Cloud data center services firm Equinix and enterprise cloud platform provider Tier 3 announced a partnership to offer Tier 3’s Enterprise Cloud Platform through the Equinix International Business Exchange (IBX) data centers. The deal allows enterprise clients to use Tier 3’s Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) with Platform Equinix; enhanced services initially will be available at the Equinix Chicago and New York data centers and then will expand globally.

Tier 3 offers enterprises a public cloud designed for high availability, business continuity and secure environments. Within Equinix data centers, customers can create a virtual private cloud from Tier 3, creating an extension of the customer’s enterprise and a private environment that is designed to meet high demands for security and compliance, according to the companies.

“Platform Equinix provides secure, scalable and highly interconnected data center services across 38 strategic global markets,” said Chris Sharp, general manager, Cloud and Content at Equinix in a prepared statement. “Our partnership with Tier 3 further strengthens Equinix’s position as the destination of choice for enterprise cloud deployments through high availability, security and business continuity required for a hybrid or virtual private cloud solution.”

In January 2012, Talkin Cloud reported on a power outage at a Equinix data center that affected Zoho and other customers.