First ANZ company deploys Dell EMC Cloud for Microsoft Azure Stack

Microsoft Azure Stack is known as a hybrid cloud platform that allows organizations to deliver Azure services from their data center.

The goal of the platform is to break down the barriers between public cloud, private cloud and hosted cloud to deliver a consistent experience.

As Microsoft Australia's cloud and enterprise lead, Brett Shoemaker, puts it, "Microsoft Azure Stack brings the agility and fast-paced innovation of cloud computing to on-premises environments.

And, in a partnership with Dell EMC, Dell EMC Cloud for Microsoft Azure Stack has picked up its first MSP in the ANZ (Australia and New Zealand) region.

Melbourne and Brisbane-based IT services provider, GPK Group is the first ANZ company to deploy Dell EMC Cloud for Microsoft Azure Stack. The company is also one of the first for the wider APJ (Asia Pacific Japan) region as well.

The platform, which is fully supported by Dell EMC, was delivered as a turn-key solution and was in operation within 5 days.

GPK Group selected Dell EMC Cloud for Microsoft Azure Stack to underpin its hybrid cloud services, allowing the company to extend its hybrid cloud offering to its managed service customers.

GPK Group's CEO, Grant Klaaysen, comments on the deployment: "As part of our ongoing strategy to address digital change, we identified our customers need the flexibility of choice between public, private and hybrid cloud deployments.

"More importantly, they want suppliers that not only understand the technical detail but also the benefits that cloud technology brings to their whole business.

Shoemaker says,"Organisations with Azure investments can now extend these capabilities and user-experience to unlock new possibilities in their hybrid cloud strategy.

"We've been greatly looking forward to bringing this solution to Australia and New Zealand, and are excited to see GPK Group deploy the first Azure Stack in market.

Andrew Foot, general manager, Australia and New Zealand, Dell EMC converged platforms and solutions division, adds "Australian and New Zealand organisations have eagerly awaited a solution that allows them to get a simple, consistent user-experience from their hybrid cloud.

"This platform gives GPK Group access to unmatched levels of integration, automation, and manageability, allowing them to increase IT efficiency and simply move workloads on and off premises as desired.

Klaaysen concludes, "GPK Group and our customers need efficiency, flexibility, and scalability to reduce costs to serve whilst also providing opportunities to create new sources of revenue quickly and simply. This initiative creates this possibility."