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9 Ways Schools Can Meet the Moment with Digital Confidence

Michael Conlon walks us through how schools can tackle the digital education landscape.

Picture of Michael Conlon

Michael Conlon

Michael is XMA’s Education Transformation Consultant. With over 25 years in teaching and leadership he has sat through more strategy meetings and indulged more fads than he cares to admit, but still loves help schools make sense of digital transformation—without the jargon, and ideally without the panic.

The UK Government’s digital and technology standards for schools and colleges set a clear direction: resilient infrastructure, inclusive access, and strategic leadership. At XMA, we believe in empowering educators with agnostic, future-ready solutions that meet these standards and elevate learning. Here’s how:

  1. Cloud Platforms That Work for Everyone

Whether it’s Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace, we guide schools through seamless cloud adoption, ensuring secure access, data protection, and long-term cost efficiency.

  1. Cyber Security That Protects Learning

From endpoint protection to staff training, our cyber resilience solutions align with DfE standards and keep digital environments safe for students and educators.

  1. Devices Designed for Education

We supply and configure devices that meet curriculum needs—whether it’s 1:1 student access or shared classroom sets—ensuring performance, security, and longevity.

  1. Digital Inclusion for Every Learner

We help schools audit and implement accessibility tools, ensuring that all students, no matter their learning challenges, can engage fully with digital learning.

  1. Filtering and Monitoring That Safeguards

For you’re core duty, our safeguarding solutions meet statutory guidance, giving schools peace of mind with intelligent filtering and real-time monitoring.

  1. Leadership That Drives Strategy

We work with MATs and Local Authorities to establish their digital maturity, and develop digital strategies that align with governance standards, budget realities, and long-term goals.

  1. Sustainable Server and Storage Solutions

Whether cloud-first or hybrid, our server and storage options need to meet environmental and security standards.

  1. Professional Development That Sticks

Technology is redundant if people don’t know how to use it effectively. We offer training and support that builds digital confidence across teaching and support staff.

  1. Keeping your eye on the horizon

XMA excel at anticipating and leaning into tomorrow’s technologies to bring solutions to customers that add value and improve how they work.

At XMA, we don’t push products—we build partnerships. Our agnostic approach means we focus on what works best for your context, your learners, and your goals. If you’re interested in your school becoming more Digital Confident, contact us at enquiries@xma.co.uk. 

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Android Desktop: Potential Use Cases and Benefits

This is the second in a series of blog posts exploring Android Desktop. Our Head of Pre-Sales, Scott Wright, will be looking at the current state of Android Desktop, following its improvement as release approaches, examining use cases, looking at essential apps & peripherals and more. 

Picture of Scott Wright

Scott Wright

Scott is XMA’s Head of Pre-Sales. An IT industry greybeard, he violated his own rule about being an early adopter when he bought the first Android phone at launch and hasn’t regretted that decision.

Most of this blog will be talking about the benefits of a mobile device with any sort of desktop interface, rather than Android Desktop specifically, so before we start that let’s talk for a moment about why the launch of Android Desktop is causing such a buzz. 

Desktop solutions for Android are currently available from several device vendors with Samsung’s DeX being the most established. Motorola Ready-For (also on Lenovo ThinkPhones), Huawei Desktop Mode and Xiaomi MIUI Desktop mode are also available. These solutions are vendor specific which raises concerns for many organisations, should the vendor cease supporting them then the organisation will be forced to change device in order to continue with their device strategy. With Android Desktop as a core part of the Android offering (and Apple promising to follow suit) not only is desktop mode legitimised a standard phone feature but organisations adopting a vendor specific solution like DeX have a fall-back plan that does not require device replacement, substantially reducing risk. As such, there is considerable interest in Android Desktop, even from organisations who are considering or who have adopted a vendor specific solution. 

Below I am going to expound on some of the possible benefits and give examples of the use cases that might realise those benefits. 

Benefits: Managed Device Reduction 

The most immediate benefit for many organisations will be a reduction in devices. Many organisations are issuing both a laptop and mobile to a large cohort of users with fairly light computing requirements. This is especially wasteful for front-line workers for whom the mobile is the primary device and the laptop is an occasional use device. Replacing the managed laptop with a laptop-shaped docking station (“lapdock”, more on these in a future blog post) reduces cost but also reduces the number of devices requiring licences and updates, eliminates a large number of devices as potential sources of data loss (a laptop left in a taxi, for example, cannot contain any data as it is merely a docking station) and more. Shared desktops can also be replaced with docking stations or docking monitors, reducing the number of managed devices.  

