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Getting AI Ready

Adopting AI can seem complex, but it doesn’t have to be. The secret to successfully implementing AI is putting the right foundations in place.

Find out how

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Cloud Direct will enters its tenth year as an approved G-Cloud provider in 2025, having today been approved for the new G-Cloud 14 framework.

The framework – which was established by the Crown Commercial Service to provide a digital marketplace for public sector organisations and agencies to find approved technical partners – was first created in 2012, with Cloud Direct first achieving its status three years later.

G-Cloud 14 goes live on 9 November 2024 and marks the ninth framework that Cloud Direct has been approved for, having grown its capabilities and service offerings since first featuring on G-Cloud 6.

Cloud Direct, which is listed on the framework under its legal name On Direct Business Services Limited, now has 11 approved products and services across the Cloud Hosting and Cloud Support lots.

Cloud Hosting (Lot 1)

  • Microsoft Cloud Service Provider for Azure and Microsoft 365

Cloud Support (Lot 3)

  • Azure Planning and Migration
  • Azure Managed Service
  • Application Modernisation
  • DevOps
  • Security Planning and Migration
  • Securing Managed Service
  • Modern Work Planning and Migration
  • Modern Work Managed Service
  • Data and AI Planning and Migration
  • Data Managed Service

Cloud Direct’s G-Cloud 14 approval is the latest renewal of one of the business’ long-standing accreditations, having recently been named as an Azure Expert Managed Service Provider for the eighth consecutive year, alongside its other Microsoft Solution Designations and Specialisations.

Brett Raynes, Cloud Direct’s Founder and CEO, said:

“Our mission is to help ambitious organisations grow better, and the renewal of our G-Cloud status ensures we can continue delivering on that promise for public sector organisations. The addition of our Data and AI services to the framework will allow us to do what we have helped so many businesses do and unlock the full potential of their data, transforming the services that government organisations deliver for their teams, their customers, and the public.

“Entering our 10th year as an approved G-Cloud partner is testament to the quality of the services and support that our teams have delivered, and will continue to deliver, for our customers.”

About Crown Commercial Service

Crown Commercial Service supports the public sector to achieve maximum commercial value when procuring common goods and services. In 2022/23, CCS helped the public sector to achieve commercial benefits equal to £3.8 billion – supporting world-class public services that offer best value for taxpayers.

 

To find out more about how Cloud Direct has helped public sector organisations transform their ways of working, take a look at our Kent County Council case study.

 

In the blink of an eye, a few months passed and we were heading back to the Gherkin to hold our second breakfast briefing of the year. Hosting an exclusive group of security and technology leaders from the financial services sector, with the London skyline as a backdrop, we delved into critical discussions about managing operational resilience in today’s fast-evolving financial landscape.

To guide the conversation, we were joined by James Hardy, former Chief Resiliency Officer at State Street Corporation, and Microsoft’s Yasser Toson. They provided invaluable insights into the cutting-edge technologies Microsoft uses to ensure near-perfect resiliency SLA rates of 99.998%.

Key highlights

Henry Bird led the session, introducing the agenda and highlighting the strategic partnership between Cloud Direct and Microsoft. Over the past two decades, Cloud Direct has grown ever closer to Microsoft, and now rank in the top 0.5% globally. This status brings tangible benefits to our clients, including enhanced access to advanced Microsoft support, funding, and in-depth solution assessments – which Henry provided a whistle-stop tour of before the main event.

James Hardy, former Chief Resiliency Officer and State Street

Following Henry’s introduction, James Hardy highlighted the importance of understanding the interconnected risks within the financial markets – particularly in an increasingly complex, technology-driven world. He emphasised the need for organisations to not only implement technical solutions, but to align them with a resilient mindset and culture.

“It’s forcing organisations to better understand the environment which they operate in, particularly as the technology world we’re in is exponentially networked and complicated and so humans are truly not able to understand the inter connectivity,” he said. “No one understood the interconnectivity of the financial markets in 2007 to 2008, and we are treading back towards concentrated risks that aren’t known.”

This, ultimately, raised the question: How are technology providers like Microsoft ensuring the safety and resilience of their customers in this complex landscape?

