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Q Associates Named Multiple Award Winner at NetApp Partner Awards
Q Associates is delighted to announce that we have been named ‘FlexPod Partner of the Year’ and ‘Flash Technology Partner of the Year’ at the NetApp UK&I Partner Awards, May 2022. Held annually, the NetApp Partner Awards recognises the outstanding... Read more -
VOTE for Q Associates at the 2022 Storage Awards!
Q Associates are on the shortlist for three Storage Awards! We are delighted that Q Associates has once again been shortlisted for the UK Storage Awards. We would love to follow last year’s success with a 2022 award, but the result now depends entirely... Read more -
Strategising Your IT Investments: Key Considerations
After the global upheaval that left organisations seeking innovative ways to operate, 2022 is looking to be the boom year for IT acceleration. But despite a projected increase in tech budgets, financial pressure remains a significant challenge as demands... Read more -
Microsoft Gold Cloud Productivity Competency – Microsoft 365 Expertise
Q Associates is delighted to announce that we have successfully achieved Microsoft Gold Partner accreditation in Cloud Productivity for enterprise level solutions. This achievement recognises sustained excellence in the design and delivery of Microsoft 365... Read more -
IT Survey Results: Independent UK Survey of IT Priorities 2022
As we move through 2022 organisations will undoubtedly continue to harness flexibility, agility, and innovative thinking, as the focus shifts from attempting to survive in a changed reality to thriving in it. Now more than ever, technology is associated with... Read more -
Join Q Associates at UCISA22 Leadership Conference
As a long standing UCISA corporate member, Q Associates is proud to be sponsoring this year’s UCISA22 Leadership Conference and Exhibition in Manchester, 29th – 31st March 2022. With many valued customers across the UK Higher Education community, we... Read more -
Bridge the tech skills gap and keep pace with innovative technologies
As many of us know, the technology and IT sectors are experiencing unprecedented and rapid innovation. Add to this the growing lack of available talent, and IT leaders are finding themselves struggling to keep pace with constantly changing technology.... Read more -
Learn how your organisation can optimise its onboarding and use of VMware technologies
VMware’s products have become a crucial aspect of more than half a million enterprises’ IT infrastructures, but many organisations aren’t utilising them to their full potential. In conversations with our clients, we have uncovered some key pain points... Read more -
Time to appraise your Microsoft 365 portfolio…
The commercial licence cost of Microsoft 365 subscribers increased significantly from 1st March 2022. This represents the first substantive price rise in ten years, and it is important to consider what effect the change may have on your business. Read on to... Read more -
Q Associates becomes a Carbon Neutral Organisation
Q Associates is delighted to announce that we have passed certification as a Carbon Neutral Organisation. This achievement is in recognition of our commitment to effective environmental, social, and governance management. Certified Carbon Neutral is a global... Read more -
NetApp and VMware: The ultimate DR for your production workloads. By Laurence James, NetApp UK
Article by Laurence James, Principal Technologist, NetApp UK I like to look back at how IT has evolved over the years and at my experience on that journey. I have found myself at the sharp end of several significant outages, which can be summarized as being... Read more -
Navigate the digital transformation journey with Q Associates
For many businesses, digital transformation is viewed as a one-off project; “Once we have digitised our processes, we’ll achieve true data-driven operations.” But by adopting this mindset, many businesses are unlikely to realise the full potential of... Read more -
The challenge of achieving true mobility for datacentre workloads
The cloud has become an established aspect of IT infrastructure because of perceived gains in agility, innovation and resilience. These goals are achievable, but in our experience, many businesses are making strategic decisions that limit potential return on... Read more -
Q Associates achieves ISO 14001 Environmental certification
Q Associates is delighted to announce that we have successfully passed certification for the ISO 14001:2015 standard for Environmental Management. This achievement is in recognition of our commitment to improve sustainability in all aspects of our work. ISO... Read more -
Specialist Network Services and the Digital Transformation Revolution
Your network is at the heart of your business, making data available to your stakeholders and customers. This fact has become ever-more apparent since the rapid uptake of remote working, effectively forming the backbone of digital society itself. The network... Read more -
Proactive defence against Ransomware
Cyber crime continues to rise in scale and complexity, affecting essential services, businesses, and private individuals alike. Cyber crime costs the UK billions of pounds and can cause untold damage. We have seen a significant growth in cyber criminality... Read more -
Delivering a consistent user experience on hybrid cloud infrastructure
As virtualisation and automation technologies have matured, attention has shifted to how businesses can scale systems to meet changing demand. The ability to access resources on demand has made cloud platforms a natural choice for scalable operations. Read on... Read more -
Q Associates recognised as a Select Partner by Amazon Web Services (AWS)
Q Associates are pleased to announce that we have achieved Select Partner status for Amazon Web Services, in recognition of our technical competency and certifications within the AWS technical platform. Amazon Web Services strongly complements Q Associates’... Read more -
Q Associates partners with analytics automation specialist, Alteryx
Q Associates is pleased to announce our partner status with Alteryx, Inc., a leader in analytic process automation (APA™). Working closely with Alteryx to deliver breakthrough outcomes with analytics process automation, Q Associates are fully engaged... Read more -
Rubrik Launches Ransomware Recovery Warranty
Rubrik offers up to $5M ransomware recovery warranty* for Rubrik Enterprise Edition, delivering the ultimate peace of mind. With the rapid growth of ransomware attacks, enterprises all share the same concern: “If we get hit by ransomware, can we recover?”... Read more -
How NetApp is Driving Enterprise Digital Transformation
The enterprise storage market has evolved significantly in the past decade. NetApp in particular has revolutionised its offerings to help enterprise organisations meet their digital transformation goals. Read on to find out more and discover how we can help.... Read more -
VMworld Conference 2021: Everything you need to know
For the second year running, the VMworld conference was a virtual event. Despite not meeting in person, thousands of VMware experts and users were introduced to the latest ecosystem updates. And as always, there are some significant developments arriving... Read more -
Q Associates WINS at the UK Storage Awards 2021!
