumbling thanks to some snipping and clipping by Centerprise International Chairman, Rafi Razzak, Group HR and Support Director, Sam Lailey, and Dave Taylor, from the Systems Integrators team.

Sharon said:
"I am staggered and blown away by the support that I have received from family, friends and work colleagues. I was hoping to raise £500, so to raise well over £5,000 already is amazing."

Just before Sharon's fundraising haircut, Director of Fundraising and Communications for Ark Cancer Centre Charity, Mark Jones, gave a talk to the Centerprise team about the charity, which is raising £5 million towards a cancer treatment centre that will help and support people in the Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust area.

Mark Jones stated:
"The Ark Cancer Centre Charity team are so grateful for the support of the staff at Centerprise International. The commitment and involvement of the 150-strong team will really help to raise awareness of the cancer treatment centre project as well as funds for the charity appeal."

The £5m appeal will ensure a range of support services and complementary therapies are available alongside chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments in a calm and uplifting environment.

The new centre is earmarked for a location in the Basingstoke and Deane area, and if the preferred site near to Junction 7 of the M3 is approved, it will be easily accessible to everyone in the HFFT region. The centre is scheduled to open at the end of 2018.



For more information about the fantastic charities Centerprise is supporting:
The Ark Cancer Charity http://www.arkcancercharity.org.uk/
MCCH http://www.mcch.org.uk/
Help for Heroes http://www.helpforheroes.org.uk/

Friday 18 December 2015

Ark Cancer Centre Charity trustee Merv Rees (front, second right) and Mark Jones, Ark Cancer Centre Charity Director of Fundraising and Communications (front, second left) with members of the Centerprise team, including chairman Rafi Razzak (front centre). 



STAFF at award-winning Basingstoke-based Centerprise International have pledged to use their money-raising muscle to help fund a unique local cancer treatment centre.

Employees at the top-performing IT company, based on Hampshire International Business Park in Chineham, have voted to support three charities in 2016 – and 80 per cent of their fundraising will go to Ark Cancer Centre Charity.

The charity is raising £5million towards a cancer treatment centre that will help and support people in the Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (HHFT) area. 

The £5m appeal will ensure a range of support services and complementary therapies are available alongside chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments in a calm and uplifting environment.

The new centre is earmarked for a location in the Basingstoke and Deane area, and if the preferred site near to Junction 7 of the M3 is approved, it will be easily accessible to everyone in the HHFT region. The centre is scheduled to open at the end of 2018.

Sam Lailey, Group HR and Support Director at Centerprise International, said the company’s charity committee and staff will be delighted to support Ark Cancer Centre Charity, Help for Heroes, and MCCH, which helps people to manage mental wellbeing challenges, during 2016. 

Sam said: “These are three very good causes, and the team are looking forward to taking on various fundraising activities to support them.”

Group Finance Director Sharon Allen will be kicking off the fundraising for Ark Cancer Centre Charity in a big way when she loses her locks for Christmas by taking part in a sponsored head-shave on December 23.

Sharon, who has already drummed up more than £4,000 in sponsorship support, said: “I'm never going to climb a mountain or run a marathon but I can do this simple thing to raise money for a fantastic charity.”  

To mark the launch of Centerprise’s year of fundraising, Ark Cancer Centre Charity trustee Merv Rees visited the company’s offices to thank chairman Rafi Razzak and his staff for their support, and to tell them more about the charity and cancer treatment centre project.

Merv said: “I am very grateful to the Centerprise team for choosing Ark Cancer Centre Charity as one of their good causes to raise money for in 2016. This significant show of support will help to raise vital awareness of, and funds for, the charity appeal and cancer centre project.”  


For more information about the Ark Cancer Centre Charity, please visit: www.arkcancercharity.org.uk




What was the key to FY15’s massive profit increase?

Moving more towards service delivery helped improve the profit margin a lot, and we were much more focused on our own products.

The UK system builder space has had an up-and-down few years. How have you prospered?

