Centerprise First with CCS Contract Win

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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Centerprise Customers set to be on Cloudlet 9

WATCH THE NEWLY LAUNCHED SERVICE VIDEO: http://youtu.be/kzf7yMVaFn0

Centerprise International announce the launch of their advanced Platform as a Service (PaaS) offering, a fully managed cloud solution that measures usage on an innovative ‘Cloudlet’ basis, new for 2015.

Centerprise’s PaaS offering has been brought to market to minimise the costs associated with application hosting and to stop service disruptions caused through poorly defined capacity limits.

Alongside strategic partners, Centerprise has developed a solution to this recurring industry problem by providing a truly elastic platform that grows with demand whilst ensuring customers only pay for the capacity they use. The latter being achieved though Cloudlets.

A Cloudlet is a uniquely defined unit of measure that equates to 128MB of RAM and 200MHz of processor capacity. This is roughly equivalent to 1/64^th of a traditional virtual machine therefore allowing costs to be calculated on a far greater granular level.

The service is useful for developing and deploying both Linux and MS Windows–based cloud applications, so is a fine competitor to mainstream providers and puts Centerprise in a very advantageous position.

‘This offering comes as more and more organisations are moving away from traditional on premise virtualization solutions and transitioning into the cloud.’ Says Peter Franklin, part of the Centerprise Team who has been responsible for producing the Service.

His colleague continues:

“Although we have been delivering best in class managed services into the Public Sector for a number of years, this PaaS offering further reinforces Centerprise’s reputation for delivering innovation and helps us to continue to expand our footprint within Government” says System Integrators Business Manager, Jeremy Nash.

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Centerprise Celebrate Public Sector G Cloud 6 Framework

Centerprise are celebrating inclusion on the new and improved G Cloud 6 purchasing platform where their latest set of Cloud Services are made easily available to the Public Sector.

The G Cloud 6 Framework, which went live 30 January, enables Public Sector bodies to purchase Cloud-based services through the Digital Marketplace.

From 2 February, the sixth iteration of the Framework it set to make it clearer and faster for suppliers to submit their services and make it easier for buyers to understand the services on offer.

Centerprise International Limited were awarded inclusion in 3 lots available on G Cloud 6.

The lots are:

• Lot 2: Platform as a Service (PaaS) An innovative PaaS that offers considerable improvement in application density over traditional virtualised solutions
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• Lot 3: Software as a Service (SaaS) Encompassing encrypted high definition Video Conferencing as a Service, Unified Communications as a Service and Mobile Device Management as a Service.
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• Lot 4: Specialist Cloud Services (SCS) Encompassing Service Desk as a Service (SDaaS) and professional services designed to support customers with the adaption of Cloud services.

CEO of Centerprise International, Gary Stevens said:

“In the last decade CI has diversified immensely to include fully managed Cloud based services and G Cloud 6 provides the perfect platform to showcase this”.

“Being a part of this framework is key to building on Centerprise’s success in the Public Sector”

48% of the total sales from G Cloud were awarded to SME’s*. G Cloud 6 will further enable Centerprise to capitalise on the Government’s commitment to make Public Sector procurement more available to smaller companies.

Jeremy Nash, System Integrators Business Manager of Centerprise also commented:

“We have been delivering managed services across various Public Sector departments for a number of years. G Cloud 6 presents the opportunity to further expand our footprint within Central Government and the wider-Public Sector by delivering innovative and relevant Cloud services. I believe those who require the types of services we offer will not be disappointed by the level of service we deliver”

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Private event key note speaker, Bruce Wynn wows MoD audience with ‘impossible’ cyber-attack demo

Media Release 10/12/2014

Related Images below ; Press Release Related Keywords: IT, Ministry of Defence, Cyber-attack, Future, IT Events

Cyber-attack prevention specialist Bruce Wynn demonstrated a live cyber-attack that is ‘supposed to be impossible’ as he delivered his key note speech at Centerprise International’s private Defence Technology Event, 2 December 2014.

The event, which takes place each year, presents to an invite-only audience the latest and greatest defence Information Technology offerings. This year it was held in the charity building, the Ark Centre in Basingstoke, Hampshire.

