Using our ICT services

We provide a wide range of ICT technical and support services across Dorset to:

• schools
• other local councils
• public sector organisations
• community
• voluntary organisations

Over 100 IT professionals make up our ICT team. They draw on their experience from both public and private sector organisations. We pride ourselves on the high levels of customer care and service provision we deliver.

We have experience of delivering services in an ever-changing market. We take a flexible, proactive, and responsive approach. Our multi-disciplined teams have a wealth of knowledge. We can design and deliver solutions, irrespective of scale, to meet your needs.

Email us: ictservicedesk@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk for information about our services and to discuss your requirements. 

The support we can offer

Our internal service desk is accessible:

• by phone 
  • 01305 224062 and select option 2
• through an online portal, only able to be used by staff 
  • online portal

It provides customers with the ability to log and track progress.

A technical team manage our service desk. They can remotely resolve your call at the point of contact. Where a remote resolution is not possible our user support team will provide support on site.

Our specialist teams have access to a suite of tools which check the performance of:

• applications
• infrastructure
• networks

This enables us to manage any issues before they can become a problem.

We the Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) service management framework. This ensures best practice in incident resolution. We will work with you to develop relevant Service Level Agreements (SLAs).

Cloud services

Using Microsoft 365, we can set-up cloud computing. This will allow you to access documents from any device with an Internet connection. We deliver Azure infrastructure solutions, organisation collaboration, cloud backups and virtual desktop services.

Data services

We can:

• provide unique data insights to aid business decisions
• improve existing data quality
• combine and match different data sets together
• automate new and existing data processes
• provide and support Power BI solutions
• help you move away from unwieldy spreadsheets
• improve your data maturity

Platform services

We can design, tailor, and put solutions in place that meet and adapt to your needs and aspirations. We take care of the technical aspects, so you concentrate on making the most of what the platforms have to offer.

These cloud-based services offer:

• greater flexibility and accessibility for where, when, and how staff work
• access to documents anywhere there is an accessible link to the internet
• regular improvements to the solution with no hidden upgrade costs
• online storage that is big enough to meet current and future needs
• securely stored and backed up data

Telephony

We use the latest Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology.

With this we can set-up flexible, reliable, and secure contract telephony solutions. With a VoIP contract you can use your existing broadband connection to make and take calls. This makes the cost of VoIP telephony significantly less than traditional phone systems.

Cyber security

We can provide an ESET anti-virus service. This includes licensing and protection for servers and devices in your business. We also arrange cyber e-learning and phishing simulations to train your staff.

• user account protection
• automatic malicious software (malware) detection and removal
• spam filtering for incoming emails. Over 50% of incoming email is spam that is detected and deleted before it reaches the inbox
• find and fix technical vulnerabilities in the council’s infrastructure
• provide cyber security awareness training and phishing simulations
• cyber event detection, identification and mitigation

Internet content filtering service

ForcePoint web filtering assists the safeguarding of young people in your care. It does this by restricting access to acceptable and appropriate content. We can arrange to install ForcePoint web filtering for your business. It can be set to align with your business’ safeguarding/safe use policies and procedures.

Mobile device management (MDM) service

The MDM service lets you use cloud computing to control and configure tablet devices.

We can:

• provide initial set-up and configuration, training, remote and onsite support
• provide advice on the control and configuration of tablet devices (IOS, Android etc)
• help you set up a centralised management and storage for mobile devices

ICT infrastructure

We can supply a range of infrastructure solutions to ensure you are always connected.

Servers

We can offer a complete commissioning package from consultation to implementation. We will provide knowledgeable staff who can take you through the process.

Our network engineers will work to your exact needs. They can design, install, support, and maintain a local area network for you. We can also provide an end-to-end service (servers to devices) for both Windows and RM networks.

We have an on site data centre with capability to host and monitor your servers.

Wireless networks and switching

Our engineers can install, configure and support the latest managed wireless technologies. This includes Meraki, alongside most major switching infrastructure manufacturers such as Cisco. Whatever your requirements, wired or wireless, we can assist.

Data network cabling

We can supply and install network communication solutions appropriate to your infrastructure requirements.

Our engineers will undertake an initial survey of your current infrastructure. We can use this to determine your requirements. Our teams have significant experience in Fibre Optic, Cat5e and Cat6 cabling to design new infrastructure.

Working with schools

We can offer both admin and curriculum support and our engineers are all DBS checked.