The market seems to be right for bespoke manufacturing, and we are seeing far less competition there than ever. We see customers with a requirement for hardware and services with a tailored approach, rather than a corporate approach. Now the customer is much more careful in terms of specifying their exact requirements.

Your background is as a public sector specialist – how much have you evolved?

We moved into high-end workstations with BOXX Technologies, as well as our own products, and that has taken us more into the private sector. In both the private and public sector we are seeing that customers are not just buying because of the brand, but because of the specification and what their needs are.

Where does the cloud fit into your plans?

I heard a good analogy about this: If you are going to London for two nights, you book a hotel. If it is six months, you rent a flat. If it is two years, you buy a house. That explains how the cloud can sometimes be a shorter-term solution, rather than a long-term one. There is definitely a place for it, but it is not the be-all and end-all. It will definitely be a hybrid world.


Ci VAR overview from CRN :

The Hampshire-based VAR and system builder’s turnover was relatively flat in FY15, but net profit spiked more than threefold to £1.9m. The company claimed it enjoyed significant success during the year in winning service-delivery contracts, and the aim for 2016 is to grow its cloud business. It is also hoping its distribution agreement with BOXX Technologies will give it a leg-up into providing high-end workstations into the media market.

Content credit to the chairman & channelweb.co.uk

Monday 14 December 2015

Centerprise will now be delivering expert screen protection in collaboration with Tuffscreen, specialist in industrial strength screen protection for all electronic devices.  

This new addition to Ci Distribution’s ever expanding portfolio is on point with their overall mission for 2016: to become the number 1 for rugged tech in the UK.

Tuffscreen screen protectors are a purpose-designed industrial strength screen protection solution.  They are made from an impact absorbing gel layer which is chemically bonded to a scratch and abrasion-resistant hard sheet which helps to eliminate all causes of screen damage. 

Damage to the screens of electronic devices is costing companies across the industrial spectrum on a daily basis, costing an average £100 pounds to replace each time. As people become more reliant on these devices for their operations, Tuffscreen screen protectors deliver a simple and effective solution to this problem.

As partners, Ci and Tuffscreen are able to facilitate the productivity and mobility of commercial markets whose devices need extra protection. A Tuffscreen can make devices up to 7.6 times stronger and so adds to the workflow of many organisations.

Tuffscreens can be supplied with a wide range of cases to suit your device and requirements. Custom case and charging solutions can also be developed to provide a full solution to device vulnerability and help to solve the costly problems of downtime and repair caused by screen damage.

Emma Loveless, Business Manager at Centerprise said;

“As a result of this partnership, not only can we offer fully rugged solutions, but also give resellers the option to make their ordinary tech stronger and less vulnerable to superficial damage, reducing the TCO for their customers” 


Monday 30 November 2015

On the 18th November, Ci Distribution attended PCR Boot Camp North to showcase the last rugged tech from their new and long standing partners.

Alongside Panasonic, Xplore and Caterpillar, Ci demonstrated their capabilities as a fully mobile rugged solution provider. With tablets, laptops, phones and hybrid's resellers are able to purchase all the tech needed for those who demand more from their devises. 





PCR Boot Camp North was the ideal platform for Ci and enabled them to share new developments 
with a targeted audience of tech retailers, resellers, etailers and system builders. 












For more information on Ci Distribution's product range, please contact the team:

01256 378071
distributionsales@centerprise.co.uk


BRAND NEW SITE!
Ci distribution have a new microsite where you can find links and info about their full rugged product range. 

Please visit: www.cidistribution.com


The 30 October saw the return of Centerprise International’s annual Defence Technology Event, where interactive IT in the world of defence was showcased by Centerprise’s acclaimed partners and industry experts to a select audience from the Ministry of Defence.


The ‘interactive’ theme of the event consisted of live demos, captivating presentations and exclusives from a range of vendors providing the opportunity for professionals in the Ministry of Defence to experience and engage with the very latest and greatest Information Technology offerings.