For the tenth year running, we’re absolutely delighted to announce that Q Associates have been successful at the UK Storage Awards! We were named Corporate Storage Provider of the Year at the UK Storage Awards 2021. At the awards ceremony held in London on... Read more -
How to Select the Right Microsoft 365 Backup Technology
Backing up Microsoft 365 is vital to protect your company’s data and reputation. But with so many different types of backup technologies on the market, it can be difficult knowing which to choose. At Q Associates, we can help you determine the right... Read more -
Expand the potential of your Microsoft 365 investment (and other Microsoft technologies)
Thousands of organisations rapidly migrated to Microsoft 365 in response to the pandemic and, in some cases, customers are discovering configuration gaps. But migrating to any new system — or upgrading existing technology — presents hurdles of its own,... Read more -
Join Q Associates at ucisa DIG21 Virtual Conference, 3rd November
As a ucisa corporate member, Q Associates is delighted to be supporting this year’s ucisa Digital Infrastructure Group (DIG21) virtual conference as a Platinum Sponsor. We invite you to join us on Wednesday 3rd November at 2.55pm for our Live Conference... Read more -
Build firm digital foundations with VMware’s future-ready technology
VMware offers a range of innovative solutions to help organisations manage complex IT infrastructures, build system resiliency and adapt in the face of disruption. The function of IT has changed tremendously in recent years. Once small teams tasked with... Read more -
VOTING CLOSED. The results will be announced 7th October 2021
Q Associates are on the short list for three Storage Awards! The results will be announced on Thursday 7th October and we’ll let you know how we get on. Many thanks to everyone that voted for us. We are delighted that Q Associates has once again been... Read more -
Q Associates wins ‘Rising Star’ at UK Dell Partner Awards 2021
Q Associates is delighted to announce that we have been named Dell Rising Star Partner of the Year at the UK Dell Partner Awards, July 2021. The (virtual) UK Dell Partner Awards recognises the outstanding contribution and support provided to Dell Technologies... Read more -
Q Associates partners with cyber security specialist, Cyren
Q Associates is pleased to announce our partner status with Cyren, a specialist provider of cloud-based internet cyber security products and solutions. Working closely with Cyren to provide intelligence-led cyber security solutions, Q Associates are fully... Read more -
Are you ready to make your organisation more resilient?
Organisations invest heavily in preventative security, but resilience is just as important when it comes to protecting yourself and keeping your data safe. A skills gap isn’t the only thing challenging modern IT teams. As the network demands of our... Read more -
Is a tech skills gap holding you back? Consider an IT specialist as the solution
IT leaders are increasingly leveraging the technical skills of external IT specialists to solve skills gaps and future-proof their operations in an ever-changing landscape. As you adapt to changing market conditions, upgrading your legacy systems creates a... Read more -
Watch the video: NetApp Strategic Technology Briefing 2021
Explore the NetApp vision and more, as we discuss the latest announcements, digital transformation and future roadmap with Grant Caley, Chief Technologist at NetApp UK. Watch the video to hear the latest news, developments and strategy from NetApp in this... Read more -
Ready to upgrade your legacy system? Here’s what you need to know
As new IT challenges rise, so do new systems capable of providing you with the infrastructure you need to adapt your operations and keep your business running. Technology is innovating all the time, creating new opportunities for forward-thinking businesses... Read more -
REGISTRATION CLOSED – NetApp Strategic Technology Briefing, 9th June 2021
Live Webinar: Wednesday 9th June, 10.00am 60 minutes with NetApp’s CTO, Grant Caley Join Q Associates for an exclusive LIVE online event where we explore the NetApp vision and more, as we discuss the latest announcements, digital transformation and... Read more -
The Secret to FlexPod’s Success
In today’s business world, adaptability is key. Can your IT infrastructure keep up with the pace of change — and if so, for how much longer? FlexPod will help. Data is everywhere, and as the world throws more and more challenges at businesses around the... Read more -
Q Associates awarded Gold Partner status by Dell Technologies
Q Associates are pleased to announce that we have recently achieved Dell Technologies Gold Partner status, a significant progression within Dell Technologies Partner programme. This latest announcement is in recognition of Q Associates achieving high and... Read more -
Why organisations are turning to hybrid cloud
Discover how to futureproof your organisation with hybrid cloud infrastructure. In the current economic climate, adaptability and flexibility have never been more important. In no small part due to the global health crisis, organisations around the world have... Read more -
IT Survey Results: Independent UK Survey of IT Priorities 2021
Technology trends in 2021 will be the driving force in helping organisations navigate a changed reality. The global health crisis has accelerated our understanding that technology plays a critical role in our world now and in the future. From developing... Read more -
Francis Crick Institute uses Rubrik Sonar to manage sensitive data risk and GDPR compliance
Francis Crick Institute is a biomedical research center in London that opened in 2015. The institute is a partnership between six of the world’s leading biomedical research organisations – Cancer Research UK, Imperial College London, King’s College... Read more -
Software Asset Management: What you really need to know
Software costs can typically consume around 34% of IT spend. Is your organisation managing its IT assets and licensing as effectively as it could be? The term Software Asset Management (SAM) refers to management of the entire software lifecycle. That... Read more -
Q&A: Data-driven challenges faced by the recruitment sector and the solutions to solving them
The digital era in which we now live, combined with the Coronavirus-triggered worldwide switch to working from home, means more of us are online than ever before. While this has pushed lots of organisations, recruitment agencies included, to seek... Read more -
Q Associates wins NetApp Star Solution Provider Partner of the Year
Q Associates is delighted to announce that we have been named NetApp Star Solution Provider of the Year at the NetApp UK&I Partner Awards, December 2020. Held annually, the (virtual) NetApp UK&I Partner Awards recognises the outstanding contribution... Read more -
Q Associates listed on Digital Outcomes and Specialists 5 Framework
Q Associates has been awarded a listing on the Digital Outcomes and Specialists 5 Framework for the provision of technical IT services to public sector organisations. Similar to our G-Cloud 12 listing, the Digital Outcomes and Specialists 5 (DOS 5) Framework... Read more -
Q Associates achieves Cisco Advanced Datacentre Architecture Specialisation status
As industry leaders for more than 30 years, Q Associates are pleased to announce that we are qualified to the highest level for implementation, services and support of all Cisco technologies. We’re Premium Certified Cisco Partners Our dedicated team of... Read more -
What’s new in Veritas NetBackup?