His live demonstration of how cyber specialists of the ‘past, present and future’ can and will use hacker specific applications to collect information left the audience absolutely stunned.  Many left reconsidering the way that they use mobile devices!

Of course all his demos were safe and performed on unsuspecting dummy PCs he had prepared earlier – never the less he left his audience with much to talk about.

As well as the keynote speaker, the star guest list of vendors invited to speak and demonstrate their latest IT developments were world-renowned brands Dell, Fujitsu, Becrypt and Toshiba.

Various other vendors showcased their latest offerings in the vendor village but Bruce Wynn produced something a little more unexpected in his afternoon presentation.

Richard Austin, Marketing head of Centerprise International, had only great things to report on the day’s keynote speaker:

“We were delighted to introduce Bruce Wynn to the event attendees this year. His presentation and live demos of cyber hack-attacks and ways for avoiding them were absolutely riveting. He had the attention of the audience in his palm for a full hour that honestly went by in a flash. We would very much like to invite him back again.”

When asked for his comments on the day Bruce Wynn responded by saying:

"I'd be delighted to come back to another Centerprise Defence Technology Event - the audience was both knowledgeable and happy to interact with me during the demonstrations, and that interaction helped get the message across"

&

"There are many people out there who seek to use the technology of the internet to exploit the naive and the unwary, but there are many simple things that can be done to reduce the risk. My demonstrations vividly show what 'they' can, and how 'we' can help reduce the risks"

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Editors notes:

Centerprise International

For over 30 years Centerprise (CI) has been acknowledged as one of the largest and most respected IT providers in the UK. A real British success story, CI has developed a steadfast reputation for delivering large scale IT projects within the Business, Defence, Education, Government and Healthcare sectors.

CI  has been a major incumbent supplier to the Ministry of Defence (MoD) through the Information Communication Systems (ICS Catalogue formerly operated by Defence Equipment & Support) throughout its lifespan. CI value the MoD as its longest standing customer and recognise that the rewarding relationship has made a significant contribution to its success.

Links:

http://www.centerprise.co.uk/defence.html

http://www.centerprise.co.uk/defencetechnology2014/index.html

http://newshub.centerprise.co.uk/

For more information on CI, visit: www.centerprise.co.uk/about.html

For more information, images or quotes please contact Katheryn Tilling at the press office on:

E:             Kathryn.Tilling@centerprise.co.uk

DD:         01256 378059

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Bruce Wynn

You can find out more information about Bruce (that he chooses to make public!) on his linked-in profile at www.linkedin.com/in/brucewynn

You can catch Bruce at events, such as http://www.infosecurity.be/?lang=EN

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Centerprise awarded three Lots on £6bn CCS RM1054 Public Sector Framework

Media release 

3/12/2014

Centerprise were approved on the three lots that they tendered for on the Crown Commercial Service (CCS) Technology Products Agreement, RM1054, enabling it to bid on high-value and pan-Government opportunities.

The three awarded to Centerprise were:

• Lot 1, Technology hardware – to provide a wide range of end user devices and hardware such as audio-visual, network infrastructure equipment, peripherals

• Lot 3, Secure Technology Products and Disposals – for the provision of a wide range of hardware and software commodity items and solutions. Additional requirements include audio-visual solutions and secure destruction and disposal services

• Lot 4, End User Devices – to supply client user devices including desktops, laptops and tablets

It opens up and maintains a key route to the public sector for Centerprise who have been a long-term supplier to the Ministry of Defence. They recently became one of the first SMB’s to win a major Central Government contract under new procurement rules and are looking to strengthen their position further under this new framework.

Garry Stevens, Chief Executive Officer at Centerprise, said: “The government’s commitment to providing opportunities for SMEs to bid for public sector contracts is a huge opportunity and one we have been able to successfully capitalise on already.

“Being accepted onto this framework is a major step for Centerprise International and a key part of our plan to build on our success in the public sector, with the potential for securing significant high-value contracts

CCS, as the Contracting Authority, in collaboration with Pro5 and the MoD, have now established a contracting route to meet the demands of Government including products, services and Information Assurance. The new Technology Products Framework encompasses RM721 - Commoditised IT Hardware and Software (CITHS) and the Information Assurance framework managed by the communication technology element of the MoD and RM1696 – IT Hardware and Solutions (ITHS) which were recently all co-termed to expire 31^st January 2015.

