Hybrid 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.

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

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.

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