Macquarie Cloud Services, part of Macquarie Telecom Group, has become the first provider in Australia to offer a self-service Azure optimisation portal.

This allows organisations using Azure to gain new insights into IT environments, specifically around cost, compliance, governance and security, the company states.

The Macquarie Lens portal has been launched after eight months of development and gives customers secure access to the VMware CloudHealth platform via a free self-service option. This brings faster reporting capabilities and cost reductions.

Insights compiled by Macquarie Cloud Services found that it provides customers with average cost savings of 26%.

Macquarie Lens insights are gathered, analysed and presented back to customers after four weeks by one of Macquarie's Azure Principal Consultants.

The self-service portal allows customers to select the Azure subscriptions for review. The automated service requires read-only rights, alleviating privacy concerns and removing any impact on IT environments.

Macquarie's head of Azure Naran McClung says, “The service is further proof of Macquarie's commitment to maximising the customer experience in a market that is underserved and overcharged.

"It also speaks to the real needs he sees IT leaders and teams facing across Australia when dealing with increasing compliance and security requirements.

“It's not enough to simply optimise for cost. The Azure platform is the leader when it comes to compliance, so it was only natural to lead the way in this domain in line with the demand we're seeing.

McClung says, “We've worked closely with our customers and VMware to develop this service and provide the critical insights needed to inform transformation.

"It's one of a number of new services we'll be launching in the near future, as our Azure business goes from strength to strength.

VMware Australia and New Zealand director partner business Olga Specjalska says, “As customers transform their businesses to digital, they're leveraging cloud as a platform for innovation, as well as to operate their entire environment with optimal cost, security and governance.

“With partners like Macquarie Cloud Services, we're helping customers innovate faster and drive towards their digital future with greater flexibility and less risk.

The launch of Macquarie Lens comes as public cloud spend in Australia is expected to reach $10.6 billion this year, a rise of nearly 20%.

McClung continued that the self-service portal will help customers already using Azure directly, or through another provider, to optimise their spend.

He says, “We've seen incredible opportunities to reduce unnecessary spend and focus Azure services to where they can drive greater business value.

"Optimisation is vital as cloud spend hits staggering heights and the need for IT teams to deliver an ROI rises in tandem.

McClung added that the faster reporting capabilities of Macquarie Lens will allow customers to drive internal efficiencies and free up time for their employees to focus on high-level work.

These are key considerations as skills gaps persist across a range of industries, from technology to manufacturing.

McClung says, “With digital skills gaps an ongoing reality across local sectors, organisations have an obligation to not let employees drown in work and burn out by assuming tasks outside their remit."

He says, Macquarie Lens allows business heads to free up costs as well as the time traditionally spent reporting, easing the load for employees and allowing them to funnel extra capacity into training programs and other avenues for professional development.

The launch of the Macquarie Lens portal follows Macquarie Cloud Services achieving the Microsoft Azure Expert MSP designation, as well as its invitation to become one of the first Australian Expert MSP partners in the Microsoft Intelligent Security Association (MISA) in September.