IBM opens up Cloud Lab
Big Blue looks to help its channel partners get one step ahead in the cloud market with its latest initiative
Step into my Lab: IBM is keen to get partners up and running with cloud solutions
IBM has taken the wraps off its first ever cloud computing lab to help its channel partners grasp the opportunities in the space.
The new lab will help IBM Business Partners enable their technologies with cloud and gain the sales and marketing skills they need to get ahead in the market.
A recent IBM DeveloperWorks survey of 2,000 IT professionals from 87 countries revealed that 91 per cent of respondents said they anticipate cloud computing to overtake on-premise computing as the primary way organisations acquire IT by 2015. The market opportunity is expected to reach nearly $150bn in four years.
Using the Lab, resellers can access the latest in IBM cloud technologies to develop and test new cloud services, and work with industry experts to build a go-to-market plan. IBM will work directly with partners during all the crucial steps to help ensure joint success in the marketplace.
Steven Heeney, UK and Ireland Business Partner Organisation cloud leader at IBM, said: “When it comes to the cloud, our competitors have their partners do the heavy lifting, from porting to building a marketing plan. IBM helps its Business Partners with these crucial steps so we can get to market quickly.”
He added: "A typical project at the lab will help a partner explore a wide variety of cloud computing models and become cloud builders, application, technology and infrastructure providers, and cloud resellers and aggregators, depending on their individual business. Clients look to IBM to bring along the right kinds of Business Partners who know how to provide cloud services, and are writing the next generation of business applications."
IBM Business Partner Maxima is making full use of the facility after signing an agreement and developing a plan with IBM to deliver cloud services to its 1,400 mid-market customers across the US, Europe and Asia.
Graham Kingsmill, chief executive of the managed services provider, said: “Businesses are looking for reliable performance and security in cloud services. The combination of Maxima and IBM cloud services addresses these issues and can help our joint clients and resellers grow their business and reach new markets.”
As an added bonus, partners can access the lab from any of IBM’s network of 38 Innovation Centres globally and work virtually with the cloud experts at the Hursley IBM centre to build the services they need.