As well a unique networking opportunity, the invite-only audience also witnessed the return of keynote speaker Bruce Wynn (see below) who once again impressed with his insights into cyber security. This year, the renowned cyber specialist explained the ‘business model of the bad guys’ demonstrating the logistics of cyber-attacks, an all too familiar topic.

As a Platinum Sponsor, Fujitsu’s James Maynard began the specialist talks with a fascinating presentation on ‘Augmented Reality’ and even provided the audience with exclusive insights into a new solution yet to be launched on the international market.


Panasonic followed by demonstrating the evolution of their famous Toughbook® and Touchpad® devices. Panasonic duo Paul Davidson and Oliver Ledgard supplied some first edition units for the audience to ponder, highlighting the advancements in their tech since 1994.

Defence Business Unit Manager, Phil Boyes said;

 “We know from previous years that delegates always find this event useful. This year we wanted to bring something different by providing a more interactive environment where delegates are given more opportunity to actively engage with the specialist sponsors”

Both Dell and Getac concluded the presentations, again demonstrating the benefits their products can bring to the Armed Forces.

Other Centerprise sponsors were also in attendance showcasing their latest technologies, live demonstrations and case studies in keeping with the Interactive theme stimulating significant delegate interest.

Phil Boyes continued;

“Initial feedback from both delegates and sponsors is proving the new approach to the event has been a success. Following the formal close by our Chairman Rafi Razzak, it was clear delegates benefited from the relaxed networking atmosphere during my own discussions.”



Tuesday 3 November 2015

MEDIA RELEASE 03/11/2015

Leading IT solutions provider expands into new vertical markets with Xplore

AUSTIN, Texas – September 02, 2015 – Xplore Technologies Corp. (NASDAQ: XPLR), manufacturer of the world’s broadest range of high-quality rugged tablet computers, today announced that it has expanded its relationship with Centerprise International, one of the largest and most respected UK IT solution providers. 

A trusted solutions provider to the UK public sector, Centerprise is expanding its offerings to include the Motion C5m R12, CL920 and F5 by Xplore, as well as the wider portfolio of fully rugged Xplore tablets, including the newly-launched and ATEX-rated XSLATE B10.

“This extension of the relationship with Centerprise is yet another validation of our acquisition of the Motion product line, and our aggressive strategy to support the enterprise mobility market across Europe,” said Mark Holleran, president and chief operating officer for Xplore. “As our competitors have ceased developing the specialised units necessary for vital vertical markets such as healthcare or field service, the breadth of the Xplore portfolio will enable Centerprise to specify hardware that is most suited to the end user workflow, be it healthcare, field service, construction or emergency services.”

“We have built our reputation on offering market-leading technology and best in class solutions to large scale and complex IT programmes within the commercial, defence, education, and wider government sectors” said Garry Stevens CEO, Centerprise International.

“We have specialized in the provision of ruggedized solutions for more than 20 years. The Xplore range will enable us to further our reach within our current markets and expand into new verticals. As a recognized leading developer of rugged tablets & notebooks, Xplore is a natural choice of partner to assist Centerprise in becoming the number one provider of rugged solutions in the UK. The range and quality of their products will enable us to diversify into new markets and further expand our solutions portfolio into our existing customer base. We now have a comprehensive coverage of all sectors looking to exploit enterprise mobility.”
   


   

Monday 19 October 2015

On the 1 October, the Distribution Team at Centerprise added Caterpillar (Cat®) phones to their increasing portfolio of ruggedized IT.

These phones will be delivered in partnership with Bullitt Group who design, manufacture, market and sell mobile phones and consumer electronics in partnership with global brands such as Caterpillar and JCB.

Ci Distribution have had ample success in the last decade and are fast becoming one of the largest distributors of ruggedized devices. The partnership with Bullitt Group comes as the team are taking on more suppliers to offer resellers across the UK a varied choice of specialist rugged IT.