Benefits: Shared Desktops 

For users with a mobile device who also use shared desktops, for example many healthcare workers, solutions such as VDI, roaming profiles, follow-me desktop and similar are used to make moving between shared desktops as seamless as possible but typically have substantial cost and complexity associated with them. These solutions and the shared desktops themselves can be eliminated and replaced with docking stations or docking monitors while providing an even more seamless working experience, not only between shared desktops but also between desktop and mobile device, allowing healthcare professionals to transition seamlessly between patient interaction spaces and desk-based working. 

Benefits: Security Implications 

Anywhere that shared devices are in use presents a challenge for data security. Data must not be unintentionally accessible between users and this is especially important in settings where that data is highly sensitive, such as a clinical or law enforcement settings. With most Police officers being issued a mobile device, utilising docking monitors in place of shared desktops for docking stations prevents inadvertent data access between users via the shared device.  Using lapdocks rather than laptops as a car-working solution means that it is impossible for data to be stored locally, reducing the risk associated with device theft. 

This benefit is also useful in other contexts, for example many higher education institutions have a pool of shared devices which are made available to learners. The HE organisation must ensure not only that data does not inadvertently pass between users but also that malware which might be introduced by a user does not impact other users of that shared device. By offering a pool of shared lapdocks, rather than laptops, these concerns can be eliminated. This will, of course, require waiting for most mobile devices to offer a desktop mode – likely several years before most Android and Apple devices are running a suitable operating system version. 

Benefits: Attracting Younger Workers / Learners

Many of the young people entering work or higher education have limited Windows / MacOS experience. Their personal devices are mobiles or tablets and the bulk of their school IT experience is using Chromebooks or iPads. Several regions will shortly see the first cohort of learners leaving school who have had a Chromebook or iPad as their learning device for the entirety of their secondary education and over the coming years this will increasingly become standard.

Offering a mobile-centric working experience, even if only as an option, may allow business and HE organisations to make themselves more attractive to these young persons that they are seeking to attract.

So, in summary, while this solution may not be suitable for all users at this time, organisations may be able to realise a reduction in managed devices and their associated costs, increased user satisfaction and an improved security posture.

The next post will explore the current state of Android Desktop in Beta and the functionality offered. If you’re interested in exploring an Android desktop solution, contact us at enquiries@xma.co.uk.

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Intelligent Endpoints: The New Standard for IT Success

Is your IT estate working for you, or are you simply working for it? 

Modern devices provide a strong foundation for any organisation, delivering the performance and built-in security that business operations depend on. But as environments become more complex, that foundation is no longer enough. The real challenge has moved beyond the device itself and into the user’s experience. When that experience is poor, the consequences are significant. 

The focus must now be on the Digital Employee Experience (DEX). Far from a passing trend, it’s now a strategic imperative. According to Gartner, by 2026, 50% of digital workplace leaders will have a DEX strategy and tool in place.1 The reason is simple: data shows that 74% of workers feel they lack the right technology to be successful2, and a staggering 34% are living with ongoing IT problems that their service desk is unable to fix.3 

This is a gap that needs to be closed. The solution requires a fundamental shift in perspective: turning your endpoints from passive tools into proactive, intelligent assets. 

 

The Next Evolution: From Endpoint to Insight Point 

So how do you bridge the gap between device potential and employee reality? The answer lies in data. 

HP’s Workforce Experience Platform (WXP) is a cloud-based platform designed to meet this challenge directly. It gives IT teams centralised visibility and control over their entire digital ecosystem by collecting and analysing data from all connected endpoints. 

 

A Single Platform for Your Entire Fleet 

A common obstacle to achieving a unified view of IT is the diverse nature of a typical device estate. Real-world environments are not homogenous. They are a complex mix of hardware and software from different vendors, acquired over many years. 

HP’s WXP is designed for this reality. It is a true multi-vendor platform, built to be completely manufacturer and OS agnostic. Whether your estate consists of PCs from Dell and Lenovo, Apple Macs, or a mix of all three, WXP provides a single source of truth. The platform sees it all, integrating data not just from PCs, but also from printers, video and audio endpoints, virtual machines, and software applications to give you a complete picture. 

The platform works by gathering and processing billions of data points from across this entire IT estate. Its AI engine analyses this telemetry to identify performance trends, predict hardware failures, and flag security issues (often before they impact your users). This is how you move from a reactive “break-fix” model to a proactive one. It’s the difference between fighting fires and preventing them from ever starting. 

 

Real-World Problems Solved by WXP 

Adopting a platform like WXP solves the specific, resource-draining problems that IT teams face every day. 

