UKFast

What UKFast does

UKFast, operating under its current brand ANS Group Limited, is a UK-headquartered managed services provider founded in 1999 and based in Manchester, with 251–500 employees. The company delivers multi-cloud managed services across Microsoft Azure, Amazon Web Services, and VMware-based private and sovereign cloud environments, alongside a UK-based Security Operations Centre providing Managed Detection and Response, Managed XDR, and Managed SASE services. Its business applications practice implements and supports Microsoft Dynamics 365 CRM, Business Central ERP (including the ERP>Retail vertical suite), and Microsoft Power Platform low-code tooling, with an emerging Microsoft Copilot and AI Readiness advisory offering.

Revenue is generated through a mix of recurring managed services contracts (multi-year engagements on cloud, security, and Dynamics 365 managed support) and project-based professional services for cloud migration, application modernisation, and consultancy. Go-to-market combines direct enterprise and public-sector field sales with a channel partner programme spanning Cloud, Security, AI Readiness & Copilot, and Dynamics 365 partner tracks, plus a self-service ANS Glass portal for installed-base account management. Customer segments are explicitly hybrid — SMB (teams up to 300), Enterprise, Public Sector (government, defence, healthcare, education, police, social housing), and Channel Partners — with named logos spanning Manchester City Council, Ministry of Defence, GMCA, Costa, BDO, Calisen, Euro Car Parts, Slater Gordon, Fenwick, Cumbria University, and a leading UK cruise tour operator. Strategic differentiators rest on elite Microsoft designations (UK Partner of the Year 2024, Services Partner of the Year 2024, first UK Frontier Partner with Support Services), VMware Principal Partner status, AWS Advanced Tier/MSP credentials, and sovereign cloud certification for regulated workloads.

Name

UKFast

Legal name

ANS Group Limited

Website

https://ukfast.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

UKFast (ANS Group) is a UK-headquartered managed services provider delivering multi-cloud (Azure, AWS, VMware), managed security from a UK SOC, Dynamics 365 business applications, and Microsoft Copilot/AI readiness services to enterprise, public sector, and SMB customers across the United Kingdom.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Managed Cloud Hosting

NAICS

Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (51821), Computer Facilities Management Services (541513), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151)

SIC

Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370), Services-Computer Programming Services (7371), Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373), Services-Computer Processing & Data Preparation (7374)

akta.pro primary industry

Cloud Operations Outsourcing (Cloud Managed Operations) (BPAEAMAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

DevOps Consulting & Transformation (BPAEAKAA), Managed DevOps / Platform Operations (Run & Operate) (BPAEAKAO), Hybrid Cloud Management, Monitoring & FinOps (HDABAMAD), Cloud-Native Development (Containers, Kubernetes, Microservices) (BPAEACAD)

Keywords

• Managed cloud hosting
• Dedicated server hosting
• Managed security services
• Cloud migration services
• Data centre services

Headquarters

HQ city

Manchester

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Managed Cloud Services: Recurring managed services revenue from Azure, AWS, and private cloud infrastructure management, including monitoring, maintenance, and optimisation services.
2. Security Services: Managed security services including MDR, XDR, and SASE delivered from UK-based SOC, generating recurring revenue from security monitoring and incident response.
3. Dynamics 365 Implementation & Support: Microsoft Dynamics 365 CRM and Business Central ERP implementation, customisation, and ongoing managed support services.
4. Professional Services: Cloud migration, application modernisation, and consultancy services delivered on a project basis alongside managed services contracts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

UKFast is a dedicated hosting and server company providing managed cloud infrastructure (Azure, AWS, VMware), dedicated servers, managed security services from a UK-based SOC, Microsoft Dynamics 365 and Business Central business application implementations, and AI readiness and Microsoft Copilot services. The company serves SMB, enterprise, and public sector customers with multi-year managed services contracts, supplemented by cloud migration, application modernisation, and consultancy professional services.

Product overview

ANS is a multi-solution technology provider offering an integrated portfolio of cloud, security, data & AI, and business applications services. The core offerings include Azure and AWS managed services, Virtual Private Cloud, Private Cloud, and Sovereign Cloud for infrastructure; Microsoft Dynamics 365 CRM and Business Central ERP for business applications; Managed Detection and Response, Managed XDR, and Managed SASE for security; and Microsoft Copilot and Power Platform for AI and low-code development. These products work together through Microsoft's ecosystem, with ANS providing implementation, migration, and ongoing managed services across the entire stack. The company operates its own UK-based Security Operations Centre and holds the highest levels of security certification from leading providers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ANS Glass Portal: Customer login portal for ANS services
• ANS Academy
• ANS Partner Programme
• Frontier Firm

