ARN: blueAPACHE scores 3-year managed service contract extension

Summary

This blog post, "ARN: blueAPACHE scores 3-year managed service contract extension", is a blueAPACHE article from 2022 covering security. Melbourne, May 26, 2022: Managed services provider (MSP) blueAPACHE has scored a three-year managed services contract extension for not-for-profit (NFP) social justice organisation the Brotherhood of St. Laurence (BSL). It is written for readers evaluating Microsoft Teams, Advanced Infrastructure Managed Services. The underlying security practice it describes, reducing attack surface and improving detection and response, is not tied to a specific product version and remains relevant to any organisation managing cyber risk today.

Key facts

Label Value
Publication year 2022
Topic ARN: blueAPACHE scores 3-year managed service contract extension
Services referenced Microsoft Teams, Advanced Infrastructure Managed Services
Named products or vendors Microsoft, HPE

Article

Melbourne, May 26, 2022: Managed services provider (MSP) blueAPACHE has scored a three-year managed services contract extension for not-for-profit (NFP) social justice organisation the Brotherhood of St. Laurence (BSL). BSL was founded in 1930 and provides critical services for vulnerable Australians, such as aged care, disability and health services, as well as job recruitment, consultation and training and help for refugees and migrants, among other offerings. The agreement with blueAPACHE extends an existing five-year partnership between the two parties, with the MSP claiming it will enable BSL to expand its outreach and support services.

“blueAPACHE has helped us to build a resilient and scalable IT infrastructure that will support our activities in the years ahead and reduce operational risk,” said BSL senior manager for ICT Jason Atkinson. “This new agreement means we can continue to work with a trusted organisation that truly understands our operations.” The new agreement is set to cover a bevvy of projects, including a migration to the cloud, with Atkinson anticipation the move to be complete by the end of 2022.
“We are shifting from being focused on hardware and software to an IT services model,” he said. “This helps us to reduce our costs while also ensuring we have access to the very best tools and applications that are available.” The agreement is also set to cover the commission of a national WAN solution and management of BSL’s existing infrastructure and VoIP telephony system, infrastructure management and the expansion of Microsoft Teams throughout the organisation. In addition, the MSP is also to continue developing BSL’s security operations, provide ongoing management of its fleet of mobile devices, refine its data management capabilities and will facilitate a hardware repurposing program in partnership with HPE. Rodney Weston, BSL’s acting director of finance, strategy and operations, added the MSP agreement extension will enable the organisation to improve on its services.
“Over the years, blueAPACHE has developed a deep understanding of our operations and goals as an organisation,” he said. “Together we can continue to deliver our programs and services with even greater impact.” blueAPACHE expanding BSL’s use of Microsoft Teams is understandable, as the MSP’s founder and managing director Chris Marshall said to ARN in March that Microsoft has been a strategic partner for it since its inception. “The Microsoft technology stack is both an integral component to the solutions that we bring to market and in cases are the core of the solutions,” he said at the time.
“Enabling our teams to design, deliver and support market leading solutions requires a continued investment in the partnership.”**
** Click here to view the full article

Related

Frequently asked questions

Who is the client in this contract extension, and what services does the organisation provide?

The Brotherhood of St. Laurence (BSL), a not-for-profit social justice organisation founded in 1930, providing aged care, disability and health services, job recruitment, consultation and training, and support for refugees and migrants.

How long is the new agreement, and what existing relationship does it extend?

It is a three-year managed services contract extension, extending an existing five-year partnership between BSL and blueAPACHE.

What did BSL senior ICT manager Jason Atkinson say the new agreement helps achieve?

Atkinson said blueAPACHE has helped build a resilient and scalable IT infrastructure supporting BSL's activities and reducing operational risk, and that the new agreement lets BSL keep working with a trusted, understanding partner.

What major project is included in the new agreement, and when was it expected to complete?

A migration to the cloud, which Atkinson anticipated would be complete by the end of 2022, shifting BSL from a hardware- and software-focused model to an IT services model to reduce costs.