Does your organisation currently use Veritas NetBackup or are you considering implementing this particular backup and recovery suite within your company? As is the case with all pioneering software systems, NetBackup is consistently being updated by Veritas... Read more -
How to Harness the Benefits of Advanced Data Analytics and Business Intelligence
An interview with Q Associates’ Head of Modern Workplace Practice. “Businesses today are built on disparate systems. When we’re talking about business intelligence, we’re talking about taking some or all of the data from a customer’s various... Read more -
Q Associates WINS at UK Storage Awards 2020
For the ninth year running, we’re delighted to announce that Q Associates have been successful at the UK Storage Awards! We were named Corporate Storage Provider of the Year at the UK Storage Awards 2020. At the (virtual) awards ceremony, an online... Read more -
Q Associates achieves multiple Microsoft Gold competencies
Q Associates demonstrates Microsoft best-in-class capability in competencies that include Collaboration and Content, Communications, Data Analytics, Data Center, and Windows and Devices. Read more -
Watch the video: NetApp Strategic Update 2020
Explore the current and future NetApp technology portfolio – and so much more as we talk latest announcements, digital transformation and innovation with Grant Caley, Chief Technologist at NetApp UK. NetApp is making waves in the technology space, setting... Read more -
Join Q Associates at ucisa DIG20 virtual conference
As a ucisa corporate member, Q Associates is delighted to be supporting this year’s ucisa Digital Infrastructure Group (DIG20) virtual conference as a Platinum Sponsor. We invite you to join us on Thursday 29th October at 2.30pm for our Live Conference... Read more -
WATCH THE VIDEO: Choosing the Right Microsoft 365 Backup Technology
During this presentation we provide an independent view exploring the essential considerations and options when selecting the best technology for protecting data held within the Microsoft 365 environment. It is widely recognised that data held within the... Read more -
Q Associates listed on G-Cloud 12 UK Government Framework
Q Associates has been listed as a supplier on the G-Cloud 12 Cloud Services and Solutions Framework. With Offices throughout the UK, Q Associates has been named for specialist Cloud Computing Services on the Crown Commercial Service G-Cloud 12 Framework, for... Read more -
Enabling Remote Working with NVIDIA Virtual Solutions
Never before have educational institutions faced the challenges presented by remote working on such a large scale. Fortunately, NVIDIA’s virtual solutions are designed to ensure mobility without compromising on performance. Read on to find out more. In the... Read more -
Q Associates achieves VMware Master Services Competency in Data Centre Virtualisation
Q Associates are pleased to announce that we have recently achieved the VMware Master Services Competency in Datacentre Virtualisation, one of the highest qualifications from VMware Partner Connect. This latest announcement is in recognition of Q Associates... Read more -
The ever-changing IT landscape
Gareth John, Solutions Architect at Q Associates, examines the issues around migrating systems to the cloud, and the growing shift towards a hybrid multi-cloud model. The IT landscape is changing. It hasn’t just evolved from what it was five years... Read more -
Watch the video: An introduction to Microsoft SharePoint Online
During this video presentation we explore the value and capabilities of Microsoft’s SharePoint Online collaboration platform. Closely integrated with Microsoft 365, SharePoint Online provides a rich cloud-based collaboration environment where users and... Read more -
Watch the video: Simplify Microsoft Office 365 Backup with Rubrik
Discover how Rubrik can protect valuable data across your Microsoft 365 environment. Microsoft stores data held in the Office 365 environment, but it does not protect it against deletion, corruption or malware. To fully protect your Microsoft Office 365... Read more -
Dell EMC PowerStore – A New Generation of Storage
Dell EMC PowerStore offers a new generation of storage ideal for VMware users. Read on to discover how PowerStore can help your organisation increase operational efficiencies and reduce costs and complexity. The role of IT has evolved significantly in recent... Read more -
Q Associates acquires Cloud and Networking Specialist, Apex Group
Q Associates is delighted to announce the acquisition of Bracknell-based Apex Group, a specialist provider of cloud and networking services. Apex Group strongly complements Q Associates’ datacentre infrastructure and data management solutions. In addition... Read more -
Q Associates awarded Platinum Partner Status by Lenovo
Q Associates are pleased to announce that we have recently achieved Lenovo Platinum Partner status, the top-tier of Lenovo’s Data Centre Group Channel programme. This latest announcement is in recognition of Q Associates achieving high and consistent levels... Read more -
Watch the video: Transforming database backup with Rubrik
During this video, we explore how Rubrik is transforming the protection of industry leading databases, including Oracle and Microsoft SQL Server. Join Q Associates and Rubrik for an overview of Rubrik’s next-generation database backup technology, together... Read more -
Q Associates joins the fight to find COVID-19 vaccine