Problem

Nearly half of all employees don’t contact IT when they experience issues that impact their work.  

More than an inconvenience, it’s a silent drain on productivity and a source of constant friction. Every unreported issue is a hidden cost, and every unresolved ticket is a crack in your operational foundation. 

The WXP Solution

The platform’s predictive analytics identify issues before a user even knows to complain. It can flag that batteries on a group of devices are failing and need replacement under warranty, or identify that Teams is crashing frequently across the organisation. 

This allows IT to address the root cause, slash ticket volumes, and improve first-call resolution rates. 

Problem

A single non-compliant device is a potential entry point for a catastrophic breach. Manually trying to keep up is no longer a viable strategy, a gamble you can’t afford to lose.

The WXP Solution

WXP provides a single dashboard to monitor fleet-wide security in real-time. It delivers specific, actionable alerts, such as “Windows Secure Boot disabled on ≥ 5% of devices” or “BitLocker disabled on 3% of devices”.

This gives IT teams the forensic data needed to remediate vulnerabilities and prove compliance without the burden of manual audits.

Problem

Every piece of under-utilised hardware gathering dust in a storeroom is wasted budget.

Every kilowatt of unnecessary power consumption is a missed opportunity to reduce costs and meet crucial environmental goals.

The WXP Solution

The platform helps improve IT ROI by identifying under-utilised assets that can be re-deployed elsewhere in the business, reducing unnecessary hardware spend.

On the sustainability front, it can monitor power consumption across the device fleet, providing the tangible data needed to support environmental reporting and drive down operational costs.

 

Why This Matters for Stretched IT Teams

For Enterprise IT Directors, their mandate is to mitigate risk, govern a complex estate, and align technology with business strategy. WXP delivers the data needed to make that happen. It provides the evidence required to move from tactical firefighting to strategic leadership, making informed investment decisions and proving the business value of the IT function to the board.

For Public Sector IT Managers, the pressure to deliver more with less is relentless, alongside strict security and procurement rules. WXP helps these teams by automating routine compliance and security checks, freeing up specialist resources to focus on critical projects. The platform’s ability to provide hard data on asset utilisation and power consumption provides the justification needed to prove value-for-money—a cornerstone of public sector accountability.

As workplace environments become more complex, ignorance is not an option. Intelligence is everything. By transforming endpoints into sources of intelligence, the HP Workforce Experience Platform provides the tools to build a more secure, efficient, and resilient IT environment.

To see exactly how the HP Workforce Experience Platform can be applied to your organisation, book a free, no-obligation demo with one of our specialists today. Talk to your Account Manager or contact us at enquiries@xma.co.uk.

Footnotes: 
1. Gartner, Magic Quadrant for Digital Employee Experience Management Tools, Dan Wilson, Tom Cipolla, et al., 6 March 2025. Gartner is a registered trademark and service mark of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and internationally, and MAGIC QUADRANT is a registered trademark of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates and are used herein with permission. All rights reserved. 
2. HP Internal Research 
3. Forrester, State of the Services Desk, 2024 Published February 21, 2024 

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XMA is a Disability Confident Leader!

We are proud to announce that XMA has officially been recognised as a Disability Confident Leader. 

This is the highest level of the government-backed scheme. For us, it is more than an accreditation; it is the external validation of a principle that sits at the core of our business: a diverse, inclusive workforce is fundamental to our success. This achievement comes after 15 months of dedicated work since we were awarded Disability Confident Employer status in April 2023, with a significant focus over the last seven months to reach this Leader level. 

Achieving this required a commitment to tangible action, not just words. Internally, we have focused on improving the physical accessibility of our sites, such as installing new and automatic doors at our Nottingham offices—an upgrade that benefits all our employees. We have delivered inclusive leadership training to our own advocates and have started a culture change by asking and embracing challenging questions about our own processes, ensuring we do not stand still on topics like recruitment. 

A key part of being a Disability Confident Leader is moving beyond our own business to champion inclusion in our wider community. Collaboration has been central to our approach. We have: 

  • Attended several collaborative Employee Resource Group (ERG) events with HPE at their London offices, where we raised awareness for the Disability Confident scheme. 
  • Worked with partners during these events to set SMART goals for disability-focused ERGs. 
  • Opened our own Inclusive Leadership training to representatives from our partners, including HPE, Kocycle, and charities like Reach Learning Disability. 
  • Worked with Reach Learning Disability’s ‘FlowerPod’ to create volunteering opportunities for our Nottingham-based staff, and in doing so, had the chance to promote XMA’s commitment to social value directly to the High Sheriff of Nottingham. Julia Sandhu from Reach Learning Disability had this to say:  

“When companies like XMA work with organisations like Reach and achieve Disability Confident Leader status, they’re not just improving how they work — they’re helping break down those barriers and driving real change. It has been inspiring to work with XMA and to be part of their journey.” 

