Cloud services for Sydney businesses

Why businesses move to the cloud

Cloud computing replaces the servers in the cupboard with capacity you rent as you need it. Instead of buying hardware that depreciates and eventually fails, you pay a monthly amount for what you use, scaling up when demand is high and back down when it isn't.

For a small business that means access to serious infrastructure and security features without maintaining any of it on site.

The practical benefits:

• no large upfront hardware spend, and a predictable monthly cost
• add users, storage or compute as the business grows
• pay only for the capacity you use
• staff work from the office, home or the field on any device
• data replicated across multiple locations, so a single failure doesn't take everything with it

The three types of cloud service

Infrastructure (IaaS)

Virtual machines, storage and networking in the cloud. Suits businesses moving off physical servers or running workloads that need dedicated grunt. Cloddy manages Azure infrastructure so you get the reliability without the admin.

Platform (PaaS)

A managed environment for running applications: databases, web servers and middleware looked after by the provider. We use platform services to host client applications and back-office systems, with patching, scaling and availability handled for you.

Software (SaaS)

The most familiar model: applications delivered over the internet, ready to use. Microsoft 365, CRM platforms, HR systems and hundreds of other business tools. Cloddy manages your SaaS portfolio, including licences, integrations, security settings and user access.

Microsoft Azure

Azure is our main cloud platform. It ties in closely with Microsoft 365 and gives clients access to enterprise-grade infrastructure. We manage Azure environments for businesses in Sydney and across Australia, including:

• Azure Virtual Machines and Azure Virtual Desktop
• Azure Blob Storage and file shares
• Azure Backup and Azure Site Recovery
• Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure Active Directory)
• Azure security and compliance tooling

Cloud migration

Moving to the cloud is a process, not a single cutover. Our approach:

1. Assess. Audit the current environment, applications and data to work out what moves, what stays on-premises and what gets retired.
2. Design. Plan the target environment around your security, performance and compliance needs.
3. Migrate. Move workloads in stages with testing at each step, keeping disruption to a minimum.
4. Manage. Monitor, optimise, secure and support the environment once it's live.

Cloud backup and recovery

Cloud environments still need backing up. We put cloud-native backup and recovery in place so your data is protected against accidental deletion, ransomware and provider-side incidents. See Backup and disaster recovery for the detail.

Keeping the bill under control

Cloud costs creep if nobody is watching. We review usage and right-size resources: shutting down idle virtual machines, removing unused storage and choosing the pricing tiers that fit each workload. Most environments we review have something worth trimming.

How Cloddy helps

We manage cloud environments for small and growing businesses across Sydney and Australia. We work out what you need, design something that fits, then run and maintain it while coordinating improvements and training.

Contact Cloddy to talk about your cloud setup.

Common questions

What is cloud computing? Storing data and running applications on infrastructure a provider maintains, accessed over the internet, rather than on a computer or server in your own office.

Is the cloud right for a business my size? Usually, yes. Small and medium businesses get flexible capacity without maintaining every system on site. The right design still depends on your workloads, security needs, connectivity and total cost.

How is cloud data kept secure? The provider secures the infrastructure. You're responsible for securing your data and who can access it. Cloddy sets up access controls, multi-factor authentication, encryption, data loss prevention and monitoring so that side is covered.

What's included in cloud services? Virtual servers, storage, databases, networking, security tools, identity management, backup and analytics. We tailor the mix to your business.

What does it cost? It depends on users, workloads, storage and the services you need. Cloddy provides itemised proposals. Contact us to talk it through.