Avanade Acquires Azaleos: Microsoft Managed Services Blockbuster

Avanade is buying Azaleos, a top Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) managed services provider focused on Exchange, SharePoint, Lync and mobile device management (MDM). Both Avanade and Azaleos are located in Seattle, and each company has leaders who are Microsoft veterans. The deal involves about 200 Azaleos employees joining Avanade.

In a prepared statement, Avanade CEO Adam Warby said: “After closing, Azaleos and Avanade will work together with our customers to explore new managed services offerings of additional Microsoft technologies.” A few likely directions: Microsoft Hyper-V, Windows 8 and Surface tablets, and Office 365 managed cloud services, MSPmentor believes. Also: Keep a close eye on Azaleos' relationship with AirWatch, a top MDM provider.

In 2011, Azaleos was ranked in the top 30 of Deloitte's Technology Fast 500, which recognizes the 500 fastest growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences and clean technology companies in North America, Azaleos notes.

The Avanade-Azaleos deal is subject to closing conditions, including receipt of required regulatory approvals and is expected to close within 30 days, the two companies said.

Avanade, which is majority owned by Accenture, was founded in 2000 by Accenture and Microsoft. Avanade has 17,000 professionals in more than 20 countries.