VAM solution for Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Business Drivers
With the demise of the NHS Enterprise Wide Agreement (EWA), NHS Trusts were left to manage their software licensing strategy independently. Sussex Partnership had outsourced this requirement as part of a wider contract for IT services and when that contract was terminated the Trust’s IT team looked to Trustmarque to assess their options and provide guidance on how best to manage affairs moving forward. Sussex Partnership were very clear on their requirements:
- Optimise licensing to reduce overspend and ensure full compliance
- Undertake a full Software Asset Management (SAM) assessment
- Leverage professional expertise when making key decisions about the IT estate and associated licensing options
Trustmarque were able to analyse previous usage for the Trust, align that to the EWA licences and provide all available cost options using the new discounts and all licensing metrics. It was crucial to ensure that Sussex Partnership was adequately and legally licenced in respect of their current holdings, as well as establishing appropriate arrangements which fully aligned to their IT transformation programme.
Services delivered
Virtual Asset Manager
Trustmarque’s Virtual Asset Manager (VAM) service takes the hassle out of asset management, inventory collection and software licence reconciliation. Over the course of the three-year service, Trustmarque will manage inventory for the Trust, providing ongoing compliance and licensing management guidance in addition to regular on-site reviews. With Trustmarque’s help, Sussex Partnership will be able to constantly optimise their licence management, reconciling licences against installed applications and reporting on potential non-compliance. The provision of managed service and strategic software partnership by Trustmarque is of vital importance in an increasingly complex industry, and a burden lifted from the Sussex IT team, who could then focus on their critical transformation programme.
A Managed Lifecycle
The Enterprise Agreement (EA) Managed Lifecycle service is a comprehensive solution provided by Trustmarque, providing the Sussex Partnership with resources, guidance and licensing advice over the course of a three-year period.
The EA Managed Lifecycle service provides an enhanced level of expertise over and above the standard service that the majority of licence resellers provide. Come the end of the agreement, Trustmarque will undertake a comprehensive review, working with the Trust to analyse short- and long-term licensing strategies and ensure that Sussex Partnership is in the strongest possible position when deciding on the way forward.
Benefits
Improved Visibility
Previously, Sussex Partnership used Microsoft’s System Centre Configuration Manager to track software across the Trust’s PCs. Now the Trust has aligned the Snow platform and the VAM Service with procurement to ensure that they have full visibility of all software being purchased and used within the IT infrastructure and have confidence their software licensing is being tracked much more efficiently.
Reduced Redundancy
With the increased visibility afforded by Snow Licence Manager, Sussex Partnership has significantly reduced redundancy within their systems. Having access to an up-to-date, comprehensive system for inventory as part of Trustmarque’s VAM service has allowed the Trust to optimise licensing and reduce the amount of old or inappropriate software installed on their PCs.
Cost Effectiveness
The Trust has invested significantly in new technology, with the goal of improving on overall cost efficiency in the longer term. Using Trustmarque as a ‘credible partner’ to give the best advice for the technology and associated licensing, the Trust are keen to maximise their investment, particularly in areas such as Microsoft’s Lync, which is one of many critical elements that underpin wider organisation changes, and hence support delivery of the Trust’s strategic objectives.
Ongoing Support
As part of the VAM service, Sussex Partnership will be able to consult Trustmarque on currently deployed assets, as well as any future investments for the IT estate. By ensuring that all current installations are fit for purpose, the Trust can drive efficiency and simultaneously pave the way for innovation in the future. The current agreement spans three years, reflecting the Trust’s confidence in Trustmarque’s capabilities, as well as their commitment to technological excellence.
About Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust employs 5,000 staff and provides mental health, learning disability, substance misuse and prison healthcare services throughout Sussex, supporting the provision of specialist services across the South East of England. As a teaching trust of Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Sussex Partnership is increasingly developing a reputation for cutting-edge research and is one of the few mental health organisations to have been granted university status by the Association of UK University Hospitals.
“I knew I was going to get good, sound, and highly valuable advice… Quick, responsive, accurate and knowledgeable.”
Ashley Goode, Head of ICT at Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Why Trustmarque?
Having worked with Trustmarque previously, the Trust’s IT leadership management turned to us again to provide assurances in respect of compliancy, while also ensuring the Trust avoided being over-licensed. Additionally it was important for the Trust to draw the professional expertise of the consultants here at Trustmarque which it would be impracticable to employ directly at the Trust.
Sussex Partnership chose to implement Snow License Manager to aid in their SAM strategy, along with Trustmarque’s VAM service which provides expert advice, guidance and managed SAM activities in conjunction with the Trust’s own team, producing a successful partnership. The Trust chose Snow Licence Manager, thanks to the wide variety of functionality and reporting on offer as well as the long-standing credibility of Snow’s reputation, and has not been disappointed. Hosted securely in Trustmarque’s data centres, the solution minimises the need for local server support and provision, while
workshops ensure that the necessary skills to use the SAM system are provided to on-site staff.