This status is a direct result of the focused work of our people. Our Disability Confidence Ambassador Alison Warner, who has led this initiative, shared her personal motivation: 

“The world of disability and careers contains a lot of fear for both sides of the recruitment process. I built on my own experiences to get passionately involved in achieving Disability Confident Leader status with XMA so that through the ESG group, employees can make a difference. My aim going forward is not for XMA to stay still, but to achieve higher standards year on year, and for employees to feel confident in disclosing their disabilities.” 

Alison’s words capture our position perfectly. This is not an end-point. It is a milestone that strengthens our resolve to continue building a business where every individual is valued and has the support they need to succeed. 

Android Desktop: An emergency option for when your laptop is broken, or a paradigm shift in client devices?

This is the first in a series of blog posts exploring Android Desktop. Our Head of Pre-Sales, Scott Wright, will be looking at the current state of Android Desktop, following its improvement as release approaches, examining use cases, looking at essential apps & peripherals and more. 

Picture of Scott Wright

Scott Wright

Scott is XMA’s Head of Pre-Sales. An IT industry greybeard, he violated his own rule about being an early adopter when he bought the first Android phone at launch and hasn’t regretted that decision.

What is Android Desktop?  
Android Desktop is a desktop-like experience for Android phones when connected to an external display, and typically also to a keyboard and mouse. It provides a larger display area, a taskbar, applications in moveable, resizable windows and so forth with the intent to make your phone a practical device to work on. It is currently available only on beta versions of Android 16 which are available on selected Pixel and other devices but will become a core Android feature. Apple is also working on an equivalent for iPhone but, as usual, they are keeping their cards close to the chest. More on that when there is news. 

A desktop mode for phones, when connected to suitable equipment. is not a new idea. Several phone manufacturers have offered their own takes on this, most notably Samsung with their DeX offering that launched in 2017. DeX was arguably a little ahead of its time, applications were not universally available with a web interface and phone hardware was significantly less powerful than today. There is also a concern with adopting vendor specific solutions, although Samsung, for example, are as far from a fly-by-night company as you can get. The availability of a vendor agnostic solution which is a core part of the Android operating system has put this back onto many organisations’ radars due to potential reductions in devices, benefits for frontline workers and more. 

How to Access Android Desktop 
If you want to try this yourselves then you’ll need a Beta version of Android 16 (ideally the current version QPR1 Beta4 but at least Beta2) and a suitable device. A Pixel 6 or newer is supported and some other vendors do also offer Beta versions of Android to their users. Enrolling in the Beta program and updating your device is quick and easy with a Pixel and you can revert back but do be aware this will likely require a device wipe. For other vendors see their instructions and warnings, some are more involved and complex than others.  

All of the usual caveats around Beta programs do, of course, apply. There will be incomplete functionality, bugs, issues and more so do consider if you should do this to your device. I have a laptop, my personal phone and a spare work phone that just needs the SIM swapping over to be running again so I have lots of options if I hit a problem. Do also note, if this is a work-provided device, then you should seek permission before installing a Beta OS and may need your device profile changing to permit that and to permit access to the developer options (which you will need). 

If you are using a Pixel device then go to the “Your eligible devices” section at the link below, opt in and then perform a system update. I found this to be a very straightforward process. 

Android Beta Program

After installing Android 16 Beta then you will need to enable the developer options. To do this go into settings and navigate to About phone > Build number (bottom of the menu). Tap on the build number repeatedly until you either get a message telling you that developer options are enabled or until you are asked to unlock the device (pin, biometrics, etc). The developer options will now be available. It’s a very long menu so search for Enable desktop experience features and enable it.  

Now you can connect your Android device to suitable peripherals, most USB-C laptop docks and docking monitors will work to provide a display, keyboard and mouse to your Android device. 

More To Come 
There are lots of questions to be answered – What’s the best way of accessing M365 applications?  What specification of device is needed for a good experience? What are the essential peripherals, both for the desk and when travelling? What apps cannot be used successfully? Follow along with me as I explore what Android Desktop can and can’t do as I try to live with it as a work device. 

