Two new regions of Microsoft's Azure cloud will open in Canberra on Tuesday, with the multinational company targeting mission critical infrastructure for government as a new business avenue.
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The two highly secure data centres are within Canberra Data Centres, which already houses the cloud services for more than 40 government agencies and departments, along with the ACT government.
Microsoft is launching the cloud regions in partnership with 47 software and development companies, meaning government departments using the service will also have access to what they offer.
Last month the government's Digital Transformation Agency published its secure cloud strategy, which said moving to cloud computing "can generate a faster pace of delivery, continuous improvement cycles and broad access to services".
The company has been making a concerted push for more government business, announcing last week that it would offer subsidised training in its Azure technology to 5000 public servants over the next two years.
Microsoft Azure engineering lead James Kavanagh said government departments using the software would be able to simplify their work make better decisions, while accessing secure storage at speed.
"It's not just about the technology platform, it's not just about us bringing a cloud to Canberra, it's about the possibilities of working with CDC as a partner, the possibilities of all of these 45 partners who are right now delivering services into government and how as an eco-system together we are going to serve that market and drive a big step change," he said.
Canberra Data Centres and Microsoft's regions within the facility are built to the specifications needed to hold top-secret data. Microsoft is currently certified by the Australian Signals Directorate to hold unclassified data and has applied for certification to hold protected data. They have been waiting for more than a year to find out if they are certified, but Mr Kavanagh doesn't see that as a barrier to the company doing business with government.
"The DTA's secure cloud strategy that was published last month was pretty explicit in saying agencies should not wait for the ASD certification, the rules of government, the rules of security do not require an agency to wait for ASD certification. They're able to do that themselves, and make that risk management," he said.
Answering concerns about the security of government data held by the multinational company, Mr Kavanagh said the company had taken many measures to ensure security.
"For us the security of our customers data is absolutely critical. Our license to operate is based on trust from a customer perspective. We invest in security foundations, compliance, we make investments and innovations in order to globally prove that we can be trusted."
Canberra Data Centres chief executive Greg Boorer said government agencies could be assured of the security measures at the site, and the transparency that comes from the partnership between Microsoft and the local Australian-owned business.
"If government chooses, that data will never leave those four walls," Mr Boorer said.
