The challenge

• Move the vast majority of server-based workloads to a scalable managed cloud
• Stay in control, despite outsourcing hosting to a service provider
• Keep hosting costs predictable whilst retaining operational flexibility
• Increase hosting platform uptime, resilience and scalability
• Strengthen security to better protect corporate data, IP and client data

QPC develops, resells and supports software so needed hosting for its source-code repositories, testing and staging environments, backup archives, and the virtual machines used by technicians to securely connect to customers’ systems.

As part of QPC’s efforts to harden its systems, an independent consultancy advised QPC to replace older hardware and software approaching end-of-support. QPC decided against a like-for-like replacement, instead choosing to refresh and future-proof its IT platform by moving its workloads to a cloud run by an experienced hosting provider.

The solution

• Workloads migrated to cloud server cluster running VMware® Cloud Director
• Self-service portal lets QPC create, delete, resize, restart & clone VMs at will
• Fixed-cost resource pools can be reallocated as needed
• Multiple high-spec hosts in multiple datacentres. with 24/7 monitoring
• Managed OS patching, own firewalls, offsite data backups
• Hosted in secure UK data centres

QPC retains near-total operational control of its hosting via a self-service web portal powered by VMware Cloud Director. This lets QPC pause and unpause virtual machines (VMs), power them up and down, delete them and resize them. QPC can also check utilisation levels and set its own firewall rules. New VMs can be created in seconds, using QPC’s VM images, its own templates and templates provided by Syntura.

John Callegari says Syntura’s solution helps QPC “tick all the boxes” when answering questions from customers’ security teams and responding to requests for proposals. OS vulnerabilities are minimised by Syntura regularly patching QPC’s managed VMs. Virtual Machine groups have their own virtual firewalls, allowing QPC to set the rules governing access to its cloud. Automatic offsite backups safeguard data.

Syntura and its UK data centre suppliers are ISO 27001 certified, making it simple for QPC’s customers to verify that robust independently-audited security processes are in place to help protect data that clients may share with QPC. QPC can also demonstrate to UK customers that any support-related data processing or storage occurs solely within the UK.