A perfect segue…

Yasser Toson, Azure Core Specialist at Microsoft

Finally, Yasser Toson, Microsoft’s Azure Core Specialist, addressed the challenges mentioned by James by highlighting Azure’s robust infrastructure for fault tolerance and disaster recovery.

He introduced the Azure Business Continuity Centre, a new tool designed to streamline continuity operations and ensure the highest level of operational resilience, and Azure Chaos Studio, a platform enabling businesses to simulate real-world failures and stress-test their systems to prepare for the unexpected. With these innovations, Microsoft continues to lead the way in safeguarding the future of financial services, and Yasser’s comprehensive tour of the platforms was well received by those in attendance.

What we learned

We always come away feeling excited and inspired when we have the chance to sit down, face to face, with a group of prospects and customers and explore the challenges they’re facing. In just a couple of hours, both James and Yasser covered plenty of ground and gave us and attendees plenty to think about.

But, in summary, there were three key lessons…

Learning from the past

In James’ talk, he took us through a couple of examples of previous resiliency failures, how they were handled, and the consequences they had. In exploring how Maersk, the world’s biggest shipping company, dealt with the disruption of a major outage across almost its entire cloud environment, and how ION Group coped with a wide-ranging ransomware attack, James provided grounding and context to the rest of his talk by demonstrating the real-world impact of managing, or mismanaging, operational resilience.

Preparation is key

Each attack is different, every outage has its own unique cause… but that doesn’t mean preparation is impossible. As well as learning from the previous real-world examples, Yasser’s introduction of Azure Chaos Studio also showed attendees how they can run realistic tests within their own environments. By quite literally introducing chaos into your own test environment, your team will have the opportunity to assess its handling of a breach, from reactive policy enforcements to data recovery times, and learn from realistic but simulated scenario.

Constant evolution requires constant learning

Business continuity plans and disaster recovery objectives have been around for long time, but they can often be mistaken for tick-box exercises. As threats evolve, so too must the way our teams react to them – and that requires instilling a culture of constant and constant learning. It’s down to technology leaders to build that environment, and in doing so create a team that is knowledgeable, responsive, and innovative – and we’re here to help with that.

 

If you missed out, there’s no need to worry. We’re sorry that we can’t put breakfast on, but the event is available to watch on-demand on The Learning Hub.

Unlock your next cloud project with funding from Microsoft

Cloud Direct is proud to have been accredited as a Microsoft Azure Expert Managed Service Provider (MSP) for the seventh year in a row.

In 2018, the Azure Expert MSP programme was launched to recognise and identify the best that Microsoft’s 400,000-strong Partner Network has to offer. Cloud Direct was one of the first partners to be awarded the accreditation and has maintained its status ever since.

Fewer than 150 organisations across the globe are recognised as Azure Expert MSPs, 61 of which are UK-based. The audit process, which is carried out by external assessors, considers expertise from across the entire organisation to evaluate its ability to deliver Microsoft Azure managed services at scale.

After receiving confirmation of the renewal from Microsoft, Cloud Direct CEO Brett Raynes said: “To once again be recognised by Microsoft as one of its best and closest partners is a huge achievement for the whole business. It is confirmation that our service delivery remains among the best in the world, and that is what we strive for every single day. 

“It also means we can retain full confidence in knowing that we are delivering the best possible service for our customers to enable their transformation and success. We were among the first partners in the UK to receive the Azure Expert MSP accreditation, and to know we have continually met the strict assessment criteria for seven consecutive years is a huge source of pride.” 

Earning our status as an Azure Expert MSP is just one of many ways in which we ensure our close alignment to Microsoft. Our way of working reflects Microsoft’s structure, practices, and principles, to help our customers unlock the array of opportunities that the Microsoft ecosystem presents. 

What it means for our customers 

A seventh year as an Azure Expert MSP confirms that our customers continue to receive service of the highest level. Every day, we are transforming businesses in a way that is achievable, sustainable, and exciting for them. 

As an Azure Expert MSP, we will continue providing… 

Better service 

Nobody does it better. The auditing process for the Azure Expert MSP programme is incredibly strict and rigorous. If you’re working with an accredited partner, you know you’re working with the best.   