Cat phones are specially engineered with the latest technology to withstand the most challenging mobile working environments, whilst boasting an impressive range of technical features;

- Oil & grease resistant
- Water, dust & drop proof
- Large capacity battery
- Wet-finger tracking
- Glove-on working* technology
- Super bright display

The addition of this new range will allow Centerprise to provide a comprehensive service to their customers, who will have the opportunity to purchase notebooks, tablets and now phones – a fully mobile rugged solution under one roof.

Business Unit Manager, Emma Loveless said,

“The team are very excited to launch this new partnership. Already they have outstanding knowledge and experience, enabling them to provide the best rugged devices to our customers. Now we can offer them something new to complement their solutions.”

“The rugged smartphone market is growing with over 10m units sold globally in 2014 and our Cat phones portfolio appeals to those who regularly damage their existing phone due to them being used in work environments they were not built for. By partnering with Centerprise we look forward to capitalising on their proven experience with our target demographic.” said Oliver Schulte, CEO of Bullitt Mobile.

Emma and her team believe this recent development will increase their reputation and drive opportunities. The Cat phones range will strengthen their position in current, well established markets such as construction and utilities and also enable expansion into new verticals.

With a constantly increasing portfolio, Centerprise Distribution are closer to becoming the number 1 for rugged products in the UK. 


Tuesday 25 August 2015


Centerprise is delighted to announce that it has recently signed an agreement with BOXX Technologies to become their exclusive manufacturing and distribution partner for the UK.

As one of the world’s leading performance and fastest growing computing brands, BOXX Technologies manufactures bespoke high performance workstations for a range of industries and boasts a blue chip client list including Boeing, Disney, and NASA.

“Throughout our 19 year history, BOXX has been the beneficiary of a strong and loyal UK following,” said Shoaib Mohammad, BOXX VP of Marketing and Business Development.

“Through this new partnership, we will be able to more efficiently and effectively provide these creative professionals with the world’s fastest hardware solutions.”

Centerprise will use its purpose built production and logistics centre in Caerphilly, South Wales to build the complete portfolio of workstations and rendering devices to the exacting standards associated with BOXX, ahead of driving sales into the UK market.

This will enable Centerprise to develop a sales channel that meets the concentrated demand for high performance and high availability computing in the Architecture and Construction (AEC), Media and Entertainment (M&E) and Manufacturing and Product Design (MPD) sectors, as well as Academia and Public Sector markets.

UK consumers will therefore have an alternative to generalist devices available from mainstream PC suppliers as BOXX workstations have been designed around the specific applications used in each of these sectors, alongside maximum tailored performance with exceptional reliability.

Jeremy Nash, Systems Integrators Business Manager, said:

“This is an exciting development for both companies as it combines the specialist knowledge of BOXX in the field of high performance computing with our excellent pedigree in building high quality workstations and our in-depth understanding of the UK IT channel.”

Centerprise’s partnership with BOXX will enable specific UK sectors to benefit from the significant enhancements in productivity that is currently being enjoyed by BOXX customers in over 50 countries across the world.

Visit the new site: http://www.boxx-tech.co.uk/ 


Tuesday 11 August 2015

The remedy to data security being 'shockingly lax'

BBC released a story today that may be leaving some people concerned. It has reported that a surprising number of Local Authorities have a ‘lax’ approach to their data security, data that may include important or confidential information, that has subsequently been ‘lost or stolen’.


The findings mention 4236 data breaches during a 3 year period from 2011, such as 5000 letters that were sent to the wrong address which included content for another recipient.  Most shockingly, 197 mobile phones, computers, tablets and USB’s were again, lost or stolen. The wealth of private information on all of these devices is tricky to comprehend, particularly if you consider the reliance we place on our personal devices for storage nowadays.

With the demand for flexible working and the increasing pressure placed on workforces, mobility has become a global phenomenon, with advances in technology being the catalyst. It enables increased productivity, speedy communication and a better work/life balance. It’s no wonder that organisations both in the Public and Private Sector are keen to jump on the band wagon.



