As a newly accredited Microsoft Azure Systems Integrator (SI) partner, we're proud to have recently expanded our team even further with a dedicated Azure cloud professional services team. In addition to our great news, Microsoft has simplified and reduced its pricing across all Azure agreements and we think there are some really great benefits organisations can take advantage of. 

What is Azure?

Microsoft Azure is a growing suite of cloud and infrastructure services that save time and money, by giving them the tools, pre-built templates and managed services for easily building, deploying and managing apps. It supports an extensive selection of operating systems, and its pay-as-you-go services ensure organisations only pay for what they use.

Best of all, Azure lets organisations use the skills and technologies they already possess, by integrating with existing IT environments and datacentres. Even so, like many things in life, there can be a knack to getting the most out of it.

Getting the Most from Azure

Our SI accreditation makes it easier than ever to get up and running with Azure. Our dedicated team of technical consultants and architects can now take organisations from initial idea, through design, then implementation, and on to ongoing technical support.

No matter where an organisation has acquired its licensing, Softcat can now be allocated as its Digital Partner of Record (DPOR): recognised by Microsoft as the SI qualified to build, manage, and deploy Azure services, and provide key support and lifecycle services for cloud subscriptions. We can also, on request, access an organisation's usage and consumption data, and advise on best practise for achieving the desired business results from Azure.

Softcat can now also advise Azure Enterprise Customers on how to use StorSimple – a popular hybrid cloud storage solution – to manage data growth, lower storage costs, increase business agility, and simplify data protection and disaster recovery. We can even deploy the solution on site, so organistions can start increasing performance and saving money as soon as possible.

Get Started

Using Softcat for Azure services puts organisations in safe hands. As well as our new Cloud Technical Services team, we have a large and specialist Microsoft licensing team who will ensure all cloud licensing requirements are addressed smoothly. We are already one of the UK's top three partners for Azure: a Gold Cloud Platform Partner with the highest level of Azure accreditation, and 100% satisfaction on our Microsoft Customer Feedback Survey.

New Enterprise Agreement (EA) or Microsoft Products and Services Agreement (MPSA) customers could be eligible for an Azure free starter configuration package, just speak to your Softcat account manager for more information. 

Great news for EA customers

Organisations could be entitled to Microsoft's EA commit offering, potentially providing the first 3 months of their agreement free of charge*. The benefits are numerous and include: 

• Save up to 38% against RRP on storage
• Pre-pay vs pay as you go: There's a great pre-compute option, saving organisations up to 60% compared with paying hourly
• Software Assurance licence mobility: Giving organisations the flexibility to deploy licences on-premises or in the cloud
• Access to the Azure EA portal including comprehensive management and reporting capabilities, a great resource if there's more than one account to manage
• Price protection: Azure prices are protected during the term
• Access to funding for offsetting the cost of deploying Azure**
• Free support upgrade: 12 months of boosted support

The pricing structure has become completely transparent so it's easier for us to determine the most appropriate plan for each of our customers.

*Based on minimum annual commitment. Speak to your Softcat account manager to see if you qualify 
**Subject to application and size of Azure EA commit

Find out more

For more information on how to get started with Microsoft Azure, or how to take advantage of the EA offers, contact your Softcat account manager or get in touch using the form below.