Vuzion teams up with Microsoft to help partners get to grips with Azure

Cloud aggregator claims it will help partners understand 'complexities' of Azure software

Cobweb's cloud aggregator brand Vuzion claims to be the first Microsoft two-tier Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) in the UK to offer resellers automated delivery and billing of Microsoft Azure.

Vuzion will build cloud solutions using a combination of Azure, third-party solutions and its own cloud services with the new partnership.

Michael Frisby, managing director of Vuzion and Cobweb, claims that its services, which include a unified billing solution, are needed because of the added complexities that come from Azure's 2,800 components which are each billed by the hour.

"We are able to take the complexity of Azure and its components and help partners package them up into a bundle," he said.

"We enable resellers to build end-customer solutions in their name. We package it into a simple invoice and can even organise the transfer of money from the end customer to the reseller. We want to be seen as a value-add aggregator."

Microsoft's CSP programme was launched in 2014 and allows partners to sell its cloud services alongside their own, giving them ownership of the customer relationship. The CSP programme is split into two sections: one-tier, in which partners work direct with Microsoft; and two-tier, in which resellers work through a distribution partner.

Frisby claims that Vuzion's 20 years in the industry give it the experience and expertise to understand Azure and how to package it for the customer.

"We are all about partners building their own services and improving their operating facilities," he added.

Vuzion claims now is the best time for resellers to get involved with cloud services because of the need for customers to transition from on-premise solutions to cloud solutions.

Julian Dyer, CTO at Vuzion, cites the end of life of SQL 2005 as an example, which it claims saw 10,000 customers needing to be moved to new solutions.

"There is a huge opportunity for new MSP partners at the minute," he said. "Many are stuck with legacy solutions and being able to quickly adopt services in the public cloud is a huge plus.

Vuzion is currently in the process of a recruitment drive, led by its belief that it will be much harder for resellers to sell cloud-based solutions in the future.

"As customers move to the cloud, these services stay evergreen. Resellers need to work out how to make money from cloud solutions when there is nothing to replace every few years," Frisby explained.

"There is an element of complacency; some of the resellers are looking to wait and see what happens with cloud adoption, but the recent upswell has shown that the market has moved forward in a way that is unstoppable. We want to encourage forward-thinking resellers into the cloud."