But of course, despite the benefits, there are many risks associated with deploying mobility, the main being the complete lack of control. Once data has left the confines of your organisation, in any form, it’s nigh on impossible to get it back. This becomes particularly damaging when said data is confidential and personal. Hence the ‘deeply disturbing’ situation within a few of our Local Authorities at the moment.

It’s these issues that make the deployment of mobility a long term consideration. Of course, at the rate in which technology is developing, mobility will become a necessity for all organisations who want to stay afloat. But for those who are considering mobility, and those who have already taken the plunge – what’s the solution?

The Enterprise Mobility Suite, powered by Microsoft, is an effective management solution that eradicates the issues surrounding mobility. It gives you back the control of your mobile workforce enabling you to deploy mobility with confidence. It’s also perfectly suited to the Public Sector – namely Local Authorities – who need heightened security features to protect their OFFICIAL documents, such as the ability to remotely wipe compromised devices.

So, the moral of the story? Keep up and embrace mobility. But make sure you’ve installed a comprehensive management solution alongside it. You don’t want your data ending up in the wrong hands.

To find out more about The Enterprise Mobility Suite from Centerprise International, take a look at our site at http://www.centerprise.co.uk/cloud-enterprise-mobility-as-a-service.html



Written by Katie Tilling, Centerprise International

Wednesday 15 July 2015

Centerprise have won a multi-million pound long term managed service contract with the Ministry of Defence.

This significant contract was awarded as part of the Information Systems and Services (ISS) Training and Education Services Project (ITESP) that involves the replacement of the existing training and education systems in use within the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force.

At the former RAF Lyneham site the Defence College of Technical Training will be the first of its kind as the training of the armed forces will be brought together at a single location.

Centerprise have won three contracts in support of this project. The implementation of large scale network and desktop managed services that includes an integration function. In addition to two separate contracts for the hardware and software products and services.

Tranche 1 of this programme involves the movement of the Defence School of Electronic and Mechanical Engineering from existing sites at Arborfield and Bordon, forming the basis of this contract.

Responsible for this win was the Defence Team at Centerprise who developed the optimum IT solution for the new facility.

Defence Account Manager at Centerprise, Adam Razzak, commented;

“We’re delighted to be involved in the launch of the UK’s first tri-service college that will see several thousand military and civilian personnel based at Lyneham.

Our aim is to provide the highest standard technical IT services that will help all of the Armed Forces prepare and train for life in the military”

The contract has been separated into design, implementation, managed service, hardware and software components enabling Centerprise to deliver an integrated service.

There will also be Centerprise employed engineers onsite at Lyneham to support the systems and ensure the seamless transition to the new site.

Business Unit Manager, Phil Boyes commented:

“Centerprise have had success with the ITESP in support of its aspirations to exploit modern training systems to increase operational effectiveness.

We have been a major incumbent supplier to the Ministry for decades so it’s great to be involved in this new facility, particularly as it is the first of its kind in the UK”


Centerprise will be well positioned to respond to the evolving and varied requirements of the Training and Education community, while maintaining the security and standardisation required to ensure compliance with wider Government and MoD policies.


Tuesday 23 June 2015

In collaboration with our partners Node4, we'd like to invite you to our Solutions Centre for a full Unified Communications demo!




At the Event 
We'll show you the true benefits of Unified Comms; how it enables mobility, supports flexible working and the variety of communication it offers, including web, audio and video.

We'll also demonstrate the feature rich, secure and scalable cloud based resilient platform. 

Where?
We will be holding this event at a 41,000 square feet Data Centre based in Northampton on the 29th July. 




Details about how to register coming soon!









For more information about the event, call 01256 378000




For more information about Unified Communications, visit http://www.centerprise.co.uk/managed-cloud-unified-communications-as-a-service.html 

Tuesday 16 June 2015

Centerprise International have become a supplier on the multibillion CCS RM1058 Technology Services Framework, allowing the company to provide customisable service provision to the Public Sector.

