Managed Cloud

Managed cloud services are when a specialist provider like First Focus designs, runs, monitors and optimises your cloud environment on your behalf. This includes security, backups, patching, performance monitoring, cost optimisation and 24/7 support, so your internal team does not have to manage cloud infrastructure day to day.

Managed cloud is best suited for organisations that:

• Have 20 to 200 employees
• Rely on cloud systems for day-to-day operations
• Do not want to hire or maintain in-house cloud specialists
• Need predictable performance, security and costs

Managed cloud helps reduce costs by actively controlling, optimising and governing cloud usage, rather than leaving environments to grow unchecked. In practice, cost reduction comes from several areas:

• Eliminating waste Cloud environments often include unused or over-provisioned resources. Managed cloud continuously identifies and removes resources that are no longer needed or incorrectly sized.
• Right-sizing infrastructure Systems are adjusted to match actual usage, so organisations are not paying for capacity they rarely use.
• Preventing costly incidents Proactive monitoring, patching and security management reduce the risk of outages, data loss or security breaches, which can be far more expensive than the cloud itself.
• Replacing reactive support with predictable management Instead of paying for emergency fixes, managed cloud provides consistent oversight that prevents issues before they escalate.
• Improving operational efficiency Internal teams spend less time managing infrastructure and more time on business-critical work, reducing indirect labour costs.

For most organisations, the biggest savings come not from cheaper cloud infrastructure, but from better control and fewer surprises.

First Focus manages public, private and hybrid cloud environments, tailoring each setup to the operational, security and compliance needs of mid-market Australian and New Zealand businesses. Managed public cloud First Focus manages public cloud environments hosted on leading hyperscale platforms, providing ongoing oversight and support regardless of the underlying provider. Managed public cloud is typically best suited for organisations that need:

• Scalable infrastructure that can grow or contract with demand
• High availability without managing physical hardware
• Strong security controls and resilience
• Predictable performance for business-critical systems

First Focus is responsible for the day-to-day management of the cloud environment, including monitoring, security, backups, patching, performance optimisation and cost control. This allows organisations to benefit from public cloud flexibility without needing in-house cloud specialists. Managed private cloud First Focus also manages private cloud environments, where infrastructure is dedicated to a single organisation. Private cloud is often used by organisations that:

• Have strict compliance or data residency requirements
• Run legacy or specialised applications
• Require greater control over performance and configuration
• Want cloud benefits without fully shared infrastructure

First Focus manages the infrastructure, security, availability and recovery while removing the operational burden from internal teams. Managed hybrid cloud Hybrid cloud combines on-premise systems with public or private cloud platforms, and is one of the most common environments First Focus manages. Hybrid cloud is ideal for organisations that:

• Are transitioning gradually to the cloud
• Need to keep some workloads on-premise
• Require flexibility across different systems and locations
• Want to modernise without major disruption

First Focus designs and manages hybrid environments so systems work together seamlessly, securely and reliably. Existing and inherited cloud environments First Focus can also take over management of existing cloud environments, even if they were originally designed or migrated by another provider. This includes:

• Assessing current performance, security and costs
• Identifying risks or inefficiencies
• Implementing best-practice management and governance
• Providing ongoing support and optimisation

Public Cloud (Microsoft Azure, AWS, Google Cloud)

• Best for: Businesses with variable workloads, rapid scaling needs, and standard applications
• Cost: Pay-as-you-go, typically $500-5,000/month for 50-200 employees
• Pros: Unlimited scalability, no upfront hardware costs, automatic updates
• Cons: Ongoing costs can exceed private cloud over 3+ years for stable workloads

  Private Cloud (First Focus Smart Cloud)

• Best for: Businesses with compliance requirements, predictable workloads, and security concerns
• Cost: Fixed monthly fee, typically $800-4,500/month for 50-200 employees
• Pros: Predictable costs, complete control, often faster performance
• Cons: Less elastic scaling, requires provider expertise to maintain

  Hybrid Cloud (Public + Private)

• Best for: Businesses with both stable core systems and variable workloads
• Cost: Combination of above, typically $1,200-7,000/month
• Pros: Optimise each workload for best performance and cost, maintain control where needed
• Cons: More complex to manage (requires experienced provider like First Focus)

  First Focus recommendation: Most mid-market businesses benefit from hybrid cloud, using private cloud for core business systems (ERP, file servers) and public cloud for collaboration tools (such as Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace) and development environments.

First Focus’ managed cloud service typically includes:

• Same Day SLAs
• Cloud architecture design and management
• 24/7 monitoring and incident response
• Security controls, patching and vulnerability management
• Backup and disaster recovery
• Performance optimisation
• Cloud cost monitoring and optimisation

Managed cloud pricing is typically based on a predictable monthly management fee, rather than ad-hoc support charges. Pricing usually reflects:

• The size and complexity of the cloud environment
• The number and criticality of workloads being managed
• Security, backup and compliance requirements
• Required service levels and support coverage

Cloud platform usage costs (such as infrastructure consumption) are generally billed separately by the cloud provider, while First Focus’ managed cloud fee covers the ongoing management, optimisation and support of that environment. This model provides:

• Clear, predictable monthly costs
• Fewer unexpected support charges
• Transparency between cloud usage and management services

Before onboarding, First Focus typically performs an assessment to ensure pricing reflects the actual environment and avoids unnecessary costs from the outset.

First Focus manages cloud security through:

• Continuous monitoring and alerting
• Regular patching and updates
• Backup and disaster recovery planning
• Compliance-aligned controls and processes
• ISO 27001 certified security management

Yes. First Focus can take over management of existing cloud environments, even if they were designed or migrated by another provider. An initial assessment is used to identify risks, costs and improvement opportunities.

Data is hosted in Australian or international data centres depending on your business requirements, compliance obligations and cloud platform choice. First Focus helps customers choose data residency options that align with Australian regulations and industry standards.