UK-based IT Solutions and Services Specialist, Q Associates, has re-assigned computing power from its datacentre to support Folding@home, a distributed global computing project which asks users to donate computing power to support research around Covid-19. In... Read more -
Watch the video: Microsoft Power BI & Data Analytics
Turn data into opportunity with Microsoft Power BI, a powerful business analytics solution that enables organisations to gather, store, then extract intelligence from business data. Watch the video from our live 20-minute presentation where we explore how... Read more -
Watch the video: Ransomware Protection from Rubrik
Paying a ransom should not be an organisation’s only option following a ransomware attack. Watch the video of our live Rubrik webinar where we explore the best way to protect critical data and provide instant recovery from ransomware attacks. With Rubrik... Read more -
Watch the video: Don’t back up, go forward. An introduction to Rubrik
Rubrik is one of the fastest growing technology companies in the market today. Through a single, secure platform for backup, instant recovery, search, archive and copy data management, Rubrik is transforming the way we manage and protect data across data... Read more -
Watch the video: Running Oracle workloads in the Azure Cloud
Run your Oracle workloads in Azure confidently, knowing that they’re supported by Oracle and Microsoft, and choose from an array of cloud capabilities without compromising performance or reliability. During this 20-minute presentation, we look at the... Read more -
Ready to Upgrade Your Legacy System? Here’s What You Need to Know
If your organisation is still operating under the same legacy system, now may be the perfect time to take stock of where you are now and where you need to be to support and drive future business growth. Here are the key factors you may need to consider. Many... Read more -
Watch the video: Desktop Virtualisation…Why use VDI for Remote Working?
Join Q Associates on our 20 minute video presentation where we’ll share guidance on why using Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) provides a powerful and effective platform for remote working. The presentation will include: VDI – What is Desktop... Read more -
Watch the video: Getting the most from Microsoft Teams technology
Thanks to Microsoft Teams technology, it’s now easier than ever before for people to work remotely. It doesn’t matter if you are 10 minutes or 10,000 miles from your team, staying connected is seamless. During this 20 minute presentation, we’ll share... Read more -
Watch the video: Top 5 Security Recommendations for Remote Working
IT security and online safety are key priorities for organisations deploying and supporting a remote workforce. Staff and data must be protected from all aspects of cyber risk, wherever they are physically located. During this session we look at the key... Read more -
Q Associates named as NetApp Star Partner
Q Associates, an award-winning independent provider of specialist IT solutions, has been recognised with NetApp Star Partner status – the highest possible accreditation for the design, implementation and support of NetApp enterprise solutions. Working... Read more -
Q Associates appointed UK’s first Rubrik Authorised Support Centre
Q Associates, an award-winning independent provider of specialist IT services, has been appointed as the UK’s first Rubrik Authorised Support Partner, extending their existing services to include Rubrik’s portfolio of unified cloud, edge and on-premises... Read more -
Q Associates Remote IT Support Services
Challenge: According to Q Associates independent IT survey, nearly 40% of UK IT leaders say their major challenge and biggest concern for 2020 is having the correct in-house technical skills and resourcing to support and manage their organisation’s IT... Read more -
THE RESULTS – Independent UK IT Survey 2020
Q Associates ran the Independent UK IT Survey 2020 to find out more about the core digital trends and the fresh technologies set to shape a new decade. To do this we reached out to over 1000 senior UK IT professionals during January 2020 to see what they... Read more -
Q Associates expands VMware service offering
Q Associates has expanded its portfolio of service offerings by adding a number of cloud consulting services that aim to help customers navigate through the complex journey of digital transformation. Many businesses are beginning to recognise that with a... Read more -
Providing IT Transformation into Higher Education – ucisa20 Leadership Conference and Exhibition
Postponement of ucisa20 – announcement released from ucisa: We have taken the decision to postpone the ucisa20 Leadership Conference, which was scheduled take place from Wednesday 18th to Friday 20th March 2020. This event will now take place on 4th to... Read more -
CAN YOUR IT INFRASTRUCTURE HANDLE THE CHALLENGES OF AI?
IBM POWER SERVER WITH NVIDIA CARDS. One of the most significant barriers to realising benefits from AI is a lack of IT infrastructure that can handle the load. With the rise of Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and Deep Learning, it is more important... Read more -
VEEAM RELEASES NEXT GENERATION OF DATA BACKUP: NEW VEEAM AVAILABILITY SUITE V10
Veeam Software, the leader in Backup solutions that deliver Cloud Data Management for all organisations, announced on February 18th the general availability of NEW Veeam Availability Suite™ v10, ushering in the next generation of data protection... Read more -
Survey: WHAT ARE THE TOP IT CHALLENGES BEING FACED IN 2020?
