Microsoft Azure joins Géant's Europe-wide IaaS mega-framework

European education and research establishments can now access tailor-made public cloud services from Microsoft, following the inclusion of Azure on Géant’s infrastructure as a service (IaaS) framework.

The framework, announced in May 2015, is intended to make IaaS resources more readily accessible to the 50 million or so users of Géant’s pan-European 500Gbps network by allowing them to forgo engaging in individual tenders and benefit from volume discounts.

The Microsoft portion of the framework will see users provided with access, via Géant’s Cloud Catalogue, to Azure-based cloud resources that are tailored for use by the research and education community.

Erik Huizer, interim CEO of Géant, said adding Microsoft to its list of providers is proof of its commitment to ensuring users have a wide portfolio of cloud services to choose from.

“The Géant Cloud Catalogue is already delivering significant benefits to users across the European research and education communities,” he said.

“We are really excited to have Microsoft Azure on this platform, further expanding choice and supporting our partners in the cloud services they can offer to their customers.” 

In May 2017, Géant announced a similar agreement with Amazon Web Services (AWS), as its work to populate its Cloud Catalogue continues apace.

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The Microsoft agreement, however, marks a new in its ongoing involvement with Géant, which has previously seen the software giant participate in helping its community of researchers across Europe reap the benefits of using cloud.

Anthony Salcito, vice-president of worldwide education at Microsoft, said Azure’s services should prove a good fit for Géant’s user base.

“[Azure] allows quick access to powerful computing environments where complex data can be stored and shared easily and securely. It also gives researchers access to tools that can turn data into insights and enable them to collaborate with others quickly and securely to accelerate discovery,” said Salcito.

“We are delighted to bring these benefits and opportunities to the research and education communities across the Europe, the Middle East and Africa region through the Géant IaaS framework agreement.”