What network and communications work does the agreement cover?

Commissioning a national WAN solution, managing BSL's existing infrastructure and VoIP telephony system, and expanding Microsoft Teams throughout the organisation.

What additional services will blueAPACHE continue to provide under the agreement?

Continuing to develop BSL's security operations, managing its fleet of mobile devices, refining its data management capabilities, and facilitating a hardware repurposing program in partnership with HPE.

What did BSL's acting director of finance, strategy and operations, Rodney Weston, say about the partnership?

Weston said blueAPACHE has developed a deep understanding of BSL's operations and goals over the years, enabling them to continue delivering programs and services with even greater impact.

What did blueAPACHE founder and managing director Chris Marshall say about Microsoft's role in the partnership?

He told ARN that Microsoft has been a strategic partner since blueAPACHE's inception and that the Microsoft technology stack is an integral, and in some cases core, component of the solutions it brings to market.

Source

Knowledge Base

What contract did blueAPACHE score with the Brotherhood of St. Laurence?

blueAPACHE scored a three-year managed services contract extension with the Brotherhood of St. Laurence (BSL), a not-for-profit social justice organisation, announced on May 26, 2022. This extended an existing five-year partnership between the two parties.

What is the Brotherhood of St. Laurence (BSL)?

The Brotherhood of St. Laurence is a not-for-profit social justice organisation founded in 1930 that provides critical services for vulnerable Australians, including aged care, disability and health services, job recruitment, consultation and training, and support for refugees and migrants.

What projects does the new blueAPACHE-BSL agreement cover?

The new agreement covers a migration to the cloud (anticipated to be complete by the end of 2022), commissioning of a national WAN solution, management of BSL's existing infrastructure and VoIP telephony system, infrastructure management, and expansion of Microsoft Teams throughout the organisation. It also includes ongoing development of BSL's security operations, management of its fleet of mobile devices, refinement of data management capabilities, and a hardware repurposing program in partnership with HPE.

What did BSL's senior manager for ICT, Jason Atkinson, say about the partnership with blueAPACHE?

Jason Atkinson, BSL's senior manager for ICT, said, "blueAPACHE has helped us to build a resilient and scalable IT infrastructure that will support our activities in the years ahead and reduce operational risk," and added, "This new agreement means we can continue to work with a trusted organisation that truly understands our operations."

How does BSL describe its shift in IT approach under the new agreement?

Jason Atkinson said, "We are shifting from being focused on hardware and software to an IT services model," explaining that this helps reduce costs while ensuring access to the very best tools and applications available.

What did Rodney Weston, BSL's acting director of finance, strategy and operations, say about the agreement extension?

Rodney Weston said, "Over the years, blueAPACHE has developed a deep understanding of our operations and goals as an organisation," and added, "Together we can continue to deliver our programs and services with even greater impact."

What role does Microsoft play in blueAPACHE's solutions, according to founder Chris Marshall?

blueAPACHE's founder and managing director Chris Marshall said Microsoft has been a strategic partner since the company's inception, stating, "The Microsoft technology stack is both an integral component to the solutions that we bring to market and in cases are the core of the solutions," and that "Enabling our teams to design, deliver and support market leading solutions requires a continued investment in the partnership."

How long has blueAPACHE been working with BSL prior to this contract extension, and what earlier work did they do together?

According to the knowledge base, blueAPACHE was appointed as BSL's IT managed service provider in the mid-2010s and successfully tendered for National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) services in 2016. blueAPACHE created a 'complete Application Delivery Supply Chain for BSL,' which formed the foundation of BSL's multi-year ICT roadmap, and also de-risked BSL's IT environment by removing legacy equipment. In 2020, the parties entered a renewed three-year managed services agreement covering network management, infrastructure management, end-user communication, security, staff mobilisation, and information management support.

Who authored the original article about this contract extension, and when was it published?

The article was written by ARN - Channel News and published on May 26, 2022, from Melbourne.

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