The RM1058 is set to replace the RM717.  The new framework will have 11 Lots, providing a clear and simple procurement route for customers.

Centerprise were awarded the 9 Lots they tendered for

  • Lot 1: Help Desk / Service Desk
  • Lot 2: Desktop Support
  • Lot 3: Network Management
  • Lot 4: Network and Content Security
  • Lot 5: Infrastructure and Platform, Maintenance and Support
  • Lot 7: IT Infrastructure Transi­­­­­tion Services and Delivery
  • Lot 9: Disaster Recovery / Business Continuity
  • Lot 10: Back-up and Data Services
  • Lot 11: Asset Disposal

Therefore Centerprise will be positioned to offer a range of Managed Services, particularly important when dealing with the Public Sector as each department has a specific set of requirements.

Centerprise will have the ability to cater to such requirements and create bespoke solutions to suit the complex needs and objectives of their customers.

CEO of Centerprise International, Garry Stevens said;

‘We’re pleased to be included on this framework as it gives us an opportunity to provide a more tailored service’

Since diversifying in to the market a decade ago, Centerprise has enjoyed great success. The company has delivered a broad range of managed services to various Public Sector departments.

With the separation of the services into specific Lots, the RM1058 is a great platform for Centerprise to demonstrate their versatility and level of customer service.

Garry continued;

The RM1058 brings with it the opportunity for us to expand our reputation as a significant player in the managed service arena’

Wednesday 27 May 2015

Media Release 27/06/2015

Delight for Centerprise as they celebrate inclusion on the new multi-million pound CCS ICT Services for Education Framework, RM1050.

The RM1050 will replace the DFE infrastructure and services framework and will be used as the one-stop-shop for ICT services in the Education sector. This will enable the procurement of managed services, design, implementation, training and support.

It will also serve as the selection process of ICT partners to support the growing number of Free Schools and Academies in which Centerprise have secured so much notable success.

Therefore, the RM1050 provides a robust vehicle for all educational establishments to procure products and services from experienced ICT providers with the assurance they will be working with specialist partners that deliver value for money. 

Business Unit Manager Jeremy Bruty said,

‘It’s wonderful to be a supplier on the RM1050, it will allow us to continue to build on the success we have achieved over the last 3 years under the DFE Framework. Every school has a unique approach to their ICT and through this framework we can continue to provide 
solutions that fit into the classroom ecosystem.

ICT is becoming increasingly important in the classroom as new technologies are continuously emerging to enhance teaching and support learning.

Together with our partners Centerprise utilise this technology resulting in expert solutions that have a positive impact within a learning environment.’

ENDS 


Wednesday 25 March 2015

  • Wednesday 25 March 2015
  • Centerprise International
  • No comments

It may not be quite what you think. Karlee Gould explores the idea that Government buildings will soon be empty by looking at the rate of technology development. The article takes a snapshot of the typical in-house models and the recent move to outsourcing all IT as services instead.

I’ll start by openly suggesting that Governmental organisations are like all businesses. They are finding their way. And just like the rest of us, I know some of them still have relatively ancient technologies busily cranking around in the background, making the whole operation work.

In the IT industry, I frequently encounter those who use very old programs and hardware and simply attempt to modify them to keep up with the ever changing rate of technology. They might bolt something else on to a system to upgrade it or replace a few parts and pieces. On occasion they’ll replace an entire piece of equipment, to make sure they’re not completely embarrassed by them, much to their expense.

Governmental bodies have started noticing, what with the snowballing effect of Moore’s Law, that this type of procurement practice is not at all practical. Without explaining what Moore’s Law is, I cannot illustrate the greater point so allow me to explain…

In basic terms, Moore’s Law starts by looking at when the doubling of transistors in a CPU occurs and focuses on the trend in which hardware + time has ultimately seen the devaluation of technology itself. The interesting bit is the speed at which technology is developing. It applies a metric to this equation which is ultimately crashing the value of technology very quickly.


