Engaging Digital Locksmiths

Impartial advisors: For clients, engaging with third party projects that involve aspects of smartcards or security with which they are unfamiliar, we frequently act as the customer's friend. In this role we review requirements and provide considered responses and generally assist the client in preparing their proposals for projects. We offer this service at our consulting rate.

Project analysis: This is our preferred method of initial engagement on design and development projects. In this phase we analyse your requirements, propose appropriate solutions and estimate resources and time lines. During this stage we can consider any, or all, aspects of the proposed project; target components, development tools, application designs, etc; all with a view to enabling the client pick the most cost effective solution. The client receives a considered report describing the requirements of their task. The final report is the property of the client and may be used to solicit tenders for implementation from third parties. Such work is carried out as a consulting project and will be discounted to development rates if the client chooses the Digital Locksmiths to implement the proposal.

Application Design or Review: The Digital Locksmiths can prepare detailed design documentation applicable to their chosen development. We can design high level protocols and system architectures; leaving the details for the client's programmers to implement. Or we can design right down the functional subroutine level, prescribing individual operations with a view to extracting the optimal performance with respect to speed or security at key stages of the processing. Design projects are, by their very nature, prolonged engagements and are performed at a discounted consultation rate.

Implementation: For implementation we ask that the client provides the development tools, on loan, for the duration of the project. In return we develop and test the application and deliver it to the client in demonstrable form on the tools supplied. We operate two rates for development; i) one where the client becomes the sole owner of the developed code and is free to re-use and resell the resulting code. And ii) a discounted rate where Digital Locksmiths retains the rights to further develop the code and reuse it in future projects.