Microsoft launches Azure Cloud region in Canberra

Microsoft has launched Azure Australia Central, two new Azure cloud regions located within secure cloud facilities provided by partner Canberra Data Centres.

The new regions in Canberra are designed to support the mission-critical demands of government and critical infrastructure providers. They join and will be integrated with Microsoft’s existing Azure regions in Sydney and Melbourne.

Microsoft will use its Canberra Azure regions to provide cloud services for government agencies up to the protected classification level.

The company was recently awarded certification for protected data from the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD), and last year received ASD certification to handle unclassified data.

“Microsoft has been leading the way on government security certification since we first opened in 2014.

“We have completed extensive security assessments for both Unclassified and Protected data and have over 50 services across Microsoft Azure and Office 365 that have completed the formal Certification process of the Australian Signals Directorate at Unclassified (DLM) level,” Microsoft Australia Azure engineering lead James Kavanagh said.

Rival AWS recently completed assessment through the IRAP program, paving the way for it to provide protected-level cloud services of its own.

The new Azure regions will offer a range of features including infrastructure virtualisation, data management, security management and application services as a platform. Customers will be able to deploy their own applications and infrastructure within Canberra Data Centres alongside Azure.

Image courtesy Microsoft.

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