Which London-based firm has become only the 35th Azure Expert MSP?

UK partner joins Microsoft's elite public cloud league

Managed service provider (MSP) Claranet has become the 35th Azure Expert MSP in the world.

The London-based firm joins an elite collection of partners around the world including New Signature, Cloudreach and Comparex, according to Microsoft's website.

Frédéric Atlan, group business and partner development manager at Claranet, said: "We now operate specifically on Azure using the best of the platform, including all advanced services, and this is an opportunity to collaborate with Microsoft further by bringing all our cloud-based tools into compliance with their platform.

"When delivering critical services, just having technical expertise is not enough, so it is vital that all associated processes and workflows are mastered to give the most effective support to customers.

"In order for these transformations to be successful, organisations need to be supported and guided by partners with proven knowledge and experience of the cloud. The Azure public cloud, for example, has its own unique features and at Claranet we have known for a long time that following traditional methods are no longer suitable for this type of service."

Microsoft launched the Azure Expert MSP programme just before its Inspire conference, held in Las Vegas earlier this year.

It claimed that partners have to go through a "rigorous" application process before being awarded the accreditation.

A list of Azure Expert MSPs can be found here.

Gavriella Schuster, corporate VP of Microsoft's partner business, said: "We are delighted to name Claranet as an Azure Expert MSP.

"Claranet has extensive experience in supporting its customers in the cloud by embracing a methodical and innovative approach, meaning they are fully deserving of this new status."