The Right Tech for the Academic Year: A Win for Students, Parents, and Your IT Team

We all know the end of summer brings a familiar chaos. For parents, it’s the frantic rush for uniforms, stationery, and the single most important (and debated) item on the list: the student device. For schools and Multi-Academy Trusts, it’s about ensuring the technology you’ve chosen can actually withstand the reality of a new academic year. 

This year, we followed the back-to-school journey of one family to see how the right technology choices can make all the difference.  

Meet the Millers  
Proud mum Sarah has two children heading into demanding years: Chloe is starting a graphic design course at her independent school, and Tom is off to Further Education college. 

The great device debate in their house was short-lived. They’d heard good things about the usual suspects, but after kicking the tyres, they needed technology that could keep up with the daily reality of student life. 

 

The Right Tools for the Job 

For Chloe, the budding artist, the choice was the Samsung Galaxy Book3 360. As a 2-in-1 device, it gives her the flexibility she needs. She can type up essays in traditional laptop mode, then flip the 360-degree hinge and use it as a tablet for sketching.  

The real clincher was the combination of the stunning Super AMOLED touchscreen and the natural, paper-like feel of the included S Pen. It means the colours in her digital paintings are incredibly vibrant and accurate, giving her a significant advantage in her creative work. 

For Tom, it was all about practicality. He needed a reliable workhorse for his FE course that wouldn’t break the bank. The Galaxy Book4 was the perfect fit. While it’s an affordable, entry-level model, it doesn’t compromise on quality or performance. It’s a sleek, solid all-rounder with a modern Intel® Core™ processor, more than capable of handling his research, reports, and presentations. 

 

Built for the Realities of Student Life 

Chloe’s day starts in the art studio. She flips her Book3 360 into tablet mode, the high-resolution screen showing every detail of her reference photos. Using the S Pen, she sketches directly onto the screen, the pressure sensitivity allowing her to create fine lines and broad strokes just like a real pencil. In her next lesson, History of Art, she switches to laptop mode to type notes, the full-sized keyboard making it easy to keep up. At lunch, she and her friends gather around her device in ‘tent’ mode to watch a design tutorial – the Super AMOLED screen is so bright and clear they can all see it perfectly, even with the lunchtime glare. The flexibility is a game-changer. 

Tom found himself in a classic student bind: a 15-minute break to prepare for a seminar on a topic he’d only half-read the night before. Instead of panicking, he pulled up the lengthy research article on his Galaxy Book4 and asked Microsoft Copilot to summarise the key arguments. In minutes, he had a clear, concise overview, ready for the discussion. It was a perfect example of working smarter, not harder, showcasing how the device’s built-in AI tools can be a massive help for students on a tight schedule. 

Here are a few other ways these devices are designed for the rigours of education: 

  • All-Day (and then some) Battery: Both Chloe and Tom can leave their chargers at home. The battery life on the Galaxy Book series is huge. If they ever do get caught short, the super-fast USB-C charger can deliver hours of power in the time it takes to drink a coffee.  
  • The Samsung Ecosystem in Action: This is where things get really clever. Tom often jots down notes on his Samsung phone between classes, where they automatically sync and appear on his Galaxy Book4 when he sits down to study. Chloe uses her Samsung tablet as a second screen, giving her a dedicated space for reference images while she works on her main canvas. Sharing work is simple and instant with Quick Share, so there’s no more “the dog ate my homework, sir” or, more accurately, “the email got lost in my outbox”.  
  • Lightweight and Portable: These laptops are incredibly thin and light, sliding easily into a packed backpack without adding bulk.  

 

Peace of Mind for Parents and IT Directors 

This is where the story becomes particularly relevant for education buyers. A happy parent with a child using a reliable device is a parent who isn’t calling your IT helpdesk. 

What if a student device does have an issue?  

This is where the support comes in. Every B2B Samsung Notebook from XMA includes a 3-year, business-grade warranty as standard. If your device suffers a fault, Samsung will repair your device at our UK service centre – if it can’t be fixed, it will be replaced free of charge. This is a level of practical, responsive support that keeps students learning without disruption. If the devices are part of XMA’s Device-Management-as-a-Service, there’s even less hassle, with 24/7 break-fix, Gold Stock ready to go, and active device monitoring for any hardware and software issues. 

Furthermore, the entire range is protected by multiple layers of security, including Samsung Knox, Intel secure core at the chip level, and Windows Pro, keeping student and school data safe from threats.  

How a Stress-Free September becomes a Lower TCO 

So, what does the Millers’ stress-free September mean for a School or Multi-Academy Trust? 

