Q & A with John Bergin of IT Force – Surface as a Service

Each month we talk to a Westcoast partner and delve into an area of technology to get their perspectives on the market.

This month we talk to John Bergin, managing director of IT Force about Microsoft Surface as a Service.

Tell us a little about IT Force and your services?

Based in Dublin City, we deliver award-winning Managed IT Services and IT Contracting Solutions to clients. When engaging with any client, IT Force looks beyond simply delivering a service. Our objective is to become a reliable and trusted partner to all our clients. The process involves identifying their needs, understanding their business and the market sector in which they operate. We keep abreast of what is happening in the industry and what the trends are in our vertical markets as well as what is coming down the tracks. We stay informed as to how this will impact our clients and we ensure that they are kept informed.

Westcoast Ireland is the first distributor here to offer Surface a Service to the reseller and end-user communities here.  What has been IT Force’s reaction to the launch?

We were very excited to hear that Westcoast Ireland had this new offering. Westcoast are well recognised in the marketplace as delivering such services with flexibility and a high level of professionalism. Westcoast are able to offer our customers the ability to purchase the latest Surface technology in a way that’s convenient for them.

How have your customers reacted to this new offering?

The initial reaction from our customers is very positive. This offering enables companies to shift the high cost of acquiring new technology from a capital expenditure (capex), which they must depreciate, to an operating expense (opex). By doing so, companies large and small can free up cash for investment in strategic initiatives that drive revenue and growth.

Are there specific industry verticals where you see SUaaS really taking off?

We pride ourselves on providing expert support to Dublin’s financial services industry. We have experience of building robust and resilient systems that provide maximum up-time and meet regulatory compliance requirements. We feel that this might be a particular industry vertical that adopts SUaaS.

Which Surface models do you see as the most popular?

We see a few distinct users of the surface – mid management or general user, senior management and senior technical / design personnel.

For mid management or general user the demand would generally be for an i5, 8gb ram, 128gb SSD, with Case, dock, Keyboard/ Mouse and External screen.

For senior management the i7, 16gb ram, 256 or 512gb SSD, with Case, dock, Keyboard/ Mouse and External screen seems to be most popular.

For Senior technical and design personnel we are noticing have a demand for i7, 16gb ram, 512gb SSD, with Case, dock, Keyboard/ Mouse and External screen(s)

What appeals to your customers about the Device as a Service (DaaS) model?

Unlike traditional device procurement, which can leave companies with surplus computer hardware should they decrease the size of their workforce, DaaS offers flexibility. Predictability is another factor driving DaaS adoption. Since customers pay on a monthly per-seat basis, costs over the lifecycle of the device are more certain. Along with their subscription, customers not only receive the latest technology — they also have access to customised services and support, including device configuration, installation, data migration, onsite support and technology recycling, resulting in a more manageable total cost of ownership.

With DaaS, software applications are closely tied to the lifecycle of the hardware, ensuring more robust device security.  Are IT Force customers very conscious about security concerns?

Although the public typically only hears about cyberattacks against high-profile companies, banks and government websites, small businesses make prime targets for cybercriminals. Security is becoming an issue at the top of the agenda for small to medium sized businesses.

SMBs have evolved significantly over the past several years, and so too have their cyber security risks. Instead of having just a simple website or email server, the majority of SMBs today boast fairly complex infrastructures that include various combinations of on-premises, cloud and/or mobile networks.

The massive amount of data being generated from those networks presents a treasure trove for hackers, and a breach of that data can cause serious harm to any SMB, regardless of its size, location or industry. This has put security top of mind for many of our customers.

Can you see other hardware vendors adopting the DaaS model and what impact will that have on the device market and your business?

 It is very likely that other hardware vendors will enter the market. It will likely have a positive impact for customers in that their choice of devices will expand and the whole area of DaaS will become more mainstream.

Want to contribute to our next Q&A?  Just drop us a note and we’ll be in touch.