You give engineers self-service virtual machines for test and development with a well-managed virtualisation platform, quick provisioning, sensible controls and regular tidy-up so cost does not run away. Engineers get the environments they need fast, and the underlying platform stays healthy and affordable rather than sprawling into a mess of forgotten machines.
Software teams spin up and tear down environments constantly. Here’s how to make that quick without losing control.
1. A healthy virtualisation platform
Whether your VMs run on Hyper-V, VirtualBox or in the cloud, the platform underneath needs enough capacity and good management to perform well. We keep it healthy so new machines are fast and reliable.
2. Quick provisioning
When an engineer needs a new VM or test environment, they should get it quickly. We make provisioning fast, often from a standard template, so people are not blocked waiting for a machine.
3. Sensible controls
Self-service does not mean a free-for-all. We set sensible limits and security so environments are created safely, with the right protection, and do not become a back door or a runaway cost.
4. Tidy-up to control cost
Old test machines that nobody removed waste resources and money. We help keep the estate tidy, retiring environments that are no longer needed, so you only pay for what you use.
A real example: environments on demand
We supported a software company serving financial trading firms where engineers regularly needed new virtual machines and test environments, and we provisioned them quickly while keeping the platform healthy. As one engineer said when a VM was sorted promptly: “was sorted for me quickly. Thank you.”
For most technology and trading firms, this sits within fully managed IT at about £45 to £100 per user per month, billed per user, with the security and resilience these businesses rely on built in.
Why technology and trading firms choose First Stop IT
First Stop IT has supported businesses since 2002, including software and technology companies and firms that serve financial markets. We know the systems these teams depend on: secure VPN and remote access, source control and build pipelines, virtual dev and test environments, Microsoft 365 and Teams, and the security that banks and regulators expect, from multi-factor authentication and endpoint protection to application allowlisting and email security. We work with technology and trading firms in London and across Essex and Hertfordshire. Our credentials include:
- Cyber Essentials Certified
- IASME Cyber Assurance (Gold)
- NCSC Assured Service Provider (Cyber Advisor for Cyber Essentials)
- Microsoft Partner
- Crown Commercial Service Supplier (G-Cloud)
- Quality Principles Certified
We look after more than 2,000 endpoints across 50 companies, we’ve been named a Top 50 UK MSP for three years running, and we support organisations with 10 to 100 employees across Essex, Hertfordshire and London, including Harlow and Bishop’s Stortford.
Book a free IT and cyber security review
Want engineers to get environments on demand? Book a free IT and cyber security review with First Stop IT and we’ll set it up.