Equinix launches managed private cloud service in Australia
Wed, 12th Aug 2026 (Today)
Equinix has launched its managed private cloud and infrastructure service in Australia for organisations seeking onshore data and processing options.
Called Equinix Managed Solutions, the offering gives customers managed compute, storage and AI infrastructure delivered as a service rather than owned and operated in-house.
The launch comes as Australian businesses face longer waits for hardware, higher equipment costs, and tighter requirements around security, compliance and data location. Equinix is positioning the service for companies also dealing with shortages of specialist IT staff and the operational demands of hybrid cloud and AI projects.
Under the model, Equinix is responsible for the underlying infrastructure and day-to-day management, including monitoring, maintenance, software updates, optimisation and support through to the operating system layer.
The Australian rollout adds a local market to Equinix's managed infrastructure portfolio as technology spending continues to rise. Gartner forecasts IT spending in Australia will exceed AUD $172 billion in 2026, including investment in data centre systems, software and infrastructure tailored for AI workloads.
Service range
The Australian portfolio includes managed private cloud, managed private storage, managed AI factory services, managed private backup, and implementation services for Equinix Fabric virtual connections and selected Network Edge services.
Managed Private Cloud is available in single-tenant or multi-tenant configurations, giving customers a choice in how their environments are set up. Managed Private Storage covers block, file and object storage, and includes encryption, ransomware protection and data replication.
For AI deployments, customers provide their own GPUs and hardware, while Equinix manages the associated computing, storage and networking in dedicated private environments. The service also includes day-two operations and support for those installations.
Managed Private Backup provides backup services with retention policies and off-site data protection. Enablement services are intended to help customers deploy Equinix Fabric virtual connections and selected Network Edge services more quickly.
Local pressures
The launch reflects a broader shift as companies reassess where workloads sit and how infrastructure is managed. Rising public cloud bills, regular hardware refresh cycles and complex procurement have led some businesses to look for alternatives that offer more predictable operating costs and local control over sensitive systems and data.
That is especially relevant for organisations in heavily regulated sectors such as financial services, healthcare and government, where data sovereignty and governance requirements can shape infrastructure decisions. Customers using the service retain ownership and control of their data, with privileged access managed within the service framework.
Equinix is also targeting manufacturing, technology and digital media customers, where hybrid IT environments often span private systems, public cloud services and specialised infrastructure for data-intensive workloads.
The company argues that outsourcing infrastructure operations can help internal teams focus on application development and business projects instead of system upkeep. It also says customers can bring projects online more quickly by avoiding some of the delays associated with sourcing and deploying physical hardware.
Joseph Crawford, Vice President, Equinix Managed Solutions, outlined the company's view of the market shift.
"Many organisations are reaching a point where traditional approaches to managing infrastructure can no longer keep pace with the demands of AI, hybrid cloud and increasing cyber security requirements," said Joseph Crawford, Vice President, Equinix Managed Solutions.
He said the issue was no longer simply about owning hardware assets.
"Owning infrastructure is no longer where organisations create value; value comes from what they build on top of it.
"EMS simplifies IT operations, optimises infrastructure costs and accelerates digital transformation, allowing organisations to focus on the applications, data and experiences that differentiate their business while Equinix manages the underlying infrastructure," said Crawford.