Broader offerings 

We evolve with Microsoft. As they innovate, we innovate with them. This means we help you access the latest and greatest in transformative technologies as soon as they come to market, unlocking the power of your data and helping you tap into opportunities in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and analytics. 

Closer partnerships 

We’re best friends with Microsoft. Only Azure Expert MSPs can be certain of that. We extend the benefits of that friendships onto our customers, including exclusive funding opportunities, the expertise of true market leaders, and so much more. 

 

Start your transformation journey with an Azure Expert MSP. It’s the only way to guarantee best-in-class service and delivery. Let’s talk. 

Jess Primrose, one of our Sales Development Representatives in the Bath office, has spent the past 18 months learning, developing and growing in her role at Cloud Direct. We sat down with her to ask a few questions, and give you the opportunity to get to know her a little better.

What’s your role at Cloud Direct? 

As an SDR, my day usually consists of speaking to prospects and potential customers to better understand their pain points and how we can help them. I focus mainly on the non-profit and retail sectors, working closely with our pod-aligned sellers to progress the opportunities I find. If I’m not in the office then I can be found out one of our events, where I get the opportunity to speak to prospects face to face.

What are you getting up to outside of work?

When I’m not working I’ll usually be in the gym, and I also love ice skating whenever I get the opportunity!

What brought you to Cloud Direct, and how did you get here?

I had just finished a marketing apprenticeship with a gardening business, and I knew I wanted to get into the world of tech because there is so much to learn, and so much opportunity. I recognised that Cloud Direct seemed to have a great culture amongst its employees, and the fact it wasn’t too big of a business meant that it would allow me to learn as much as I could and to progress in my role. I applied, got the role, and it’s everything I expected to find.

What’s the best part of your job?

I speak to a lot of people in the non-profit and charity sectors, and learning more about their missions and how we can help them achieve their goals is really rewarding. It’s interesting to see how they plan to use technology as an enabler for change, and that’s only getting more interesting with the introduction of AI. Charities make a huge difference in the world, and knowing that we can play a part in helping them do that is great.

What’s the best part of working at Cloud Direct?

Each year there are a few challenges amongst the team, which I really enjoy. The last one was a learning challenge, and currently we’re taking part in MoveIT, where we’re challenged with being active and logging as many hours of exercise as we can over a three-month period. If we hit the top target we are rewarded with a big social event, but aside from that it creates a great sense of community and encourages everyone to do things that help them feel great. It’s also interesting seeing what kind of exercise everyone gets up to!

What project are you proudest to have worked on?

In September 2023, we hosted a collection of Charity IT leaders at Microsoft’s Paddington offices. I played a key role in setting up the event and was there on the day to talk to representatives from some of the UK’s biggest charities to discuss the possibilities of AI and other technologies for change.

How has Cloud Direct supported your career?

In the past 18 months I have been filled with confidence by undertaking training courses, earning Microsoft certifications, attending industry events and speaking to members of the team from all areas of the business. I feel like I’m improving professionally all the time, and I know where I want to go next and everyone is really supportive in helping me get there.

Want to join the team?

We are always looking for the brightest and most curious minds to join our ever-growing team. If you think you have something to offer, or would like to see what job openings we currently have, then visit our careers page.

Rob Appleby, our SDR Team Lead who is based in the Bath office, joined the team in January 2024 and has so far made a huge impact on building out our SDR function. We sat down with him to ask a few questions, and give you the opportunity to get to know him a little better.

What’s your role at Cloud Direct? 

I head up the SDR function, and manage our team of Sales Development Representatives as they bridge the gap between our marketing efforts and our sales teams. The role of SDR is to create a first-class customer experience so that prospects are entering the next stage of the buying cycle on the right foot, with the right impression of Cloud Direct. Since I’ve joined we’ve added two new SDRs to the team in Gary and Brandon, and seeing the team make a successful start to the year has been great. No two days are the same as an SDR!

What are you getting up to outside of work?

Most people are probably a little bored of me telling them what happened in my hockey game at the weekend, but I can’t help it. I’ve played for Royal Wootton Bassett Hockey Club for 17 years – and counting! – across the first and second teams. When I’m not playing, I’m usually still on a hockey pitch whether it’s coaching our ladies third team or umpiring a match, and during the off season I keep myself fit by getting out for a run.