The survey is now closed and results will be shared soon. There will be no shortage of strategic challenges confronting IT leaders in 2020, but which key issues will be at the top of the pack? As an award-winning platform, data and services specialist, Q... Read more -
How NetApp HCI with Veeam Software Can Enable Your Business’ Digital Transformation
In today’s multi-cloud world, meeting the increasing demand for data is a key challenge. Read on to discover how NetApp HCI and Veeam Software combined can help your organisation achieve its digital transformation goals. Data is increasingly at the core of... Read more -
Q Associates Strategic UK Partnership with NVIDIA
Q Associates are pleased to announce a strategic partnership with NVIDIA to deliver high-performance, supercharged computing for artificial intelligence and machine learning using NVIDIA GPU products and solutions. NVIDIA’s invention of the GPU in... Read more -
How NetApp HCI with VMware Private Cloud Simplifies Data Management
If your organisation is looking to simplify its data management and increase its IT agility, efficiency, and scalability, NetApp HCI with VMware is the ideal solution. Read on to discover how to uncover all of these benefits in addition to reduced costs. The... Read more -
Consolidating Mixed Enterprise Workloads with NetApp HCI
NetApp HCI helps organisations consolidate their workloads so that they can enjoy the benefits of increased flexibility and reduced complexity. Read on to find out how, or download our report on how you can use HCI to solve your everyday issues. Many... Read more -
How Hybrid Cloud Infrastructure Helps to Deliver a Consistent User Experience
To become a data-driven organisation in the multicloud world, you may need to rethink your cloud strategy and approach to data services in order to remain competitive. Read on to learn more, or download our latest white paper to find out how you can gain full... Read more -
Enabling Data-Driven Digital Transformation in the UK Public Sector with NetApp HCI
NetApp HCI can help your organisation meet its public sector digital transformation goals in line with government strategy to make better use of data. Read more -
Managing Data Growth – What’s Your Plan?
How should we really address the problem of ever-growing data which now consumes the largest percentage of IT budgets? Read more -
IT Support Contracts – Are you paying too much?
Many organisations are paying far more than necessary for their IT support contracts. Q Associates are supporting customers through optimising costs for hardware and software support. Read more -
NetApp Technology Briefing, Cambridge – Tuesday 8th October 2019, 9:15am – 13:00pm
This year’s NetApp Technology Briefing will provide valuable insight into the current and future NetApp portfolio. This includes industry-leading data storage solutions, converged and hyper-converged systems and cloud-integrated datacentre... Read more -
Q Associates Awarded Listing on G-Cloud 11 UK Government Framework
Q Associates has been listed as an Approved Supplier on the G-Cloud 11 Cloud Services Framework. With Offices in Newbury, London, Manchester and Newcastle, Q Associates has received official listing for specialist Cloud Computing Services on the Crown... Read more -
Q Associates WINS at UK Storage Awards 2019
Customers and suppliers cast thousands of votes online which saw Q Associates pick up a major channel award. Q Associates, Andrew Griffiths, Associates Business Development Director said: “These awards are particularly pleasing as they are voted for by the... Read more -
Q Associates Wins NetApp EMEA Partner Excellence Award 2019
We’re absolutely thrilled to win the NetApp EMEA HCI Partner of the Year Award 2019! NetApp is the world’s leading data authority for the hybrid cloud industry, so it’s great to be recognised for such a prestigious award. It celebrates businesses who... Read more -
Guest Blog: Changing demands and expectations – talking SMAC
A guest blog from Matt Watts, Data Strategist & Director of Technology at NetApp. Read more -
Small budget, big impact
Not everyone has the luxury of a multimillion-pound budget for a large-scale IT project. So how do you keep up with those who do? Read more -
Delving deeper into the trends of the new year
2018 saw the IT industry testing the waters with solutions like AI and hybrid cloud, and this year will be no different, with many technologies coming of age, including Augmented Reality (AR). Other forecasted trends include the connected cloud, edge... Read more -
That’s a Wrap: Ending the Year
As the curtains draw to a close in 2018, we look back fondly on a successful year with some of our favourite moments from the last 12 months. Read more -
The rise of hybrid cloud computing: Part Two
Your 5 step to hybrid cloud success. Read more -
The rise of hybrid cloud computing: Part One
Hybrid Cloud At Q Associates, we’re seeing more and more companies combining the best technologies to keep up with the fast-paced IT climate of today. The result? More often than not, they’re turning to the hybrid cloud – a model made up of a... Read more -
4 Factors Shape the Future of Hyperconverged Infrastructure
Since their introduction around five years ago, the core capabilities of hyperconverged products have changed so dramatically that, today, they’re beginning to become more standardised. To combat this, vendors have started throwing new functionalities, like... Read more -
The start of something new: Q’s first Manchester event
Find out more about our first event in Manchester. Read more -
Cloud Volumes ONTAP: Unleash the power of the hybrid cloud
Discover more about NetApp's Cloud Volumes ONTAP at our next event in Manchester. Register today. Read more -
Beyond break-fix: Q raises the bar for data centre support services
At Q Associates, we provide an enhanced proactive support service for data centre environments – servers, storage and networks – often enabling us to pinpoint the problem before it even becomes a problem. We call it Active Support. Read more -
NetApp EBC 2018
Last Wednesday (31st October 2018), we set off for Amsterdam. Our destination – NetApp’s Executive Briefing Centre (EBC). Find out about our latest trip in this week's blog post. Read more -
VMware Premier Partner
A long-standing strategic partner of VMware, Q Associates are thrilled to announce that we’ve been promoted to a VMware Premier Partner, the highest level available. Read more -
Splunk .Conf18: Part Two
The first rule of Splunk .Conf is you don’t talk about Splunk.Conf. Well luckily, I’m not Brad Pitt and this isn’t Fight Club, so wheels up and here we go. Read more -
Splunk .Conf18: Part One
The first rule of Splunk .Conf is you don’t talk about Splunk.Conf. Well luckily, I’m not Brad Pitt and this isn’t Fight Club, so wheels up and here we go. Read more -
Digital Outcomes and Specialists-3 framework
Another framework, another secured spot for Q. We’ve been named among an exclusive list of suppliers on the Digital Outcomes and Specialist (DOS) 3 framework. This latest appointment allows us to help any customers design, build and test their digital... Read more -
UCISA IG18
Another year, another successful UCISA event. But this one was particularly special, because we had James Davies, Director of IT Services at the University for the Creative Arts (UCA), speaking on behalf of Q. Read more -
The who, what, where and whys of data centre migration
Discover how to successfully migrate your data centre. Read more -
Flexpod: How bright is the future of converged infrastructure?
