Kent's public sector bodies introduce VMware virtualisation technology to deliver savings: training from QA-IQ supports skills
Kent and Medway’s public sector organisations will achieve significant savings and help to hit environmental targets through the introduction of VMware virtualisation technology, supported by training sourced through Kent Connects, their lead technology partnership.
The virtualisation software, which sits over a number of servers, enables any server running at full capacity to draw on the under capacity of the others. Typically, a configuration of fifteen servers can be reduced to five, providing immediate savings both in terms of equipment and energy required. Savings will continue into the future because of the reduced need to procure more servers over time.
Debbie Wisdom, Kent Connects’ Strategic Director is delighted by the new arrangements: “Our partner organisations are responsible for delivering an extensive range of the public services in Kent and Medway. With the application of this technology they can make these services more accessible and more efficient, whilst meeting environmental targets and reducing cost.
“It’s important that the introduction of this new technology is backed up with the right training programme – as making sure that strong skills are in place will ensure that the organisation gains maximum value from their investment. There are strong benefits to our partners carrying out this training within the partnership. Working together allows people to develop complementary skills, brining them closer together and reducing the need for further technical support as skills can be sourced within the partnership.”
Kent Connects has helped the organisations to make sure they’ve got the right skills in place for the technology, working with learning company QA-IQ to provide a unified programme of VMware training.
Russell Edwards, Account Manager at QA-IQ explains: “As a VMware Authorised Training Centre (VATC) we’re able to work together to tailor a Skills Licence that gives Kent Connects’ customers access to the highest quality training at a price that provides real return on investment. We are able to put together a Licence-based programme that, by treating the sixteen organisations in the Kent Connects partnership as a single body, allows them to access significant discount based on economies of scale. It’s more efficient as the programme can be standardised to their requirements and they’re able to train more people on fewer courses, making sure that they’re minimising the time needed away from business-as-usual activities.”