Secure infrastructure and collaboration based on XLA

Making and keeping your IT infrastructure secure. It's the biggest and most important task in the organization today. You don't want to react only when it's already too late. You want to be able to proactively respond to potential incidents and keep your Azure secure score as high as possible. You want to reduce risks of data breaches and systems or APIs that are not up to date. Kenter knows better than anyone that their ISO certification (regarding information security) and secure score are the indicators for a safe and flexible work environment.

The Value

Kenter asked Bizure to support with setting up workstations, professionalizing the applications via Azure portal and monitoring security management. Scheduling mechanics is one of the business-critical processes for Kenter. If we can't do that, the organization is at a standstill and that has a big impact. If no tickets come in from the business, we know the process is running well. If not, we immediately look at possible causes and solutions together. A collaboration of IT and business in optima forma. We know how to respond quickly to any vulnerabilities that may arise. That is the real added value for Kenter. That's the combination between IT and Modern Service Management.

In six years, the organization has grown from 90 to nearly 450 colleagues. That automatically meant that the IT department also had to scale with them in terms of stability and flexibility. The developments in the cloud and also within Azure follow each other in rapid succession. The far-reaching Azure knowledge from Bizure is therefore very valuable.

''The cooperation started with an XLA, which focuses not only on IT but also on the experience. Over the years, the cooperation grew further. Since we have ISO 27001 in order and are audit-proof, we use the secure score as an indicator. It is important that the core infrastructure of Dutch energy supplies is secure''.
‍- IT Manager Kenter - Robert-Jan Suurmeijer

The Team

We know each other well by now. Sometimes there are incidents that require a quick response. Sometimes there are plans for the future. Kenter and Bizure, part of the TeamValue Group, work together on the basis of an XLA agreement. So not the standard SLA where only KPIs are looked at, but also monitoring from the experience, customer feedback and dynamic control are central. We have created cooperation packages based on various activities, which is very nice and clear. Think of policies, process agreements, logging incidents, security issues and setting up procedures that are future-proof.

''The team really sees each other as sparring partners and pursue goals together. In my opinion, that's the best you can achieve as an IT partner''.
‍- IT Manager Kenter - Robert-Jan Suurmeijer

The result:

1. A collaboration that not only focuses on KPIs but also on customer experience, feedback, relationships, dynamic control and the ticketing system. We don't call that classic IT, but Modern Service Management.
2. Through smart monitoring in the area of cost management, among other things, we have saved costs several times. Think of turning off Azure components or just purchasing them over a longer period of time.
3. Kenter's Secure Score has increased from 55% to +80%. With the help of the recommendations, together we continue to ensure that this percentage remains the same or increases. This is in order to continue to guarantee the ISO certification.
4. Cooperation is always in motion. From the reports and daily analysis, Kenter knows exactly how things are going. Any fluctuations in the use of virtual machines, for example, are immediately detected with three different scenarios to match. So there is always a good choice to make.
5. The performance of both the applications, hosting and the partner network must remain up to par. Bringing people together is what happens with the help of technology. In case of performance problems, we look at the entire chain and work with all relevant parties to ensure that performance improves. We communicate openly and transparently in this and make sure that even though everyone approaches the problem from their own expertise, all components are related to each other.
6. Kenter's management/IT department can easily use Bizure's ticketing system. It also takes into account, for example, the rights structure within the applications and logins from other countries or devices. Alerting is set automatically.
7. The Bizure portal provides real-time insight into the pillars of security, quality, cost management and resiliency. Using the dashboarding it is immediately clear which actions deserve priority.

Kenter & Bizure

Kenter emerged from Liander and has taken over metering services for the wholesale market since May 1, 2016. And a year and a half later, the energy supply services for wholesale consumers. Providing a complete package of energy supplies, metering services and charging solutions based on the latest insights and innovative technologies. That's serious business. In order for more than 400 employees to do their work flawlessly on a daily basis, systems have to work well together. In Bizure, Kenter found a proactive IT partner that continues to work on relationship management in addition to its Azure Cloud and Modern Service Management knowledge. Together we ensure a secure environment and a stable and flexible cloud.

''Through an acquaintance of TeamValue, we came in contact with the management branch. The main reason for choosing Bizure is the extensive cloud and specific Azure knowledge combined with proactive switching and looking ahead to the future."
‍- IT Manager Kenter - Robert-Jan Suurmeijer

Interested?

Want to know more about how we can support your organization in the area of Modern Service Management and secure software development? Bizure | A new way of IT management