It means: 

  • Fewer IT Support Tickets: Durable devices and a simple, effective warranty process mean your IT team spends less time dealing with broken hardware and more time on strategic initiatives. 
  • Improved Learning Outcomes: Students with reliable, long-lasting batteries and seamless ways to work across devices are better equipped to stay productive and engaged. 
  • Demonstrable Value: You are providing families with technology that not only performs brilliantly but is built to last the course, offering a lower total cost of ownership and proving that budget-friendly doesn’t have to mean compromising on quality.  

The Samsung Galaxy Book range provides a robust, secure, and high-performing alternative that is built for the specific demands of the education environment. 

Ready to explore how Samsung’s range can benefit your institution? Schedule a consultation with an XMA specialist to see the devices for yourself. 

Contact us at: enquiries@xma.co.uk 

The PSTN and ISDN Switch-Off Is Happening. Your Business Needs a Plan.

The UK’s traditional phone network, the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), which also includes Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) lines, is being permanently switched off. The final date for this is 31st January 2027. As of September 2023, it is no longer possible to buy new PSTN or ISDN services.

This is not a simple change. It will affect any device that uses a traditional phone line. This includes not just your office phones, but also other systems such as:

  • Fax machines
  • Alarm systems (intruder and fire)
  • Door entry systems
  • CCTV
  • EPOS (Electronic Point of Sale) terminals
  • Franking machines
  • Telecare and medical alert devices

If your business relies on any of these, you need to act now to avoid service disruption. One year ago, we told you about the initial changes. Now, let’s see if there have been any crucial updates.

Why is this happening?

The PSTN is old technology. It’s expensive to maintain and cannot deliver the speed or reliability required for modern business communications. The move to digital, IP-based services like Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is a necessary technological step forward.

What does this mean for your business?

All voice and data services that currently use the PSTN or ISDN will need to be migrated to an IP-based alternative. This means you will be using your internet connection to make calls and transmit data. The benefits of moving to a digital system include:

  • Cost Savings: Lower monthly fees and reduced hardware costs are common.
  • Flexibility: Your staff can work from any location with an internet connection. It is also straightforward to add or remove users as your business needs change.
  • Improved Functionality: Modern VoIP systems offer advanced features like video conferencing, call routing and integration with other business software.
  • Business Continuity: In the event of an outage, calls can be automatically rerouted to other locations or mobile devices, ensuring you stay connected.

What you need to do

The 2027 deadline is final. To ensure a smooth transition, you should start planning now. XMA can help you by:

  1. Auditing Your Systems: We will identify all devices and services in your organisation that rely on the PSTN or ISDN. This includes not just the obvious, but also the easily overlooked systems like alarms and payment terminals.
  2. Assessing Your Connectivity: We will analyse your current internet connection to ensure it has the capacity and reliability to handle your voice and data traffic. We can recommend and implement any necessary upgrades.
  3. Migrating Your Services: We have partnered with RingCentral, a leading provider of cloud communications solutions, to offer a straightforward migration path to VoIP. We will manage the process for you, from planning to implementation, to ensure a seamless transition with minimal disruption to your business.

Don’t wait until the last minute. The move to all-IP is a significant change, and leaving it too late could result in a loss of service and impact your business operations.

Talk to your XMA Account Manager, or contact us today at enquiries@xma.co.uk to discuss your requirements and create a migration plan that is right for your business.

Why Compact Workstations Are the Future of Hybrid Work

The shift to hybrid and hot-desking models is permanent. For IT teams, this has fundamentally changed hardware requirements. The traditional, bulky desktop tower that once defined corporate IT is impractical for a workforce that needs to operate effectively from various locations, be it a central office, a home study, or a shared workspace. Today’s professionals require compact, powerful, and secure computing that adapts to their location, without compromising on performance. The challenge is to deliver this capability consistently and securely across a distributed workforce. 

 

The Challenge: Power and Flexibility Without the Bulk 

Many organisations face a difficult trade-off. Their teams need high-performance computing for demanding tasks like CAD, graphic design, and complex data analysis. Yet, the physical constraints of modern offices and home-working environments don’t accommodate large, power-hungry hardware. Bulky towers consume valuable desk space, generate excess heat, and are ill-suited to flexible desking arrangements. While laptops offer portability, they often cannot deliver the sustained, specialised performance of a dedicated workstation, creating a gap between user requirements and device capability. 

 

The Solution: Compact HP Workstations with AMD Processors 

This is where a new category of device provides a direct solution. HP has engineered workstations that deliver professional-grade performance within compact and mobile designs, specifically addressing the challenges of hybrid work. 

