Department for Transport Embraces Open Source Platform and Cloud-Based Hosting in Latest Kainos Project

London, UK - September 5th , 2011 The Department for Transport (www.dft.gov.uk/) has become the latest central Government organisation to extend its relationship with Causeway, the application management services arm of Kainos, with a new contract to support the Department's web activities and migration to a cloud-based open source platform. Kainos's Causeway division, which also provides application management services to the Home Office, has been providing bespoke software development and support services to the DfT for four years. It was engaged initially to support and manage its Morello content management system, a hosted enterprise software system. Under the latest contract, Causeway provides advisory and maintenance/support services around a more flexible and cost-efficient open source platform, run in a cloud-based environment. 'The main driver was to reduce expenditure, increase flexibility, and support the Government drive towards open source and software re-use,' explains Sioned James, Head of Digital Communications at the DfT. 'Kainos supported us by conducting an independent review of the solution options. We had an idea of what we wanted, but needed expert advice and assurance.' Kainos scoped a range of platforms, provided advice around the hybrid cloud environment that DfT was looking to move to and also managed the server configuration, as well as managing penetration and stress testing to ensure the new solution meets the UK Government security guidelines. Migrating to the new open source platform has freed the DfT from the annual cost of an enterprise software licence, while the cloud-based hosting environment offers the flexibility and cost efficiency of being able to scale resources up or down in response to peaks and troughs of web site usage. 'Kainos has been a natural partner,' Sioned says. 'They offer a broad range of up-to-date skills, a diverse team, and value for money. They work on a flat man-day rate which is very competitive, and makes cost planning easy. 'We've always been impressed with the calibre of Kainos's people,' she concludes. 'In this case, Kainos has provided technical assurance and a 'sense check', giving us additional confidence that we're doing the right thing. We have already moved the Driving Standards Agency onto the same platform, and now have the option to do this with other DfT Agency content, including campaign and stand-alone websites, enabling us to make further savings.' About the Department for Transport The Department of Transport was set up to provide a stronger focus on delivering the Government's transport strategy. The role of the centre of the Department is to set strategy and policy context, and to establish and manage relationships with the organisations that are responsible for delivery.