The rate at which transistors double in a CPU is every 18 months according to the ‘Law’ – an unprecedented rate which is predicted will soon have a limit, however it is envisioned that engineers will find a work around to keep up with the intense increase in complexity of components for computing hardware.


So, very simplified: if you take a brand new piece of equipment, apply only 18 months to it, its monetary worth will be half what it was, even if it’s still brand new. The new version will be double its capacity, and will cost the same or less as the previous model did at its conception. This is the essence of Moores Law in a basic nutshell.

Because technology is progressing at this rate, we see things in our technical age that those a handful of years ago would have felt were completely impossible, and a little too ‘Meet the Jetsons’ to stomach. At the current rate, we have seen our mobile phones overtake the computing power that was essential to put a man on the moon in just under 60 years. Would you have ever thought back then that moon-rocket power would fit in your back pocket and cost so little?

We see this all around us every day - like when we pick up a Blu-ray player for less than a box of chocolates or install a great home cinema system and spend more on a chair to sit in and view it.

Now take all that knowledge and apply it to the in-house technologies Governmental bodies (up until recently) employed routinely, such as servers and networking, in-house data farms, dedicated hardware to telephony or video conferencing infrastructures and other such communicative technologies which require constant physical maintenance and updates in security, etc, etc -  you get the point. Add the data consumption and processing power and there’s a recipe for needless spend and a never ending cycle of hardware.

Ultimately it brings forward the question, ‘if it’s so ludicrous to install and maintain in-house IT technologies, who would do it?’

Frankly, everyone was doing it. The difference now is that the benefits of abandoning this model have been put fully in to focus. It’s been realised that technology installed today will, in less than three years, be completely obsolete.

When adding the impending data overload to this as well, you can imagine how quickly outsourcing these technologies (as cloud-based services) instead would be much more attractive to everyone, let alone Governmental bodies.

Well, it has become evident that Government purchasing systems certainly see this attraction and have sought new ways of purchasing IT in search of something more sustainable.

The move in to purchasing IT services not only allows large organisations to deploy technologies faster, it allows them to quickly upgrade or move on to something new, when they feel necessary, to accommodate their growing demands and needs without blowing their budgets.

With these services readily available, high security mobility can be put to great use. Soon, I would expect to not only see an absence of technology infrastructure and hardware within Governmental buildings, I also believe the staff will barely inhabit them either. This is because once a cloud-based service is deployed, it can be accessed from any point, encouraging mobility in the workplace. Essentially, most ‘work’ buildings will be quite unnecessary due to staff naturally migrating to mobile device use.

The benefits of going purely cloud-based usually includes high quality maintenance and support within the service packages, reducing overall employment costs as well as the equipment itself, so hosting technology in-house becomes even less attractive.

Put simply, the bodies deciding not to jump on this band wagon will be left well behind. Eventually, they will absolutely have to make that move regardless, to keep up with advancing fellow Governmental bodies who have freed up their resources and are fulfilling their needs to remain progressive at all times.

Once Mobility and Services become common place, organisations will feel the freedom from the constraints that once came with static hardware. My estimate is that Governments and several pan-Governmental bodies will eventually be totally on the cloud and will no longer feel the confines of old IT, or the tall physical walls they were once kept in.

Since the world is shrinking, it’s probably better we do away with such huge buildings anyway.

Written By Karlee Gould, Centerprise International 


Wednesday 18 March 2015

  • Wednesday 18 March 2015
  • Centerprise International
  • No comments
By Jeremy Nash, Business Unit Manager at Centerprise International 

By definition, Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) is the use of a personal device in the work environment and particularly its use to access the enterprise.  The concept becomes blurred when personal devices do not form part of the enterprise but are used for work related tasks.  Consumers of technology are becoming increasingly reliant on mobile devices to assist them in their daily lives and are seeking to introduce their ‘highly connected’ state into their working lives.  The challenge of maintaining security when creating access for personal devices is now being addressed by commercial organisations as the consequence of not doing so is a dilution of a company’s ability to maintain control over its information.