Products and services

• Managed Hosting Fully managed hosting services for applications and websites with infrastructure maintenance, offered to UK businesses including eCommerce platforms such as Magento.
• eCommerce Hosting Specialised managed hosting solutions for eCommerce platforms including Magento, targeted at retail and trade merchants.
• Azure Managed Services Comprehensive managed services for Microsoft Azure cloud platform including deployment, optimisation, and ongoing management for enterprise and public sector customers.
• AWS Managed Services Managed services for Amazon Web Services cloud infrastructure covering deployment, migration, and operational management for UK enterprise customers.
• Private Cloud Dedicated private cloud infrastructure providing exclusive computing resources for enhanced security and performance for organisations with strict isolation requirements.
• Virtual Private Cloud Virtual Private Cloud solutions enabling secure, scalable cloud infrastructure for businesses requiring logical isolation within multi-tenant cloud environments.
• Sovereign Cloud Cloud services designed to meet data sovereignty and regulatory compliance requirements within the UK, targeted at government, defence, and regulated industry customers.
• Cloud Migration Services Professional services to migrate workloads to Azure, AWS, or private cloud platforms with minimal disruption to business operations.
• Application Modernisation Professional services to modernise legacy applications for cloud-native environments, improving scalability, performance, and maintainability.
• Cloud Consultancy Expert consulting services for cloud strategy, architecture, and implementation planning across Azure, AWS, and private cloud environments.
• Managed Detection and Response (MDR) 24/7 cybersecurity service providing monitoring, threat detection, and incident response capabilities delivered from the UK-based Security Operations Centre.
• Managed XDR Extended detection and response service providing advanced threat protection across multiple security layers for enterprise customers.
• Managed SASE Secure Access Service Edge solution combining network security, secure web gateway, and zero-trust network access capabilities.
• Dynamics 365 Business Central Microsoft ERP solution for small to mid-size businesses covering finance, operations, and supply chain, including industry-specific retail variants.
• Dynamics 365 CRM Implementation Implementation and managed support for Microsoft Dynamics 365 CRM including Sales, Customer Service, Customer Insights, and Field Service modules.
• Microsoft Copilot Services Implementation, readiness, and managed services for Microsoft Copilot AI productivity assistant across Microsoft 365 environments, including the AI Readiness & Copilot Partner Programme.
• AI Readiness Assessment Proprietary AI readiness assessment services (AI Readiness Secured Report, Journey to AI App) evaluating organisational AI adoption readiness and identifying security requirements, developed with YouGov research.
• Microsoft Power Platform Services Implementation and managed services for Microsoft Power Platform low-code development tools including Power Apps, Power Automate, and Power BI.

Quantifiable outcome

• First UK Microsoft partner to achieve Microsoft Frontier Partner and Support Services dual designations
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration18 records

AI capability4 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• MicrosoftflagshipTechnology or IntegrationANS is Microsoft's top UK partner, holding multiple elite designations including Microsoft UK Partner of the Year 2024, Services Partner of the Year 2024, and first UK Microsoft Frontier Partner with Support Services designation. ANS delivers Azure, Dynamics 365, Business Central, Microsoft Copilot, and Power Platform services across enterprise and public sector customers.
• AWS (Amazon Web Services)coreTechnology or IntegrationAWS Partner Network member with MSP designation, Solution Provider status, and Advanced Tier Services competency. Delivers AWS managed cloud services including infrastructure management, database migration, and cloud-native application development.
• VMwarecoreTechnology or IntegrationVMware Principal Partner Cloud Provider with Verified Cloud, Sovereign Cloud, and Zero Carbon Committed designations. Provides private cloud and virtualisation infrastructure services.
• FortinetcoreTechnology or IntegrationSecurity partner delivering managed security services including Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) and threat protection through Fortinet's security fabric platform.
• CiscocoreTechnology or IntegrationCisco Gold Provider partner for networking and security solutions integrated into ANS managed services offerings.
• Magento (Adobe)coreTechnology or IntegrationMagento hosting partner providing eCommerce hosting services for retail and trade merchants using Magento platform.
• YouGovminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partnership for AI readiness study - surveyed 1,000 UK IT decision-makers to gauge current state of AI readiness and adoption across sectors and organisational sizes.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Rackspace Technology: Global multi-cloud managed services provider delivering managed cloud across Azure, AWS, VMware and private cloud with security operations. Closest direct peer in terms of managed cloud, security, and migration services portfolio to ANS.
• SCC (Specialist Computer Centres): UK-headquartered managed services provider with strong Microsoft, Azure, and security practices serving enterprise and public sector. Directly comparable in scope of managed cloud, security, and Microsoft Dynamics delivery.
• Node4: UK-based managed cloud, security, and connectivity provider serving mid-market and enterprise with Azure, AWS, and private cloud capabilities. Closely comparable in scale, UK focus, and managed-services business model.
• Daisy Group: UK managed services provider offering cloud, security, connectivity, and unified communications to enterprise and public sector. Comparable multi-cloud managed services and UK-centric go-to-market.
• Claranet: European managed cloud and hosting services provider with UK operations delivering Azure, AWS, and private cloud managed services to mid-market and enterprise. Comparable in multi-cloud managed services and Microsoft partnership.

Broad incumbents

• Computacenter: Large UK-headquartered IT infrastructure and services provider offering managed cloud, security, and workplace services across enterprise and public sector. Comparable in customer mix and Microsoft-aligned delivery model, but at materially greater scale.
• Softcat: Major UK IT infrastructure reseller and managed services provider with a strong Microsoft relationship and broad enterprise/public-sector coverage. Comparable in UK customer mix and Microsoft ecosystem alignment, though with more of a licensing-led business model.

Regional players

• KCOM: UK managed services and cloud provider focused on enterprise and public sector with strong Microsoft alignment. Comparable in Microsoft-led managed services portfolio and UK customer mix, though more regionally concentrated.
• Advania UK: Nordic-headquartered IT services provider with UK operations delivering managed cloud, Microsoft, and Dynamics services. Comparable in multi-cloud managed services and Microsoft partner alignment, with broader Nordic geographic reach.

Emerging players

• Bridgeall: UK-based Microsoft-focused consultancy and managed services provider specialising in Dynamics 365, Power Platform, and Azure. Directly comparable in Microsoft Dynamics 365 / Business Central implementation and managed support.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/UKFast

Compliance12 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about UKFast