Does converged infrastructure still lead the industry for data centre workload delivery? Read more -
Splunk in Education
Find out how Splunk is revolutionising the way the Higher Education sector operates. Read more -
IT managers of the future
With an ever-evolving digital climate, what's in store for the IT managers of the future? Read more -
How secure is your data?
In an age where technology is rapidly taking over, branching out into parts of our lives only a few years ago seemed almost impossible, we’re naturally becoming more and more reliant on it. Read more -
Legacy infrastructure: Are your critical workloads at risk?
Find out how to overcome the legacy obstacle, even if your critical applications and workloads are located within an aging infrastructure system. Read more -
Splunk in retail
In today’s unforgiving, fast-paced digital retail climate, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to meet the data demands of the high street. From security to insights on customer buying habits, getting it wrong can cost a brand everything. Read more -
Q Associates secures place on latest government framework
With G Cloud 10 now live, Q Associates are proud to be named among the latest list of suppliers. Read more -
Q Associates: NetApp EMEA Innovation Partner of the Year 2018
After concluding their twelfth EMEA Partner Executive Forum in Seville, Spain, NetApp crowned Q Associates their Innovation Partner of the Year for 2018, in recognition of their exceptional growth, investment and overall business with NetApp solutions. Read more -
The big data centre decision: to converge or hyper-converge?
First there was converged infrastructure. Then came hyper-converged infrastructure. So, how do you decide which approach is right for you? Read more -
Q Associates add two more awards to the collection
For the seventh year running, we’re delighted to announce that we’ve been named Corporate Storage Provider of the Year at the 2018 UK Storage Awards. It was a busy night for Q as we ended the evening with yet another award, clinching the number one spot... Read more -
Splunk recognises Q Associates as a specialist UK partner
Q Associates’ latest collaboration with Splunk sees us delve a little deeper into the ever-evolving world of big data and automation. Read more -
From Big Data to Operational Intelligence – Are You Making the Most of Machine Data?
Log files, time-series data, big data. Whatever you choose to call it, machine data is one of the most underused and undervalued assets of any organisation. Read more -
Q Associates wins Network Computing Award
Q Associates are delighted to announce their success at the 2018 Network Computing Awards in London Read more -
Pets, Cattle, Insects and the Fabric of life
Guest Blog by Matt Watts – Data Strategist & Director of Technology NetApp Read more -
The CRN Rising Stars Article: Q Associates & ISN
A recent CRN report looked at the rising stars in the IT market, Q Associates were interviewed on their formalised strategic partnership with ISN. Read more -
Higher Education and Research IT Leaders Attend Tech Transformation Event
On 7-9th February 2018, Q Associates hosted a group of key leaders in IT from Higher Education and Research to attend the NetApp Executive Briefing Centre (EBC) in Amsterdam. This 2-day event focused on future technologies and business transformation. Read more -
4 Reasons to Use Data Fabric for Your Hybrid-Cloud
IT infrastructures are evolving and are no longer static entities marked by predictable growth. Read more -
NetApp’s Newest Hyper Converged Infrastructure
Launched at the end of June, and with first shipments due in October, NetApp’s second Generation Hyper Converged Infrastructure (HCI) product partners with Cisco to deliver the latest advancement in Hyper Converged Systems. The two companies first worked... Read more -
Cyber Essentials Scheme certification successfully renewed
Q Associates have successfully renewed their certification of the Government’s Cyber Essentials Scheme, a key deliverable of the UK’s National Security Programme. The UK Government and industry-backed scheme helps organisations to protect themselves... Read more -
Q Associates accepted onto three key public-sector IT procurement frameworks
Q Associates are very pleased to announce successful bids on three significant public-sector IT procurement frameworks Read more -
Q Associates and ISN Announce a Strategic Partnership
Q Associates Ltd. and Intuitive Systems and Networks Ltd. (ISN), have announced a new strategic partnership. The partnership will combine Q Associates award winning expertise in IT infrastructure services with ISN’s specialism in networking and security to... Read more -
Q Wins UK Storage Award
We are pleased to announce that for the sixth year running Q Associates has been named Corporate Storage Provider of the Year at the 2017 UK Storage Awards. This is a huge achievement for Q Associates and is the eighth consecutive year that... Read more -
Exeter College Invests in Scalable Lenovo Infrastructure
With operations growing and student numbers continuing to rise, Exeter College’s existing IT infrastructure couldn’t keep up. The college migrated its mission-critical applications on virtual servers to Lenovo Flex System. Read More… Read more -
Data Privacy & Compliance in Higher Education, 4th May
You are invited to attend this unique event (Thursday, 4th May) exploring the regulations and risk surrounding Data Privacy and Compliance with specific reference to the Higher Education sector. Leading industry speakers will outline key trends and challenges... Read more -
What is the Data Fabric?