What brought you to Cloud Direct, and how did you get here?

I’ve always worked in business development since graduating from university, primarily at security vendors like Zscaler, Fortinet, Forcepoint and Cyren. I had been in a BDR Manager role across EMEA and the UK for four years when I had a chat with Alex, our Marketing Director at Cloud Direct, where he explained the goals and the culture at Cloud Direct. It sounded like a great opportunity, and the goals aligned perfectly with what I want to do with my career, so after a few more conversations and a couple of interviews, I signed on the dotted line!

What’s the best part of your job?

It’s seeing all of the team’s work come to fruition and turn into an SQL or an opportunity with a prospect. You’ve seen the amount of work that has been done, the multitouch approaches that have been made, the calls, emails and conversations that have taken place, and you know that it couldn’t have happened without that effort. A lot of the work on an SDR feels a little unseen and often unrewarded, but seeing it come together and that achievement being shared within the team is amazing.

What’s the best part of working at Cloud Direct?

It’s the people. It doesn’t matter which team or which position, everyone is lovely and it feels like we’re working towards the same goal of helping businesses grow with technology. We’ve got incentives and competitions amongst the team that help to create a real cohesiveness away from the work environment too, which benefits us massively when it comes to conversations and problem-solving at work.

What project are you proudest to have worked on?

I’ve not been here too long, so my main project has been building out the SDR team. We’ve added two so far and we are working really well together, so I couldn’t be more pleased with the people we have in the team and can’t wait to continue its growth.

How has Cloud Direct supported your career?

Having the ability to talk with, and be exposed to different areas of the business has really helped my understanding of not only how Cloud Direct works, but how the organisations we help work too. I could be speaking to a member of the marketing team before talking to somebody in finance, then somebody in a support role or in sales, and I learn so much from each of them. I was also thrown in a little at the deep end by being asked to present at our monthly Sales and Marketing meetings – it was daunting at first, but as soon as I’d done the first one I learned to love it, and it’s great being able to share the team’s successes with the wider company.

 

Want to join the team?

We are always looking for the brightest and most curious minds to join our ever-growing team. If you think you have something to offer, or would like to see what job openings we currently have, then visit our careers page.

For the past ten years, Vickii Cornborough has expertly maintained two full-time roles. When she hasn’t been packing down at the front of the England or Harlequins scrum, she has been in boardrooms and on calls helping ambitious organisations make strategic decisions about their technology.

In the same year as her senior England debut, Vickii joined Cloud Direct as a Business Development Manager, and in the decade since her role has grown with the business and she now works as a Senior Manager for our Strategic Accounts, guiding them through digital transformation programmes and demonstrating the opportunities that Microsoft technologies can unlock.

To many, it may seem as if Vickii has been living two parallel lives. Playing in a World Cup Final in front of 42,000 supporters at Eden Park, 11,000 miles away from home, seems a far cry from the leather seats and detailed discussions of the boardroom – but that isn’t necessarily the case, according to Vickii.

“If I map my professional development against my playing career, it aligns perfectly,” she explained. “The clients I work with now are a huge reflection of how Cloud Direct has grown and scaled over recent years, and at the same time with England I was moving into those senior leadership roles.

“I’ve found that I’m the same person whether I’m on the pitch or in the boardroom. It’s about leadership, decision making, and managing a team efficiently for optimal performance, and there are skills that I have picked up at Cloud Direct and taken into England or Harlequins training, and vice versa. My approach is the same whichever role I am in.

“Cloud Direct wants to work with ambitious businesses, and that means having ambitious employees. I’m a product of that environment because of the flexibility that Cloud Direct has given me to balance my role here with my England career.”

Vickii leads a team huddle with her club side Harlequins.

As Vickii’s career has developed, alongside and as part of our business, so too has the world of technology. The speed of innovation is now greater than ever before, and the past year alone as seen the launch of countless new technologies that transform the way we work and operate.

The world of data has exploded, making it more valuable than ever. Businesses are creating and collecting enormous amounts of data, and now have the tools and capabilities to tap into it and use it to empower more impactful, meaningful decision-making – which brings us to another confluence in Vickii’s roles.

