Why We’re Moving to OpenStack - And What It Means for Your Business

At Amaze, we’re committed to helping Australian businesses grow with reliable, high-performance cloud infrastructure that doesn’t come with the complexity or cost of hyperscalers.

We're talking sovereignty, scalability, security and simplicity, so you can get on with the work you're doing with the performance you need, less the hefty price tags.

So we are very pleased to announce - Amaze Cloud, Powered by OpenStack.

An upgraded cloud platform, from OnApp to OpenStack, that delivers a powerful, open-source technology platform that puts performance, flexibility, and the control you want, back into your hands.

This is far from, just a backend switch.

It’s a strategic investment in our customers, and a big leap forward for Australian cloud services.

Why we’re moving on from OnApp

OnApp has served us well, but it’s a more closed, legacy platform. Today’s businesses need something more open, agile, and aligned with where the market is heading.

With the new Amaze Cloud, we can:

• Innovate faster
• Deliver new features and integrations more easily
• Give our customers more control over their infrastructure

This shift also means we’re no longer limited by third-party development cycles, we can move at the speed our customers need.

What this means for your business

You’ll be migrated to the new Amaze Cloud platform in the coming weeks, and we’ve worked hard to ensure the transition is smooth and interruption-free.

• Downtime will be minimal—around 5 minutes
• We’ll handle migrations during business hours, with local support available
• You’ll be notified in advance, with clear instructions and expectations

This is your new foundation for growth, and more than just a system upgrade. Whether you’re hosting websites, managing workloads, or planning to scale, Amaze Cloud gives you the tools to do it with speed and confidence.

What is OpenStack, and why does it matter

OpenStack is the engine behind some of the world’s most advanced cloud platforms. It is used by global enterprises, research institutions, and telecom giants, and it is known for its speed, scalability, and freedom from vendor lock-in.

With Amaze Cloud - Powered by OpenStack, we can offer:

• Faster, more reliable performance across all workloads
• More flexibility to scale as your needs grow
• A future-proof foundation that integrates with modern cloud-native tools
• More transparent pricing and control, compared to the unpredictable costs of hyperscalers

A first in Australia? We’re one of the few

While OpenStack is well established internationally, few Australian providers offer a fully integrated, production-grade OpenStack platform, especially one backed by local support and predictable pricing.

We’ve built this platform from the ground up, right here in Australia.

It’s a serious alternative to the complexity and sprawl of the dominant hyperscalers.

"From a technical standpoint, OpenStack is the gold standard. But designing and delivering our new Amaze Cloud platform at scale, while keeping it accessible and affordable for Aussie businesses took a huge amount of work. We’re incredibly proud to bring this to market as a sovereign, smarter cloud choice."

Luke Iggleden, CEO of Amaze

While many providers claim to offer cloud services, most in Australia fall into one of three categories:

• Hyperscalers like AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud
  These global giants have infrastructure in Australia, but they’re not Australian-owned or controlled. Their platforms are proprietary, pricing is often complex, and flexibility is limited, especially for growing local businesses.
• Resellers and Managed Service Providers
  Many providers simply white-label or resell infrastructure from bigger players. They don’t build or manage the underlying platform, which means less transparency and control for you.
• Traditional local hosting providers
  Some run VMware or OnApp stacks, but very few have developed a true OpenStack platform that is:
  • Fully owned and operated in Australia
  • Built in-house (not just deployed via automation tools)
  • Backed by sovereign infrastructure, local support, and predictable pricing

That’s what sets Amaze apart.

We’re proud to be one of the few Australian providers with a fully integrated, production-grade OpenStack platform that has been designed, built, and supported locally.

• We own and operate the platform ourselves
• We’re 100% Australian and sovereign
• Our support is direct, not outsourced or layered over someone else’s tech
• And we’ve built this to be cost-effective and accessible for Australian SMBs and mid-sized businesses

For businesses that want true cloud agility without being locked into the complexity of hyperscalers.

Amaze is a smarter, local alternative.

Need more flexibility or support?

To help you get the most from Amaze Cloud, we’ve launched new Essential and Premium Support Plans that are designed for growing businesses that want peace of mind, expert help, and priority access to our technical team.

Why it’s worth it:

• Reduce downtime and risk during and after migration
• Speed up troubleshooting with direct access to real experts
• Avoid hidden costs—no surprise billing like you’d get from hyperscalers
• Plan ahead with predictable support and performance

As a special offer, customers who sign up for a support plan will have the option to schedule their migration outside of business hours at no extra cost - This is perfect if daytime interruptions aren’t ideal.

Check out our support tiers here

What’s next?

We’ll be contacting all customers ahead of their scheduled migration date. You’ll get full instructions, support, and plenty of notice. If you have questions or want to discuss whether a support plan is right for your business, our team is here to help.

This migration isn’t just about infrastructure, it’s squarely aimed at giving Australian businesses a real alternative to hyperscalers: one that’s powerful, affordable, local, and designed to help you grow.

Thanks for being part of the Amaze community.