MaaS Cloud Solutions from Projetech

Technical FAQ

MaaS Features Questions

  1. What is Maximo as a Service?
    Maximo as a Service or “MaaS” is a solution offered by Projetech via an annual subscription that provides customers with a secure, dedicated Maximo application via the Internet or “cloud” concept. Projetech provides the Maximo system administration and Help Desk support to MaaS customers as part of this solution.   
     
  2. What features or services are included with MaaS out-of-the-box?
    Projetech will provide client with a stable instance of Maximo as a Service (MaaS) with the standard, core Maximo functionality, without modifications, customizations, or external interfaces.


    MaaS – Professional Subscription

    System Setup and Configuration
    Provide one secure, dedicated and confidential production database configuration.
    • Set up users and security groups.
    • When applicable, work with the client management to design the high-level location and equipment hierarchies and code structure.
    • Configure the Maximo options to fit the requirements of this implementation, such as: 
      • Systems
      • Data field sizes and configuration
      • Work order, inventory, purchasing, and security options
      • Domains (value lists)
      • Work order numbering scheme
      • Design and configuration of work order print-out


    System Operation Deliverables

    Client’s Maximo environment will include the following Core Maximo Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) applications. Some of the core applications include: Assets, Contracts, Inventory, Planning, Preventive Maintenance, Purchasing, and Work Orders.

    Client will be provided with Maximo System Administration access to portions of the following Maximo applications will be restricted: Administration, System Configuration, and Integration.

    Maximo Reports: Standard Maximo reports, one custom work order form with company name/logo.

    System Administration functions, including: Maintenance of User Group privileges, Maintenance of users assigned to each User Group, Maintenance of Domain values.

    Attaching Documents:

    • Up to 10 GB of space for Attaching Documents.
    • Additional space may be added at an incremental charge.

    Quarterly status reports for review of goals and performance
    Backup of Data includes: Management of archive and data integrity process, including incremental and full backups, offsite database backup security.

    Support

    • Help Desk Telephone (800 number) website, and e-mail support
    • Notification of planned downtime
    • Tracking of software revisions and upgrades

    NOTE: If Client is providing Maximo licenses, Software Subscription & Support with IBM must be current in order to be entitled to product upgrades or updates

MaaS Premier Features and Services

In addition to the services available with the Professional edition, clients who subscribe to Premier MaaS will receive the following services and benefits:

  • One additional Maximo instance which client may use as test, development or a training environment.
  • 20% Discount on List Price for Dedicated Instructor Led Training classes:
    • At Client site
    • At Projetech
    • Instructor Led Online (ILO)
  • Free subscription for each named Maximo user to Projetech's Self-Paced On-line Maximo training Library.

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Security in MaaS Environment

  1. What do you have in place for redundancy and backups for the hosted Maximo?   The MaaS hosting datacenters have fully redundant power and cooling, internet backbone, and hardware. Regular tests of the infrastructure are conducted to ensure that it will perform in the event of an emergency. Our Cloud infrastructure allows hardware failover and maintenance to occur with no interruption to the application.  Databases are backed up hourly and maintained onsite with copies rotated offsite daily.

     
  2. What are the provisions for disaster recovery?
    The MaaS backup strategy includes nightly offsite disaster recovery copies in addition to the routine backups. Because the MaaS environments are virtualized and hosted in multiple datacenters, copies of production instances can be enabled in alternate locations quickly upon the loss or disruption of a datacenter.

  3.  How secure is the hosted Maximo?
    The Projetech MaaS environments utilize the latest security technology, including military-grade pass card access, biometric finger scan units, and 24x7x365 onsite security teams protecting the datacenter.   Our datacenters are SAS 70 Type II and CICA 5970 certified.   The MaaS configuration uses SSL protocol that ensures that the data is secure as it is transmitted across the internet.

  4. Can we use a single sign on?
    Yes, single sign-on (LDAP) functionality using the client's Active Directory is configurable with MaaS, using a site-to-site VPN connection to ensure that the LDAP communications are secure.

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Projetech Support Service Levels

  1.  Is support available 24x7?
    Projetech is committed to resolving issues quickly and with minimal impact to Client operations.  In order to ensure total focus on the issue resolution process, Projetech provides an escalation procedure.  This procedure is based on issue resolution, not simply start of action.  If the issue is not resolved within the time period indicated additional resources will be assigned as appropriate.

Level

Description of Level

Examples

Service Hours

Initial Response Time

Escalation

Urgent

Critical site-wide issues

Site-wide connectivity or printing issues

24 X 7

Less than 2 hours

To Director of Client Support after 4 hrs.

High

Affects production or daily use of Maximo

Client needs password changed or critical error message

8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. ET

Monday through Friday

Less than 1 business day (Mon. through Fri., exclusive of holidays)

To Director of Client Support after 24 hrs.

Low

User application support

Client has a "How do I…" question or needs new user added.

8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. ET

Monday through Friday

Less than 1 business day (Mon. through Fri., exclusive of holidays)

To Director of Client Support after 72 hrs.

Enhancement or Customization

Requested enhancement or customization

Requests for report development or modification

8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. ET

Monday through Friday

Less than 1 business day (Mon. through Fri., exclusive of holidays)

Prioritized on case-by-case basis

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MaaS – General FAQ’s

  1. Can my existing data migrate to MaaS?
    Projetech has years of experience migrating clients data into Maximo, be it from another Maximo version or any other data source.

