7Global own and operate a Class 1 Data Centre located in underground Bullion Vaults; their Data centre is certified to BS7799 (the International Standard for Security Management). They provide and deliver a number of Managed Services from the Data Centre for the customer; including Data Back/Up and Restore, and Application Delivery Services via Secure Fixed Links or via the Internet utilizing secure Virtual Private Networks (VPNs).
They can provide any or all aspects of Data Centre or Computer / Comms room design and build, including, all types of cabling, raised floors, false ceilings, air conditioning, UPS, access control and CCTV.
For an Application Development company, delivering their Software-as-a-Service is not a trivial task. It requires competencies that span far beyond software development; it needs an infrastructure that includes hardened data centres, robust connectivity solutions, state of the art security and monitoring, enterprise-class hardware and disaster recovery capabilities. It also needs the people and processes available to both design and architect a hosted service that is scalable, secure and cost effective but also provide the ongoing 24/7 support.
Partnering with 7 allows the developer to access all these requirements and for them to focus on their core business – the development and marketing of business applications.
Click on the headings below for more details on the key components of 7’s Software Hosting Service.
Professional Services
Solutions Data Centre
Processing and Operating System Support
Storage
Disaster Recovery
Network Connectivity
Service Desk
Professional Services
By partnering with 7, our customers gain access to an experienced team of both commercial and technical professionals who assist with all aspects of delivering Software-as-a-Service from initial solution design through to financing, procurement, implementation, management, maintenance and sales/marketing.The team has extensive skills and with industry certifications covering operating systems, databases, processing, networking, storage and security technologies from manufacturers such as Microsoft, Cisco, IBM, Citrix, Novell, Hitachi Data Systems, Brocade, HP.
Solutions Data Centre
7’s Software Hosting Services are delivered from its “Class A” physically secure Solutions Data Centre located in the former bullion vaults of ‘The Old Bank of England’. 7’s security model certified to BS7799 the internationally acclaimed standard for Information Security Management. The security model is designed to proactively address issues by adopting preventive security strategies and capabilities to secure the physical and data layers of the solution and by rigorous focus on continuous improvement of security processes. Capabilities include:- Leverage of inherent physical security from the building’s previous banking history
- External and internal CCTV surveillance - 24 Hour security personnel
- Bio-metric fingerprint access and exit sensors
- Battery and diesel-generated back-up power supplies
- Dedicated, secure areas for each customer’s hardware available on request
- Advanced air conditioning and temperature control systems
- Advanced gas based fire suppression systems
- Fully redundant hardware infrastructure
Processing and Operating Systems Support
7 has standardised and automated the delivery of services allowing customers to benefit from tested server builds, analysis tools and maintenance programs. All operating systems are hardened/updated to tackle security issues as they become apparent.
| Enterprise Class Processing Systems | Operating System Supported |
| Dedicated or Shared Platforms RISC and Power PC IBM p-Series Intel HP/Compaq DL Series |
Microsoft Windows Server AIX Linux Solaris |
Storage
To meet the expected unrelenting and unpredictable demand for data storage over the next three years 7 has implemented a high capacity Storage Area Network (SAN). The SAN has been designed to support heterogeneous environments providing data storage, data back up, and "zero data loss" real time data synchronisation. The SAN is located in the building’s bullion vault 60 feet underground and is also isolated from the processor systems. This separation of processor and storage delivers unparalleled levels of flexibility and resilience. 7 provides reliable and scalable enterprise storage solutions by partnering with industry leaders including IBM, HDS, DataCore and Veritas.Disaster Recovery
7 provides back up and recovery for all database and application environments which minimises the possibility of data loss due to an outage. As part of the standard plan, environments are fully backed up to media each week; with daily incremental back ups occurring each night. Between back ups, media is stored on site in a fireproof vault. Additionally, full back ups are sent offsite to data storage on daily or weekly basis.Network Connectivity
From the Solutions Data Centre 7 can provide high speed and fully redundant Internet and Private network connectivity. 7’s chosen network providers have made significant investments in providing multiple fibre connections into the data centre. The expertly managed network infrastructure is critical to the high availability of 7’s customer's business applications. To excel in the area of network services, 7 provides a range of solutions that address particular customers needs. These connection variations include:-
Internet Connection
By partnering with multiple communications suppliers 7 can provide its customers with the range of Internet connectivity solutions. All are backed with a guarantee of circuit connection and network availability, and offer compensation if availability falls below the guaranteed levels Resilient Internet connectivity. VPN and Firewall Services
7’s VPN (Virtual Private Network) Managed Services enable its customer to connect securely to hosted applications from remote locations via the Internet. The service automatically provides updates and configuration changes as and when security threats are identified.Private Network Connection
For larger corporations that already have an extensive WAN in place, 7 provides the option of extending the customer WAN into the 7 data centre.
Service Desk
7 provides 24x7x365 monitoring and functional support of all critical systems covering every layer of a solution from hardware to applications. Using intuitive monitoring software, 7’s Management Centre utilises proactive resolution technology by monitoring key layers of the technology stack and providing alerts to the service desk when critical thresholds are reached.Through the use of custom scripts, 7 monitor and track key network parameters such as network latency and packet loss – identifying the source of congestions in the Internet or private network. Additionally, 7 monitors specific application level activities through the use of application, operating system and database specific knowledge modules specific to each application. This allows monitoring of key application processes and parameters and the proactive detection and resolution of issues. All issues are logged in a central repository to facilitate analysis of trends and the development of knowledge modules to detect and resolve them automatically.