NEXTDC has announced a new Microsoft ExpressRoute site at their SI Sydney data center.

Through this, the data-centre-as-a-service provider will offer Sydney customers an enhanced experience when connecting to their Microsoft Azure services.

This is NEXTDC's third ExpressRoute location nationwide and will provide Sydney customers with direct access to Azure.

NEXTDC has built cloud connected and enabled data center footprints in the country providing customers with more choice and support when building hybrid architectures that are built to scale.

NEXTDC chief customer officer and executive vice president of technology David Dzienciol says, “Our vision is to empower our customers to harness the full power of the digital age and the introduction of this direct hosting location is an important investment for Microsoft Azure customers.

"It emphasises our dedication to building a national network of the most cloud connected, and cloud enabled data centers that deliver superior cloud connectivity services to our partners and customers.

Microsoft Azure ExpressRoute is accessed via NEXTDC's connectivity platform, AXON, that offers private and dedicated connectivity to Azure.

The solution enables organisations to build and scale flexible hybrid environments, according to the company.

AXON enables high-performance virtual connections that deliver access to public cloud platforms, supports network and geographically redundant designs which are aligned to Microsoft best practise and offers on-demand inter-capital connectivity services.

Microsoft partner PM manager Azure Networking Ross Ortega says, “It is great to see NEXTDC expand Microsoft Azure ExpressRoute sites across the country.

"The addition of a second ExpressRoute site in Sydney will support our customers with direct and predictable access to their Azure cloud services. We look forward to NEXTDC's continued growth of Azure in Australia.

NEXTDC's data centers are supported by an ecosystem of more than 550 partners. As home to Australia's major carrier networks and ICT service providers, customers are empowered to source the expertise and consume the services critical to their business all from within the data center.

Dzienciol says, “This announcement will see NEXTDC offer an enhanced level of support for Microsoft Azure in the largest Australian market, providing customers with the most direct, high performance, low latency connections which will significantly improve the customer connectivity experience.