SCC launches Secure Multi-Tenancy Cloud on G-Cloud

IT provider SCC is launching its new Secure Multi-Tenancy Cloud (SMTC) for CloudStore on the UK government’s G-Cloud programme.

The UK-hosted cloud platform, created and managed by SCC, aims to deliver a diverse set of low-cost business and technical services, ranging from back office processes to specialist government services, with high levels of security for public sector organisations.

SMTC, set to go live at the end of June, will offer scalable services and capabilities on a pay-as-you-go model. These will have been pre-accredited by UK Government from providers which currently include IBM and a range of small and medium businesses in the UK.

The cloud platform has completed the Government's Technical Risk Assessment, is IL3 accredited for its high levels of security and approved to hold sensitive information.

For the cloud platform SCC is using IBM blade server hardware. It said this was designed to be “highly flexible and resilient, while keeping power consumption to a minimum.”

SCC will also use Tivoli software to manage the infrastructure and Storwize V7000 storage technology products, for scalability and security as well as cost effectiveness. SCC and IBM will also offer organisations a range of Software as a Service (SaaS) and Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) services aimed at public sector organisations.

SMTC will launch by offering a range of IBM software packages, such as BlueWorks Live, which automates processes currently undertaken manually. Teams can collaborate by using a central system to see what tasks are completed, being worked on or still need attention.

Also included in the service is predictive analytical software is designed to analyse trends in data on young people who are Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET). It said organisations with a better analysis of young people could help identify opportunities and reduce unemployment.

Data management software in the service will allow organisations to get a single view of the citizen by connecting disparate pieces information across departments, programmes and agencies. Having a complete picture of the relationship could improve service to the citizen while cutting fraud and waste, it said.

Tracy Westall, SCC’s UK Public Sector Director said the company’s relationship with IBM would “deliver to G-Cloud customers a range of highly scalable, robust and secure solutions at a much reduced cost.”

She added “SMEs will also be able to offer their own innovative solutions via an enterprise grade infrastructure that would previously have been out of their reach. It’s a win-win situation.”

SCC and IBM will also work to adapt a range of off-the-shelf solutions for cloud delivery to the public sector.