Melbourne-based Atlas, which operates 24 service, distribution warehousing and metal processing centres across Australia and New Zealand, distributes stainless steel and specialty metal products to 8000 customers.

HP was previously responsible for network management and maintaining servers, a task that amounted to a small piece of work, according to HP spokesperson Stephen Ries.

Ries said it made more sense for Atlas Specialty Metals to go with a smaller outsourcing provider than stick with HP.

"The relationship was very good, they [Atlas Specialty Metals] thanked us for the transition," Reis said, confirming HP had held the outsourcing deal for Atlas for the past "few years".

Atlas signed the contract in May this year and is now live across data centre IT infrastructure including hosting and administration of servers, business-critical applications and business continuity plans.

Datacom CEO Michael Browne said the win is an example of the traction Datacom is making in the Victorian market, but would not reveal the contract price.

"We're delighted that a successful, local business like Atlas Specialty Metals has the confidence to entrust its IT infrastructure to Datacom," Browne said, adding that his company now had a turnover of $87 million.

Ben Hancock, group MIS manager for Atlas Specialty Metals, said the company was specifically looking for a partner which could offer technical expertise, competitive pricing and a data centre located in Melbourne.

"We think this partnership with Datacom will provide opportunities for us to continue to consolidate and optimize our IT resources now, and as our business grows," Hancock said.

"We chose the provider as a better fit to our organization - the previous outsourcing relationship reached the end of contract and we re-tendered the contract."