Microsoft has selected data center provider Revera to offer communication and collaboration offerings via the cloud to governments and enterprises.

The Wellington-based company will become the first local provider, spearheading a cloud solution for customers through their hybrid cloud service Homeland Collaboration.

Founded in 2002, Revera says the software provides customers with the ability to meet their productivity service needs through a combination of private cloud and Microsoft’s public cloud solutions.

"Revera’s Homeland Collaboration services will bring a hybrid capability to New Zealand that is integral to Microsoft’s cloud strategy,” said Paul Muckleston, Microsoft New Zealand’s Managing Director.

"As part of a global initiative to provide in-country communications and collaboration services, we evaluated our local market and partner eco-system which resulted in Microsoft selecting Revera to work in conjunction with our global consulting services organisation as the first such partner for the New Zealand market.

"Revera has been a strong Microsoft partner for many years and was an early adopter of Microsoft System Center and Windows Server with Hyper-V. They have the right experience and skills and their Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) capability is mature and proven.”

Microsoft’s decision follows a visit Down Under to discuss ICT strategies and challenges with New Zealand government agencies.

"New Zealand enterprises will benefit from Revera’s Homeland Collaboration offering that’s designed to provide customers the flexibility to choose a Microsoft-based cloud solution that meets their own specialised productivity needs, whether in a private, public or hybrid cloud environment,” said Laura Ipsen, Microsoft’s corporate vice president.

While the three-year deal with Microsoft is not exclusive, Revera general manager Robin Cockayne says the Homeland™ Collaboration would initially be hosted at its data centers in North Auckland and Upper Hutt.