  • HP Z2 Mini G9: As the world’s most powerful mini workstation, this device packs high-end performance into a versatile chassis that is small enough to be mounted behind a monitor or under a desk. It can be configured with professional-grade NVIDIA RTX graphics, making it capable of handling demanding 3D workflows, and holds Independent Software Vendor (ISV) certifications for key applications like Autodesk and SolidWorks. This guarantees hardware stability and performance for the critical software your teams rely on, removing guesswork and instability. 
  • HP ZBook Power G11 A: For users who require workstation capability on the move, the ZBook provides the processing and graphics power to run demanding applications from any location. It’s not simply a powerful laptop, it is a mobile workstation. Configured with AMD Ryzen™ PRO processors and professional NVIDIA RTX™ Ada Generation Laptop GPUs, it delivers the sustained performance needed for video editing, 3D rendering, and data analysis without the throttling common in thinner, non-specialised devices. It removes the choice between mobility and performance, equipping remote and hybrid workers with a single, reliable device for all their professional needs. 

 

The AMD Ryzen™ PRO Advantage 

Integral to the performance and security of these workstations are the AMD Ryzen™ PRO Processors, built for modern professional environments. Feel secure with AMD Memory Guard, which encrypts system memory in real-time to protect against physical attacks if a device is lost or stolen. For IT teams overseeing a fleet of remote hardware, AMD PRO manageability simplifies deployment and maintenance. Easily perform out-of-band management, deploy images, and push security updates to devices anywhere. 

 

The Space, Power, and Security Trifecta 

The combination of HP’s compact engineering and AMD’s processor technology directly solves the three core challenges of modern IT provisioning: 

  • Space-Saving Flexibility: The small footprint of devices like the Z2 Mini frees up desk space, enabling cleaner, more flexible hot-desking and home office setups. 
  • Workstation-Class Power: Users can run professional applications for CAD, design, and data science without the performance throttling often found in non-specialised hardware, backed by ISV certifications for stability. 
  • Robust Security & Manageability: IT teams get devices with built-in, hardware-level security and the fleet management tools they can depend on to secure and maintain a distributed workforce. 

 

Why XMA? 

Choosing the right hardware is only the first step. XMA is the partner that helps organisations successfully integrate these solutions. We provide the practical services required to move from procurement to productivity. Our teams can assist with choosing and configuring the precise specifications your users need. We offer flexible leasing and finance options to make technology acquisition more predictable, alongside deployment support to get your new workstations imaged, asset-tagged, and delivered to users, wherever they are. We also manage the sustainable and secure disposal of your legacy equipment. 

Discover how HP compact workstations can equip your hybrid teams. Contact an XMA specialist today. 

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Cutting Through the Red Tape: Your Simple Guide to TePAS 2 & LINK4

Let’s be honest, keeping up with technology in the public sector can be a minefield. You’re under constant pressure to upgrade, stay secure, and make every penny count. Whether you’re in healthcare, education, or local government, the demand for smarter, faster, and more reliable IT is relentless. 

That’s before we even start talking about procurement. Just when you know what you need, you hit the wall of frameworks, lots, and sector-specific rules. It’s enough to make anyone’s head spin. 

That’s where we, XMA, come in. We’re here to make it straightforward. We’ll help you use TePAS 2 and LINK4 to get the tech you need, without the usual headaches. 

 

TePAS 2: Your Go-To for Public Sector Tech 

Think of the Technology Products & Associated Services 2 (TePAS 2) framework (RM6098) from the Crown Commercial Service as a pre-approved catalogue for pretty much all your IT needs. 

Working with XMA on TePAS 2 means you can easily get your hands on: 

  • All the gear: From laptops for your team to the complex systems running in the background. 
  • The right software: Covering everything from security to everyday productivity tools, all properly licensed. 
  • Expert help: Need someone to manage your devices, support your users, or guide a big IT project? We’ve got you. 
  • Greener choices: We’ll help you find IT solutions that meet your environmental and social goals. 

The beauty of TePAS 2 is that it’s built to be flexible. It doesn’t matter if you’re outfitting a new school, modernising council services, or future-proofing a hospital’s IT – it’s designed to fit. 

And with XMA’s know-how, you won’t just buy stuff faster. You’ll make smarter choices that deliver real value for years to come. 

 

LINK4: Sharpening the Focus for Healthcare (and Beyond) 

While TePAS 2 covers a lot of ground, LINK4 (SBS10514 / NOE.0633) is laser-focused on the specific demands of healthcare and clinical environments. But don’t let that fool you – it’s still a great option for the wider public sector when the fit is right. 