Centerprise International, established more than 30 years ago, is one of the largest and most respected IT providers in the UK and has an enviable reputation for delivering large-scale IT projects and managed services in the corporate, education and public sectors.

For more information, visit: www.centerprise.co.uk

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WW1 Centennial Remembrance

Centerprise staff showed pride, honour and respect on their chests at 11:00 on the 11th day on the 11th Month – on the centenary of the start of WW1.

The Centennial is a remembrance milestone, one of the greatest and most devastating times in humanities world history, ‘The War to End all Wars’. The memories of the people who served their countries will be felt by our ex-military staff members, and the world this year in particular.

The ex-service men of Centerprise International wore their medals to pay homage to this historic occasion with their colleagues at Centerprise Head Office in Basingstoke.

The staff and managers at Centerprise have a long history with, and actively show support to, the Defence services. CI currently supplies IT systems to all three and also gets involved with various events and charities.

CI is a major sponsor of the Navy Field Gun competition and a contributor to The Help for Heroes charity. Help for Heroes supports wounded soldiers, that have made sacrifices on our behalf, to help them come to terms with their injuries or subsequent disabilities and achieve their full potential.

The two minute silence on the 11th, although soundless, will echo loudly within the Centerprise atrium to remember those that sacrificed their own wellbeing for each and every one of us to be prosperous and live our lives to the fullest potential.



Author: Chris Hunt,
Centerprise International.

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IT Governance congratulates client Centerprise International on achieving Cyber Essentials Plus certification

IT Governance, the leading cyber security services provider and CREST-accredited certification body for the UK government’s Cyber Essentials scheme, congratulates Centerprise International (CI), one of the largest IT providers in the UK, on achieving Cyber Essentials Plus certification.

CI delivers large scale IT projects within the corporate, education, government and reseller sectors and achieving certification to the government’s scheme was important. IT Governance helped the company implement the necessary measures to meet the requirements of Cyber Essentials Plus by delivering the Cyber Essentials consultancy and certification service. As part of this service, the IT Governance technical services team conducted an external and internal scan, and issued the certificate subject to the client’s compliance.

Alan Calder, founder and executive chairman of IT Governance, says, “I am pleased to congratulate Centerprise International on their achievement. Compliance with the Cyber Essentials scheme demonstrates commitment to securing valuable data. Our client has clearly shown that it takes cyber security seriously and can differentiate itself from other firms in the sector that haven’t yet complied with the scheme.”

The Cyber Essentials scheme is emerging as the default minimum standard for cyber security, offering two levels of certification: Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus.

Cyber Essentials requires companies to complete a self-assessment questionnaire, signed off by a senior company representative, and then verified by an external certification body. An external vulnerability scan will also be required if the company has chosen to be certified through a CREST-approved certification body like IT Governance.

Cyber Essentials Plus provides a more advanced level of assurance, in addition to the requirements stated for Cyber Essentials. This level of assurance will be reached by an internal assessment and internal scan, conducted on-site by the certification body.

From 1 October 2014, the UK Government requires UK organisations bidding for government contracts that involve the handling of sensitive and personal information and the provision of certain technical products and services must be able to prove compliance with the shceme.

IT Governance offers three ‘all-in’ packaged solutions for certification to Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus. Each solution is a combination of products and services in a fixed-price, fit-for-use package sure to meet any organisation’s preferences for tackling compliance projects. Each of the three packaged solutions is available at a transparent price that enables every organisation to know exactly what their chosen journey to Cyber Essentials certification will cost them.

The all-in, Cyber Essentials ‘Do it yourself’, ‘Get a little help’ and ‘Get a lot of help’ can be ordered online at www.itgovernance.co.uk/solutions-for-ces-certification.aspx.

Alternatively, organisations can call +44 (0)845 070 1750 or send an email to request a custom quote.

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Press Release written by IT Governance Ltd

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