“That synergy between business and sport is growing,” Vickii said. “Data has been crucial part of finding that competitive edge in sport for a while now – I’ve grown up wearing GPS and heart-rate monitors, there’s microchips in the ball and in our gumshields now. We have teams of analysists working to find us that extra 1-2% to aid improving performances and, consequently, deliver the results.

“Business is no different. If you know your data and manage it well, then it’s there to guide your decision-making in exactly the same way. I’ve seen data transform sport and provide that leading edge. It’s really exciting to see businesses being impacted in the same way, and it’s great to play a role in that.

Last year, less than nine months after starting at loosehead in the Rugby World Cup Final, a third full-time role was added into the mix when Vickii became a mother. The rugby ball was put to one side, the boots tucked away, and attention turned to caring for the twin children that she and rugby-playing partner Will had welcomed into the world.

It was this third role that ultimately lead Vickii to call time on her international rugby career, announcing her Red Roses retirement earlier this week. She completes her career with a tally of 75 caps, winning five Grand Slam titles and reaching two World Cup Finals, and as a Guinness World Record holder having played an integral role in the Red Roses 30 consecutive victories.

So, what next for Vickii?

“I’m fortunate to have a role at Cloud Direct that has allowed me to be so flexible, and to come back and hit the ground running,” she said. “I’m in a role where I can continue to make a big difference. I spend every working hour helping businesses to transform themselves, and make the most of technology, and that’s something I’m really passionate about.

“There’s a real synergy between sport and technology, and my role at Cloud Direct is one that allows me to capitalise on those professional and leadership skills every day.

“And hanging up my boots doesn’t mean I’m finished in rugby,” Vickii added. “I’m passionate about sport and the transformative effects of technology, and I want to play my part in changing the game for the better. I can still have an impact off the pitch, and encourage the next generation of leaders, and that makes me look forward to what the future holds.”

Cloud Direct is delighted to have confirmed its status as a Microsoft Azure Expert Managed Service Provider (MSP) for the sixth consecutive year.

Microsoft set up the Azure Expert MSP programme five years ago to promote only the most capable and experienced of its more than 90,000 partners. Of those organisations, Cloud Direct is one of only 131 to be awarded Azure Expert MSP status, 58 of which are UK-based.

Following the successful completion of the audit process, Cloud Direct CEO Brett Raynes said: “Reconfirming our position as a Microsoft Azure Expert MSP is a great source of pride for the whole team. To have our level of service independently verified as being among the best in the world means we can continue working towards our goal of truly empowering businesses to achieve fearless growth.

“The Azure Expert MSP programme sets high standard for its partners, and we are incredibly proud to be part of it. As a result, our customers can continue having the utmost confidence and reassurance in our ability to deliver successful Azure projects.”

The process, which is conducted by an external auditor, saw the Cloud Direct team assessed on their ability to deliver Microsoft Azure managed service provisions at scale, including the skill to migrate and support infrastructure, data, and applications within Microsoft Azure at the highest level.

What does it mean for our customers?

Resecuring our Azure Expert MSP status confirms that we continue to serve our customers to the highest possible standard. We are empowering businesses to achieve fearless growth in ways that are safe, affordable, and achievable for them.

As an Azure Expert MSP, we will continue providing…

Better service

It’s simple, really: when you work with an expert, you get expert-level service. Microsoft has made it easier to verify the best partners by awarding this rigorous accreditation to a select few top performing partners. Every service that we offer, every customer interaction, is held to a higher standard. We love raising the bar because it makes us up our game and hop right over it.

Broader offerings

Whatever your business needs, we can deliver it. Keen on IaaS, PaaS, or SaaS? We can advise you. Ready to adopt mobile working or the Internet of Things? We know all about it. Need help with app migration, security, or compliance? We have experts in all areas.

Closer partnerships

Being one of the few Azure Expert MSPs in the UK brings us much closer to Microsoft. Our already close partnership is now much stronger, and all the benefits that come our way get passed directly on to you, our customers. Picture this: Microsoft’s capabilities and software paired with our expertise and skills, all working to better your business. The possibilities are endless.

If you want to find out how you can unlock fearless growth with Microsoft Cloud, get in touch with one of our Experts. We’ll show you what’s possible.