Case Studies

Mobile Working Project (Public Sector)

Over the past few years increasing numbers of users have been issued with laptops. Drivers have included interest in flexible working at home and on client sites, greater use of new computerised inspection systems together with the need to reduce the amount of accommodation used in Cardiff to make savings on accommodation. The project taking place over 6 months was to implement the necessary mobile working infrastructure to enable the changes required.

Security Network Penetration Testing (Public Sector)

As a Government organisation our client is bound by a clear set of Information Security and IT Security policies and procedures. The main controls within BS27001 are meant to be followed. As part of its routine day to day management and control of its IT infrastructure the organisation is required to ensure that normal network security good practice is followed. This includes regular (e.g. annual) penetration testing of its network. With Westgate IT running the network, our client specifies its needs here, Westgate then solutioned it, arranging for external penetration testers to actually do the work required.

Windows SharePoint Services (Public Sector)

From earlier research and evaluation of options on electronic document management systems, Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 (MOSS 2007) was identified as a strategic platform that would provide our client with an enterprise level toolkit that could be used to implement electronic document and record management, collaboration, information sharing, intranet, an external web site, enterprise content management and also provide scope to run an extranet for use with external customers/stakeholders. This strategy to implement SharePoint had strong benefits as it had a good strategic & tactical fit to the needs of the client. Westgate were chosen to provide the server infrastructure needed for the pilot as well as provide technical SharePoint consultancy to support the organisations IT Project Manager and SharePoint Migration & Training Consultant.

Rationalising Microsoft Active Directory

The network suffered from an unfriendly, excessively complex, hierarchy of folder & file permissions controlling who could see and access files & folders on the network shared drive where [50Gb] of documents and data were stored. In most cases the User Groups in Active Directory, totaling around 60 in number, were put in place under previous management and were out of step with that needed now. In some cases the users who set the permissions had left and the rationale for the original security policy was not known. It was concluded that this situation could not continue as it was impeding the organizational transformation it was going though and so approached Westgate IT to design a project to remedy the existing weaknesses by implementing a new User Group architecture. We solutioned a project taking about 5 days of analysis, configuration and testing.

SecureDocs Server Upgrade Project

SecureDocs is a specialist software programme which encrypts data, PCs and laptops in a highly secure way, meeting Government information security policies. It is used to encrypt the hard disk on all its laptops against unauthorised disclosure. The server it was running on was coming to the end of its life and needed upgrading along with the SecureDocs software application itself. Westgate was awarded a contract to deliver the project quickly and at low-risk.

PC Audit and Clinic (Public Sector)

The has a population of over 70+ top-end Fujitsu laptops used by most of the senior staff, with a trend towards increased mobile and flexible working instead of being desk based at the Cardiff office. The laptops had a variety of software builds and configurations which was making them increasingly difficult to support consistently. Many of the laptop users lived and worked away from Cardiff so could not afford to be without their laptops for more than one day.

Webserver Upgrade

Education Advocacy’s public facing website was hosted on another supplier’s webserver but was suffering from performance issues at times of heavy loadings. Westgate IT was asked to specify, quote and procure a new webserver able to meet the longer term performance requirements of Education Advocacy.

Westgate Win Network Outsourcing Contract

Following a competitive procurement involving bidders from across South Wales and the South West in 2008 Estyn in Cardiff contracted all of its Network and PC Support to Westgate IT.

Active Directory clean-up & Server Upgrade

Westgate were commissioned to upgrade IPC’s aging network and server infrastructure which while functional had become hard to manage and was starting to show its age. A recent merger had made the problem more pronounced and IPC made the decision to replace their hardware and use the opportunity move to a newer Windows 2008 based network.

Westgate IT Achieves ISO 27001

Westgate IT Achieves ISO 27001 Certification for Information Security Management Systems

Certification for services delivery framework provides Westgate IT supported clients with greater levels of assurance.

Westgate IT is pleased to announce that the company has achieved ISO/IEC 27001:2005 certification for Information Security Management Systems (ISMS). The certification and audit process was conducted by UKISO. This recognition demonstrates Westgate IT’s commitment to information security and certifies that the company comprise the facilities, people, processes and systems to provide secure services to its supported clients in accordance with the ISO 27001 standard.

Skype and Webcams Pilot Project

With 70+ users of laptops all doing flexible and mobile working across the UK it was decided  that piloting the use of Skype VOIP and Webcams to facilitate communication and collaboration among geographically separated staff would be a small, but potentially very worthwhile, project. Westgate provided the implementation technical support.