Microsoft just opened an Azure region in New Zealand. Here are some advantages of Microsoft Azure for New Zealand businesses

Microsoft has just made a new Azure region available, the first one in New Zealand. The New Zealand North region is established as an Azure Availability zone, guaranteeing separation of compute, storage, networking and power across three datacentres north of Auckland's city centre.

Boosting efficiency and productivity with Azure

Microsoft Azure provides various tools and services that significantly enhance businesses' efficiency and productivity. By utilising Azure’s cloud solutions, companies can streamline operations, automate routine tasks and integrate various business processes into one cohesive system.

With Azure providing VPN and ExpressRoute services via the Auckland Point of Presence, New Zealand companies can easily extend their network onto the Azure platform.

Azure’s suite of applications and services allows for seamless collaboration among team members, regardless of their location. This benefits businesses with remote or hybrid working environments, ensuring everyone stays connected and productive.

Cost-effective solutions for small and medium Enterprises

For small and medium enterprises (SMEs), managing costs is crucial. Microsoft Azure offers flexible pricing models that allow businesses to pay only for the resources they use, making it a cost-effective tool.

This eliminates the need for initial investments in IT infrastructure, which can be a significant financial burden for smaller companies.

Microsoft Azure provides methods to realise further savings through the commitment of compute across 1- and 3-year terms across various compute and storage services, with options to pay upfront or monthly over the term.

This financial flexibility is vital for SMEs looking to maximise their budgets and invest in other growth areas. Many customers now schedule their non-production environments to be turned off outside of working hours, providing considerable savings for the business.

Enhancing data security and compliance

Data security is a top priority for any business. Azure’s robust security framework safeguards sensitive data with multi-factor authentication, advanced threat protection and encryption features. Customers with existing Microsoft 365 licensing can leverage the security capabilities into the Azure platform without additional cost.

Azure complies with various international and industry-specific standards, ensuring businesses meet regulatory requirements. New Zealand companies have peace of mind, knowing that their data is protected and stored locally. You can read more on this page: New Zealand Government Information Security and Privacy Considerations. 

Scalable resources to support business growth

With Azure, businesses can easily adjust their resource usage based on demand, ensuring they are not overpaying for unused capacity.

As businesses grow, their IT needs evolve, and Azure provides the flexibility to scale resources up or down as required. This ensures that companies can efficiently handle periods of high demand without experiencing performance issues. These can be deployed across the Azure availability zones, providing 99.99% SLAs for your solutions.

Thanks to Azure’s global network of data centres, businesses can quickly expand their operations to new regions, access new markets and serve customers worldwide without significant logistical challenges.

Leveraging Azure’s advanced analytics and AI

Advanced analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities can transform businesses' operations.

By leveraging Azure’s powerful data analytics tools, companies can gain valuable insights into customer behaviour, market trends and operational efficiencies.

AI services like CoPilot, private instances of OpenAI and AI Studio enable businesses to automate complex tasks, improve decision-making processes and create personalised customer experiences.

These technologies can support your innovation and growth strategy, allowing you to create valuable new services and products quickly.