The North West regional imaging portal programme has reached another key milestone with the launch of a new PACS portal that enables NHS organisations to securely share radiology images across the region.

The announcement from the Greater Manchester Diagnostics Network marks the next step in modernising diagnostic imaging infrastructure across the North West. Shaping Cloud is supporting the programme as part of the ongoing modernisation of the regional imaging portal platform.

In the latest instalment of Clarity on Cloud, our CEO Helen Gerling explores one of the most widely used, and often misunderstood, commercial constructs in enterprise cloud: Microsoft Azure Consumption Commitments (MACCs). She examines why organisations often struggle to realise the value of these agreements and what needs to be in place to turn a commitment into real cloud transformation.

Migrating to the cloud sounds straightforward: move systems, modernise infrastructure, unlock innovation. But the reality is far more complex. From hidden dependencies to governance challenges and operational readiness, many migration programmes succeed or fail before anything ever reaches Azure.

Clarity on Cloud is our CEO Helen Gerling’s perspective on the real commercial and architectural forces shaping modern cloud decisions.

In this latest offering, Helen discusses how organisations aren’t moving from Citrix to Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) because it’s fashionable - they’re responding to shifting economics, control, and security realities. This article explores what’s really driving the change, where AVD genuinely simplifies the model, and the hidden architectural and cost pitfalls that can derail a poorly planned migration.

Migrating to Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) can feel like a major milestone: legacy platforms retired, users successfully cut over, project complete. But in reality, migration is not the finish line – it is the starting point for a new phase of ongoing operational responsibility. AVD is a powerful, flexible service sitting at the heart of your Azure and Microsoft 365 ecosystem, and it demands active, informed management to consistently deliver performance, security and cost efficiency. In this blog, we explore what effective ongoing AVD management really involves, where organisations commonly encounter operational strain, and why the right blend of tooling, experience and clear ownership makes all the difference long after migration day.

For many organisations, the move away from Citrix isn’t driven by enthusiasm for change, but by growing pressure. Rising licensing costs, increasing complexity and a wider shift towards Microsoft 365 and Azure are prompting a reassessment of existing virtual desktop platforms. Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) is an increasingly attractive option, but migrating successfully is not a simple like-for-like swap. Understanding what a good AVD migration really involves is critical to avoiding unnecessary risk and complexity.

In this video, Helen Gerling joins the Cloud Decisions Microsoft Mentors podcast to share her career journey, leadership perspective and thinking on how cloud, AI and data can deliver meaningful outcomes when technology is grounded in people and purpose.

The conversation explores pragmatic cloud delivery, inclusive technology cultures and the opportunities emerging at the intersection of hyperscale cloud, artificial intelligence and data science.

Identity has become the control plane of modern security.

As cloud, SaaS, automation, and remote work reshape enterprise IT, the traditional network perimeter has effectively disappeared. What now determines access - for users, devices, workloads, and services - is identity.

This three-part expert series explains why Identity & Access Management (IAM) has moved from background infrastructure to a critical architectural concern. It looks at what’s driving the rapid rise in IAM demand, how cloud and Azure environments have made identity unavoidable, and why mismanaged identities now represent one of the most common and damaging security failure points.

Focused on real-world cloud and security challenges rather than theory or vendor hype, the series is written for IT leaders and architects who need to understand why identity became the perimeter, and what it takes to manage it well.

Shaping Cloud has been appointed by the Greater Manchester Diagnostics Network to modernise the region’s Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) portal, enabling faster, more secure sharing of radiology images across NHS trusts in the Northwest. By integrating the new portal with the Greater Manchester Identity (GMID) platform, the project will enhance collaboration between clinicians, speed up diagnostics, and support more coordinated patient care. Delivered in two phases from 2026, the upgraded portal will provide a resilient, scalable foundation for regional imaging access and represents a significant step forward in Greater Manchester’s commitment to world-class digital healthcare.

Ambition is firing on all cylinders - but costs, skills gaps, and overspend are still holding us down. 2025 isn’t about experimenting with AI anymore. It’s about proving its value. This is the year IT leaders must break free from the weights dragging transformation back to earth.

As IT leaders grapple with increasing licensing costs, regulatory changes, and business transformation pressures, a new conversation is emerging around revirtualisation vs. devirtualisation. With Broadcom’s recent changes to VMware’s licensing model and growing cloud adoption trends, it’s as good a time as ever to have a discussion on virtualisation strategy. That’s our cue to dive in and explore the real drivers of change in infrastructure strategy – and what IT leaders need to consider before making their next move. 

Expert insights as to how organisations can use cloud more efficiently, keep costs down, and maximise return on investment from cloud modernisation.