Hybrid and multi-cloud deployment models are becoming the new normal for enterprise IT organisations. With these mixed environments, new challenges around data management emerge. Read more -
What does Brexit mean for EUGDPR?
The last couple of months have been turbulent for the UK and as the dust settles regarding the landmark decision to leave the European Union those of us involved in the world of regulation are being asked what it means for EU GDPR? Read more -
‘Chasing Clouds’ – Why everyone wants a FlexPod with OpenStack
This year FlexPod has extended its impressive validated design portfolio to include an OpenStack solution; which if you’re already a FlexPod evangelical, is pretty good news to say the least. The great thing about an OpenStack solution built on a converged... Read more -
The rise of Cisco’s UCS
Mention Cisco and most people immediately think of all things network, which is understandable as they are still market leaders in that space. However how many would naturally say that they’re a company which provides stateless computer servers?... Read more -
HyperFlex, Cisco’s Next Generation of Hyper-converged Infrastructure
Earlier this month CISCO announced the latest edition in their product family, HyperFlex. Already being coined as the ‘next generation of hyper-converged infrastructure’, HyperFlex combines innovative software defined storage and data services software... Read more -
Veritas Research Shows Digital Hoarding Behaviour is Pervasive, with Employees Willing to Give up Almost Anything but Their Data
Veritas research reveals that 82 percent of IT decision makers admit to being digital hoarders which pose serious financial, security and data management risks to organizations. Read more -
Create a Flexible IT Environment with the Public Cloud
Developing new applications in the cloud may require learning to new tools and processes, while moving existing applications often requires recoding for the cloud service provider’s platform—a costly and time-consuming process. Read more -
Q Achieve ISO 27001:2013 Certification
Q Associates is delighted to have achieved certification to ISO 27001:2013 Information Security Management System (ISMS). This certification provides more clarity and assurance for customers evaluating the breadth and strength of our security practices. Read more -
Q Awarded Cyber Essentials Certification
Q Associates have successfully achieved certification to the Government’s Cyber Essentials Scheme, a key deliverable of the UK’s National Security Programme. The UK Government and industry-backed scheme helps organisations to protect themselves against... Read more -
Is data security really a threat in the cloud?
It feels like every week there’s a new scandal hitting the headlines about security breaches and lost data. Yes, data breaches have huge implications for your company, and yet the ICO reports that every quarter, UK organisations experience 560 data breaches! Read more -
Designing the Next Generation Data Centre
Gartner recently revealed that IT currently faces an average annual growth rate (AAGR) of 10% in server workloads; 20% in power demands; 35% in network bandwidth; and an astonishing 50% AAGR in storage. Read more -
Q Associates secures a place on G-Cloud 8
UK-based IT infrastructure specialist Q Associates has been awarded a place on the G-Cloud 7 framework. Q Associates now offer an enhanced range of specialist cloud-based infrastructure and storage services to enable our Government Clients to Beat Austerity. Read more -
Are you ready for the new EU data privacy laws
By 2018, all companies will need to be able to demonstrate their compliance with new EU data privacy laws or risk a substantial fine: 2% of their global annual turnover, or €1m, whichever is greater. Can you afford to not have control of your data?... Read more -
Is data protection a challenge for your organisation?
For many organisations, adhering to The Data Protection Act, is a real challenge. According to the 2015 Information Security Breaches Survey, 90% of large organisations had a security breach, costing up to £3.14m! Read more -
Hybrid Cloud: Moving from concept to reality
There’s little doubt that enterprise IT organisations view hybrid cloud as the optimal environment for the future. For example, the market research firm IDC predicts that more than 65% of them will commit to hybrid cloud before 2016. Read more -
Q Associates scoops two top awards at the 2016 Storage Awards
Q Associates enjoyed a highly successful evening at the UK Storage Awards 2016, held at The Grand Connaught Rooms, Covent Garden, scooping two of the top awards and being named Storage Services Company of the Year and Corporate Storage Provider of the Year... Read more -
University Challenge: Cyber Attacks in Higher Education
Today, data is widely regarded as one of the most valuable assets any organisation can have. Most understand the importance of protecting it against unauthorised access from both competitors & the general public. Despite this, over the past few years we... Read more -
Should I stay or should I go?
Probably one of the most memorable lines from any song that I remember while growing up in the UK. I was extremely fortunate to have been able to moderate a dinner the other week with colleagues from NetApp, IBM and the RT Hn Lord David Blunkett, probably one... Read more -
Bridging the Gap Through IT Efficiency
Public sector leaders now face the significant challenge of delivering against government’s transformational IT agenda, whilst also working within the tight constraints of current austerity measures. The very substantial reduction in public sector resources... Read more -
Optimizing Storage for all Workloads in Modern Datacentres
Meeting the technology needs of the modern enterprise is often a trade-off between delivering demanding Service Levels, Performance/Availability/Scalability and managing aggressive cost targets to drive business profitability. Not only do we have to worry... Read more -
Clearing The Mist Around Cloud Backup
As organisations cope with the growing amount of data being generated on a daily basis, it comes as no surprise that data protection is one of the biggest challenges for small to medium size businesses. Most companies would consider their data to be their... Read more -
How Dark is your Unstructured Data?