LINK4 makes it simpler to buy: 

  • Specialist healthcare IT: The kind of hardware and equipment designed for patient care. 
  • Tailored support: Services that understand the unique pressures of clinical settings. 
  • Essential tech add-ons: All those peripherals and bits of kit that are vital for delivering healthcare. 

So, whether you’re upgrading devices for frontline hospital staff or improving how a local authority health team handles sensitive data, LINK4, endorsed by NHS Supply Chain, is a trusted route. 

And with XMA by your side, we’ll make sure you’re using the right framework for the right job, every time. 

 

Why Bother with Frameworks Anyway? 

Frameworks like TePAS 2 and LINK4 make life easier by: 

  • Keeping you compliant: They’re built around public procurement rules, so you don’t have to worry. 
  • Getting you better value: Competitive pricing and vetted suppliers are part of the deal. 
  • Saving you time: Less paperwork and faster processes mean your team can focus on what really matters. 
  • Opening doors to innovation: You get access to the latest tech from trusted suppliers like us. 

 

The XMA Difference: We Make Complex, Simple. 

At XMA, we don’t just want to sell you technology. We want to help you use it to make a real difference in the public sector. We’re about partnering with you to achieve results that are secure, sustainable, and ready for whatever comes next. 

Navigating TePAS 2 and LINK4 doesn’t have to be a nightmare. With XMA, it’s a clear path to getting things done. 

Ready to connect, secure, and simplify your tech journey? Let’s talk. 

Start a conversation with us at enquiries@xma.co.uk or visit our frameworks page to learn more. 

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Your AI Strategy, Simplified: Practical Guidance from XMA

Artificial Intelligence. It’s a term that dominates headlines and boardroom discussions. Yet, for many organisations, a fog of complexity and uncertainty surrounds AI, making it difficult to see a clear path forward. This challenge is compounded by existing business pressures. Organisations are grappling with a 3x increase in cyberattacks between 2023 and 2024 and losing three weeks of productivity per year for every 39% of employees seeking IT support. It is no surprise, then, that 39% of organisations also struggle to identify clear use cases for AI amidst these immediate demands.

At XMA, we understand this. Our role is to demystify AI for our customers. We believe the utility of artificial intelligence shouldn’t be obscured by technical jargon, but should be a strategic tool that is accessible and aligned with your specific business objectives.

 

Moving Beyond the Hype: A Focus on Business Outcomes

The journey into AI doesn’t need to be a leap into the unknown. We see AI as a spectrum of opportunities, from improving data analytics and automating processes to redefining customer experiences and creating new business models. The key is to first identify where AI can deliver the most significant impact and value for your specific organisation.

Our approach is built on understanding your strategic priorities and then mapping AI capabilities to those goals. We help you cut through the noise, focusing on practical applications that drive measurable value, whether that’s using AI to increase productivity, gain deeper insights from your data, or create more efficient services.

 

Answering the Key Questions for Leadership

Many leaders we speak to are working through the same fundamental questions about AI adoption. Our process is designed to provide clear, direct answers.

  • How do we separate realistic AI applications from fleeting trends? We focus on your operational data and strategic goals to identify high-value, achievable projects, not speculative technology trends. This ensures resources are directed at applications with a clear business case.
  • What are the practical first steps to integrating AI into our existing infrastructure? We begin with an assessment of your current infrastructure to establish AI readiness. This allows us to create a phased, practical roadmap for integration that minimises disruption and aligns with your existing technology stack.

  • How can we ensure AI adoption is secure, ethical, and delivers a tangible return on investment (ROI)? Our framework incorporates governance and security from day one. We build ROI models based on defined outcomes, such as cost reduction or productivity gains, ensuring every AI initiative is accountable and its value is demonstrable.

  • What skills and cultural shifts are necessary to use AI effectively? Successful AI adoption is as much about people and processes as it is about platforms. We provide guidance on developing a data-driven culture and upskilling your teams, ensuring your organisation is prepared to operate the technology it adopts.

Your Next Step: A Clear Path to AI Clarity

The potential of AI is significant, but realising it requires a clear vision and a credible partner. It’s time to move beyond the buzzwords and start building a practical AI strategy that delivers tangible benefits to your organisation.

Ready to gain a clear perspective on how AI can benefit your business? We invite you to book an Executive Briefing on Demystifying AI. This tailored session is designed for senior leaders to discuss specific challenges, explore relevant AI opportunities, and understand how XMA can work with you to navigate the AI landscape with confidence.

Book your Executive Briefing today and start your journey to AI clarity.

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