The increasing level of personal interaction with ever-present mobile devices is only set to continue with the proliferation of context aware applications and the expanding range of device types and form factors. The inconvenience of carrying and managing multiple devices of a similar type will enhance the desire of employees to converge work and personal devices.  This is evidenced in the commercial world by the majority of companies now choosing to support BYOD at some level. 

BYOD implementations within the private sector vary from the basic use of personal phones through to full integration of a suite of devices with wide ranging access to the enterprise.  The latter has been made possible through the evolving technologies of virtualisation and multi-tiered security, which enable personal and work activities to be compartmentalised on a single device.  Such technologies, together with the development of Enterprise Mobile Management capabilities enable appropriate levels of device governance, whilst affording access to enterprise commodities such as office automation tools, collaborative working environments and business applications.  These technologies have matured to a point where organisations are now in a position to enable, and enjoy the benefits of, a highly connected workforce.

So is it possible to introduce BYOD in the public sector to the same extent as has been embraced within the private sector?  The answer is yes but the route for doing so is likely to be progressive, starting with Choose Your Own Device (CYOD).  This is where the enterprise supports a limited device selection (potentially on a single mobile operating system).  This would enable a degree of convergence by offering controlled access to a range of enterprise services.  Both user experience and choice could be expanded over time by extending the operating systems and range of devices supported.  The transition from CYOD to BYOD would probably be the function of a risk balance decision that considers the business and operational drivers against and the appetite to embrace advances in technology that could mitigate the perceived security risks with allowing a device of unknown provenance (and potentially limited end point security) to connect to the enterprise. Irrespective of where the line is drawn between CYOD and BYOD there is much to be gained within the public sector by creating appropriate and managed ways for the employee to have access to devices that meet personal and professional needs.


Centerprise International has joined the limited number of ICT suppliers who offer a secure mobile device management (MDM) solution suitable for use in secure environments such as public and finance sectors.  Centerprise’s Cloud-based iOS solution offers an extensible solution that can be deployed rapidly across an organisation’s Apple estate, ensuring its employee’s benefit from the efficiencies of mobility whilst suitably protecting the organisation’s information. 


Monday 16 March 2015

Media Release 16/03/2015

Centerprise International have been awarded a £3m MoD contract through the new Crown Commercial Service (CCS) Technology Products Framework RM1054 on 14 January 2015.

This is the first contract award under Lot 3 – Secure Technology Products and Disposals.

In collaboration with Fujitsu, Centerprise will be delivering over 6000 laptops to the Ministry of Defence as part of the Army HQ XP Laptop Refresh Project.

This project was a direct result of the British Army needing to replace their unsupported Windows XP Legacy Fleet of laptops.

Centerprise have been a major supplier to the MoD for over 3 decades. It is this consistent high level of service and demonstrated experience that has secured the contract.

Total quantities ordered as follows:

1218 units of Fujitsu E745 Lifebook Laptop

4875 units of Fujitsu E554 Lifebook Laptop

A mandatory requirement of the contract is to provide full encryption, imagining, configuration and asset management utilising Centerprise’s secure production capabilities.

Peter Thomas, Defence Account Manager at Centerprise International said;

‘This is a great win for the MoD team at Centerprise and demonstrates the excellent relationship we have with our partners’

‘By working closely with Fujitsu, we will be able to deliver this project to tight MoD timescales’
In choosing Centerprise and Fujitsu, the Army have made clear their intent to continue standardising their fleet of Laptops.

CEO of Centerprise International, Garry Stevens commented;

‘The CCS Contract was key for Centerprise to build on our success in the public sector and so it’s fantastic to have already won the first major contract of Lot 3’

‘We have always valued the Ministry of Defence as one of our most established customers and are thrilled to once again be supplying the British Army’.

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