November 14 2008

CESTRIA COMMUNITY Housing, one of the region’s newest housing associations, has turned to business solutions provider Knowledge I.T. to install and manage its server infrastructure, high-speed communications links and data security requirements.

The move follows the creation of Cestria to own and manage Chester-le-Street District Council’s portfolio of 4500 homes for those on low or fixed incomes.

This move unlocked a multi-million pound investment programme over the next five years, which will see £67 million invested in tenants’ homes to bring them up to modern-day standards.

Cestria is one of several new local housing associations set up to handle the transfer of social housing stock throughout the UK.

The move means tenants’ homes will get the repairs and improvements needed to bring them up to modern standards, while cash will be made available to improve services.

This is the first housing association contract won by Knowledge I.T, which designed, supplied and installed the ICT infrastructure in the period immediately prior to transfer, as part of a major £750,000 ICT investment programme designed to put Cestria at the leading edge in hardware, mobile working and software supports services.

This includes the provision of new software, hardware and disaster recovery, as well as technical support and 24-hour help desk services.

A key element of the five-year deal is the provision of an easy-to-use but secure interface device, which enables authorised personnel to access Cestria’s database.

This is held off-site at one of Knowledge I.T’s secure data and business recovery centres, where HR, financial and tenancy contracts among other records are protected in a highly secure, risk-free environment.

Security is an overriding consideration at the centre with physical, electronic and biometric systems - conforming to ISO27001 for information security - an integral and vital part of a host of advanced features designed to provide maximum protection.

The facility has a dedicated electricity sub-station, a powerful back-up diesel generator and sophisticated fire detection, suppression and advanced environmental systems to cope with any emergency situation, including a National Grid power failure.

Customer facilities include personal access suites, office accommodation, business services and on-site free parking.

Cestria had the option of using existing I.T. services provided by the council or to develop its own in house team. Cestria decided that the most cost-effective solution was to upgrade all hardware and software systems and outsource its ICT I.T. Support Services

It turned to Knowledge I.T, as it has significant expertise in supporting a range of public sector clients.

Cestria chief executive, Ian Broughton, explains: “We considered using the council’s existing resources, but our needs were far more challenging and we felt that a completely new approach was needed.

“Knowledge I.T. offered an extremely cost-effective solution that will not only meet our current requirements but has the in-built flexibility to accommodate the introduction of new services.

“We are also very keen to support regional businesses and, as long as we get value for money and the quality is right, will prefer to award work to local suppliers first.”

Mr Broughton believes that the decision to partner with Knowledge I.T. will lead to long-term benefits and savings while allowing his organisation to concentrate on its core activities rather than worrying about the I.T.

Knowledge I.T. has designed the whole system so that it can quickly and easily accommodate planned new services coming in over the next few months.

These are expected to include a facility to enable tenants to access and review their accounts on-line via a secure internet link, and new software that allows people to work out how much their energy bills will be before they move in.

George Sanger, Knowledge I.T’s sales and marketing director, said Cestria takes the firm into a new area of the public sector where it will be targeting other similar opportunities.

“This is a great contract win for us,” adds George. “The management team at Cestria are very forward-thinking in their use of information technology and their expectations are high.

“We offered a solution that provided major cost savings and best value together with innovative solutions to solve their business issues.

“Cestria will benefit from a broad range of services and expertise provided by a single supplier. This will reduce costs and delivered better standards of service to its citizens and smoother operational efficiency.”

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