  2. Can I use my report development tool of choice?
    Maximo’s integrated reporting solution is BIRT. Cognos reporting software and Crystal Reports (BusinessObjects XI) are integration options for Maximo v 7. Integrated reporting means that a user can access the report from within a Maximo application and SQL Where Clause queries performed in the application can be passed to the integrated report.

    Other ODBC compliant 3rd party applications, such as Microsoft Excel, Access, etc. can access Maximo data outside of Maximo via an ODBC connection to the Maximo database.

  3. Will Maximo interface with my in-house applications?
    Maximo can interface with 3rd party applications that support integration. Maximo has a robust integration framework that allows development of integration code using front-end tools.

  4. Will MaaS work with Mobile solutions?
    There are many mobile options available to use with Maximo that work with smart phones, iPads, laptops and other portable devices. Projetech has implemented mobile solutions for many of our Maximo as a Service customers.

  5. Will my instance of Maximo be on the same server as others?
    No. Your instance of Maximo will be a private VM server.

  6. What databases are supported?
    Projetech uses SQL Server 2008 as the preferred database software for Maximo as a Service. Oracle is an option as well as DB2.

  7. Can I make screen modifications?
    If you are Maximo as a Service Premier client, you can make screen changes in a development sandbox that mirrors your production environment. If you wish to copy those screen changes to the production instance, Projetech will migrate your modified screens to the production environment once QA testing has been completed by Projetech.

  8. If I terminate my MaaS subscription will I get to keep my data?
    If you terminate your contract, Projetech will provide a copy of your Maximo database to you.

  9. Can Maximo send me email alerts?
    Maximo can send email alerts either using the included automation tools that monitor for certain conditions and when those conditions are met, then an email can be generated and sent to the appropriate people for notification. Users can also send emails about certain records, such as work orders, on demand.

  10. What is the Performance of MaaS like?
    Performance of MaaS is only limited by customer’s network/internet connection. Optimum network configurations for Maximo should include the ability to produce 50 ms or faster round-trip packet response between the client and the server. The system needs enough bandwidth to support 6 kbps per user. Users might begin to experience performance degradation if the network does not operate within these parameters.

  11. How soon can we be up and running?
    Projetech can install an instance of MaaS within 24 - 72 hours, typically. Set up and configuration time depends on many factors, including the amount (if any) of data that client wants migrated to Maximo, the number of applications that need to be set up for Go Live, the amount of data entry that will be required by client prior to Go Live, the availability of client stakeholders and project resources, etc.

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Timing

  1.  When can you have a consultant available to start the project?
    Projetech assigns project resources once all signed agreements and purchase information is received. Resources are assigned on a first come first serve basis.

     
  2. How soon can we be up and running?
    Projetech can install an instance of MaaS within 48 - 72 hours, typically. Set up and configuration time depends on many factors, including the amount (if any) of data that client wants migrated to Maximo, the number of applications that need to be set up for Go Live, the amount of data entry that will be required by client prior to Go Live, the availability of client stakeholders and project resources, etc.

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Pricing

  1.  How much does MaaS or MaaS Hosting cost?
    MaaS is priced by the named user. Price per user is dependent upon whether or not client is using standard Maximo, Industry Solutions or add-on applications such as mobile. Cost per user can start out as low as $55 per user depending on Maximo solutions being used, number of users, etc.

  2. How much does it cost to upgrade existing Maximo in-house installation vs. MaaS?
    A typical in-house upgrade can cost anywhere from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars depending on the configuration of the Maximo environment. Integrations can significantly add to the cost of a Maximo upgrade project.

    Projetech has provided free upgrade services for many of our MaaS customers.  Many of these customers have integrations to 3rd party applications.

     
  3. What are my potential cost savings if I subscribe to MaaS?
 

MaaS - Customers Considering Purchase of Maximo
(No Software Purchase Required)

Expenses

On Premise
New Install

MaaS

Maximo Software Initial Purchase & Support & Subscription Fee Year 1

$56,880

-

Maximo Annual Support & Subscription Fee (Years 2 - 5)

$45,504

-

Data center hardware & software (OS and DB software only)

$50,000

-

Setup and implementation / Consulting Fees

$90,000

$20,000

User Training

$25,000

$10,000

IT Maximo support personnel salaries/Consultants*

$562,500

-

MaaS Fee for 12 Users for 5 Years (Includes setup costs)**

-

$150,480

 Total Investment Over a 5 Year Period

$829,884

$180,480

 

 

 

MaaS Hosting - Customers with Existing Maximo Installation In-House
(Initial software purchase has already been made)

Ongoing Expenses

In House
Existing Install

MaaS

Data center hardware & software (OS and DB software only)

$40,000

-

Consulting Fees (upgrade services or Maximo expertise)

$130,000

$20,000

User Training

$20,000

$10,000

IT Maximo support personnel salaries *

$562,500

-

MaaS Fee for 12 Users for 5 Years (Includes setup costs) **

-

$64,080

 Total Investment Over a 5 Year Period

$752,500

$94,080

  * Includes support from system administrators, database administrators, etc.

** Pricing shown is representative of a basic setup of MaaS. Additional features, such as mobile apps, are provided at additional costs.

 

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