Macquarie launches Government Azure practice

Macquarie Government, part of Macquarie Technology Group, has announced the launch of a new Microsoft Azure cloud, security, and AI services practice purpose-built for Australian federal and state government agencies.

Built on the Azure managed services model delivered by Macquarie Cloud Services to Australian businesses for seven years, the Government practice using Azure has been adapted to meet government security classifications, including Protected-level requirements. It extends Macquarie Government’s established cybersecurity capability servicing 42% of federal government agencies, including Tier 1 agencies, into modern public cloud and AI services for the public sector.

Leading this expansion is Naran McClung, Executive Head of Azure at Macquarie Cloud Services, who has shaped the practice from its inception and is now extending that expertise into the public sector.

“We’ve spent years building and refining a Microsoft Azure practice that Australian businesses trust — now we’re bringing that same depth of capability and hands-on delivery model to government,” McClung said. “This means a partner with real-world experience operating Azure environments at scale, backed by the security clearances and accreditations the public sector requires.”

It comes as Australian government agencies face simultaneous pressures to modernise, control costs and meet rising security expectations. Microsoft has established itself as the preferred platform for government, signing a new whole-of-government agreement with the Digital Transformation Agency (DTA) and committing $25 billion to Australian digital infrastructure.

Cybersecurity remains the top priority for agencies, with Microsoft Sentinel and aligned security services seeing strong demand, while cost management and cloud governance are pressing concerns as agencies grapple with growing cloud footprints and aging on-premises infrastructure.

Macquarie Government says its expanded portfolio is designed to help agencies realise the full value of the Microsoft agreement by attaching specialised managed services, security and cloud governance capabilities.

“Macquarie Government has spent years earning the trust of Australia’s most security-conscious agencies, and that foundation gives us a unique ability to bring enterprise-grade Microsoft Azure capability to government in a way that’s secure, transparent and built around how agencies actually want to work,” said Aidan Tudehope, Managing Director, Macquarie Government. “Demand for cloud, data and AI services across state and federal government has never been higher, and the timing has never been better.”

To accelerate growth in the federal and state public sector, Macquarie Government has also recently appointed former Defence advisor Dr Chris Peiris as Microsoft Security and Azure Lead, based in Canberra.

“This expansion reflects our confidence, unique experience, and credentials in the Microsoft platform and our commitment to helping state and federal agencies modernise securely, govern their cloud environments effectively and efficiently, and build the data foundations they need to take advantage of AI,” McClung said.

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