Advisory Services

On occassions, there is a need for independent advice relating to hardware and software systems. For example, where:

• a business has obtained a number of quotations relating to a new hardware / software combination and a formal second opinion is required to exercise due diligence in making the appropriate selection;
• a business is due to merge with, or acquire another business and would like to ensure that information or computer system assets held by the acquisition target are suitable for migration to the acquirer's computer systems;
• an outsourced maintenance contract is being developed for some bespoke software written in-house and appropriate documentation, or an opinion relating to the maintainability, structure and quality of the software is required by the contractor prior to agreement;
• a business would like to outsource the maintenance of hardware, software and network infrastructure and would like a second opinion, or arbitrator for the outsourcing process;
• a business would like an independent risk analysis conducted for a project within the context of a formal project management process;
• a business would like an independent security audit conducted.

Our advisory services are designed to provide a level of confidence and integrity appropriate to the task in hand and include, where necessary, a suitable audit trail for compliance checking.

Pricing

Pricing for advisory services generally relates to the complexity of the project in hand. A simple task can be offered at relatively low and fixed cost whereas more complex tasks, requiring detailed analysis and planning can be considerably more expensive to provide.

Our fixed-price services are structured in terms of the following charges:

• onsite visit charge — this is a £50.00 fee charged by us for a visit by us to your premises. It includes transport, parking and travel time and covers all our visits to your premises in a given day. In certain cases, this fee is waived if, for example, your premises are near in proximity to our base.
• task charge — this is the fee charged for undertaking a given task, and covers our work on your project.

If you would like us to evaluate, and provide a specific quotation for your needs please complete our request for quotation form or contact us by post, telephone or email using the details on our contacts page. Below, we have provided estimates for a selection of small and medium sized advisory tasks.

Data Protection Audit

Small Company

A data protection registration audit performed for a small company which:

• uses a contacts database or accounts package to store and process the names, addresses and contact details for customers and suppliers;
• writes personal and business correspondence on computer for retrieval at some point in the future using advanced search techniques;
• uses email for sending and receiving personal and business correspondence.
• has a small business website which allows new customers, and individuals to complete an online contact form.

The purpose of the data protection registration audit is to conduct an independent review of information stored, managed and processed using a computer within the company to either create a new data protection registration, or to update or renew an existing registration.

Charge basis: small company discounted fee rate @ £50.00 per hour or part thereof; does not include Data Protection Registrar's fee of £75.00 for Jersey, or £35.00 for a UK registration; minimal formal communications, such as letters.

Medium-sized Company

A data protection registration audit performed for a medium-sized company which:

• uses between 1 and 5 contacts databases or an accounts package to store and process the names, addresses and contact details for customers and suppliers;
• uses some form of customer relationship management system for storing details of among other things, telephone conversations, written and email correspondence;
• writes personal and business correspondence on computer for retrieval at some point in the future using advanced search techniques, including for example, document management systems;
• uses centrally managed email for sending and receiving personal and business correspondence;
• manages staff information such as attendance records and curriculum vitaes using a computer;
• has a sophisticated website which allows customers to check the status of their account.

The purpose of the data protection registration audit is to conduct an independent review of information stored, managed and processed using a computer within the company to either create a new data protection registration, or to update or renew an existing registration.

Charge basis: medium-sized company discounted fee rate @ £90.00 per hour or part thereof; does not include Data Protection Registrar's fee of £75.00 for Jersey, or £35.00 for a UK registration; minimal formal communications, such as letters.

Formal Tender Evaluation

Small Project

A formal tender evaluation performed for a small company which has invited a number of suppliers to provide a quotation for the completion of a given IT-related project of value between, say £5,000 and £20,000, has received more than one response and would like an independent opinion of the most appropriate selection based on best overall price-value and least-risk.

The purpose of the tender evaluation is to develop an understanding of the specific requirements that the customer would like to fulfil, and then to conduct an independent review of the responses provided by suppliers, with a view to providing unbiased advice to the customer on the most appropriate supplier for the requirement.

Charge basis: small company discounted fee rate @ £50.00 per hour or part thereof; includes brief requirements solicitation; contact and discussion with each supplier; a brief statement of opinion on the tender provided by each supplier; a brief statement on the key differences between the tenders; and the drawing up of a shortlist on the most appropriate suppliers, based on a combination of cost, risk and overall price-value metrics.

Small to Medium-sized Project

A formal tender evaluation performed for a medium-sized company which has invited a number of suppliers to provide a quotation for the completion of a given IT-related project of value between, say £20,000 and £100,000, and has received more than one response and would like an independent opinion of the most appropriate selection based on best overall price-value and least-risk.

The purpose of the tender evaluation is to develop an understanding of the specific requirements that the customer would like to fulfil, and then to conduct an independent review of the responses provided by suppliers, with a view to providing unbiased advice to the customer on the most appropriate supplier for the requirement.

Charge basis: medium company discounted fee rate @ £90.00 per hour or part thereof; includes brief requirements solicitation; contact and discussion with each supplier; a brief statement of opinion on the tender provided by each supplier; a brief statement on the key differences between the tenders; and the drawing up of a shortlist on the most appropriate suppliers, based on a combination of cost, risk and overall price-value metrics.