It comes as no surprise to most organisations that the explosion of unstructured data is showing no sign of slowing down. Analysts are now predicting that the growth of data is 40 percent to 60 percent, but for unstructured data in the enterprise, the growth... Read more -
NetApp announce SolidFire acquisition
It’s no secret that NetApp’s journey to buy SolidFire has been a turbulent one. Despite initial rumours beginning late last year the acquisition wasn’t officially announced until early February. Now that the transaction excitement has died down, we take... Read more -
Choosing the right cloud for you
The thing we love most about the Cloud is that it’s one of the few technology advancements that lived up to the marketing hype. There was at one stage a cynical view that it was just another industry fad but the fact is, Cloud is delivering. The question... Read more -
IT Support Contracts, you’re probably paying too much…
Annual support contracts represent a significant cost for IT managers in all industry sectors. While costings for new IT procurements are typically examined in great detail, repeat contracts for hardware and software support can often be renewed without... Read more -
2016: The Year of the Cloud
With many technological commentators predicting 2016 as the year of the cloud and with industry rumblings that imply Amazon will soon be setting up on UK soil, we explore what the Cloud means to us today, the growing need for simplicity and we’ll also... Read more -
3 Reasons to Move Your Data to a Hyper-Converged Infrastructure
A hyper-converged infrastructure (HCI) promises greater data protection, seamless integration with existing systems, improved operational efficiency and reduced costs. According to Gartner, HCI currently represents 3.5% of the total IT infrastructure market.... Read more -
The Unstoppable Rise of Fujitsu
Ask your average person in the street if they have heard of Fujitsu and most will say ‘Aren’t they that company that used to make film for cameras?’ Speak to those in the ICT industry and they’d probably say, ‘Isn’t that the public sector... Read more -
EUDPR 2016 Update
As of December 2015, an agreement was reached between the European Parliament and the council, following more than 90% of Europeans stating that they want the same data protection rights across the UK. Regardless of where data is processed, this will... Read more -
Q Launches New Database Services
Q Associates provide a range of specialist IT services and have recently launched a new Database Services portfolio offering an Agile Managed Services model for NoSQL and Relational technologies. With access to some of the UK’s most talented database... Read more -
Back-Up To Basics
Back-up may not be the highest priority on the IT strategic agenda, until of course, something goes horribly wrong. Problems often occur when back-up is perceived as a given or a ‘known state’. In reality, most organisations are susceptible to frequent... Read more -
DaaS: Re-think your approach to Data Management
The exponential rise of Cloud Services has solidified IaaS, SaaS, PaaS and AaaS as a strategic consideration for almost any IT transformational project. So it was only a matter of time before ‘DataBase as a Service’ (DaaS) was put forward as the next... Read more -
Q Listed as Top 10 Supplier of IT to the HE Sector
Q Associates have been recognised as a top 10 supplier in the CRN report on IT procurement within UK universities. A rundown of the top universities by IT spend reveals that Q Associates is ranked 10th of the top 100 suppliers and is also a “Top 5”... Read more -
EVO:Rail’s EVO:Lution
In 2012, the then CTO of VMware, Dr Steve Herrod, was credited with coining the term ‘software-designed data centre’ or SDDC. The principle is quite simple; abstract the compute stack components into a software layer. This then orchestrates and manages... Read more -
5 Reasons You Need Wan Optimisation
The volume of information flowing through our work and personal lives is going in one direction and one direction only, up. The natural by-product is that the sheer volume of data puts the traditional capability of the average WAN under unprecedented... Read more -
EUDPR – Will You Be Ready?
As things stand today, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), in line with the 1988 Data Protection Act can impose fines of up to £500,000 for serious breaches and in amongst the growing number of unsavoury headlines, sit well-known respected... Read more -
cDot, so what?
Storage is pretty complicated, as are the solutions available within the market; they all promise to make your life easier for the bargain price of your soul and a budgetary figure that wouldn’t look out of place on a National Lottery Winners cheque.... Read more -
Is Software Killing Your IT Budget?
Cost is key IT budgets so why is it that annual support contracts are left to roll over without question or intervention leading to potential six-figure sums? Learn how Q Associates could help save 10-15% against your software costs! It’s funny isn’t it?... Read more -
The trouble with Bandwidth
Introducing Ecologic and how they can help tackle your bandwidth problems without simple buying more but instead optimizing your WAN. Read more -
NetApp gets serious about Flash!
Following recent announcements, NetApp now leads the flash market in pricing with its new all-flash storage array line. We find out why. Read more -
Introducing VMware 6
With the launch of the latest version of VMware’s technology suite, we take a look under the bonnet. Read more -
Storage Simplified
Is your storage capacity and cost growing faster than your budget? Read more about how we could help with a FREE storage assessment. Read more -
So you think you know Oracle?
Join us for an independent view of Oracle in 2015. We explore the developments, the technologies, the acquisitions and the future outlook during this half-day event. Read more -
Not Just Virtually Awesome..
‘Data matters’ and although we know that’s nothing new; the way that we protect and store information today has changed almost beyond measure. Read more about how you could have your storage performing literally in the virtual world. Read more -
Protecting What Matters
The way that we protect and store information has changed beyond measure, read more about how together with IBM we can keep your data in safe hands. Read more -
What is famously red, ridiculously fast and beautifully engineered?
If you’re running a mission critical Oracle database on somebody else’s hardware, then it may be time to consider the facts. Critical Oracle Software environments run most efficiently, effectively, economically and securely on an optimised Oracle... Read more -
NetApp Announce EF560 & E5600!
Widely recognised as a leading provider of enterprise-class NAS and SAN storage technologies, NetApp is proud to announce a new generation of Flash Storage delivering industry leading price-performance. Read more -
Q Associates appointed to G-Cloud 6 Framework
UK-based IT infrastructure specialist Q Associates has been awarded a place on the latest iteration of the G-Cloud framework, RM1557v G-Cloud 6. Read more
