Cisco steps up intercloud vision with Metacloud buy

Open-source cloud firm acquisition to close early next year

Cisco has ramped up its plan to create the "world's largest intercloud" by snapping up US cloud firm Metacloud.

The Californian firm operates private clouds for global businesses with its open-source SaaS model, which it claims is unique.

In March, Cisco announced plans to invest $1bn (£613m) in pursuit of becoming the world's leading hybrid cloud player by creating what it called the "world's largest intercloud". It later insisted it had received "tremendous interest" in its strategy from partners.

Today, it said its Metacloud buy – which was agreed for an undisclosed sum – will propel its plans for cloud domination.

"Metacloud's OpenStack-based cloud platform will accelerate Cisco's strategy to build the world's largest global intercloud – a network of clouds – together with key partners," Cisco said.

"Since announcing the intercloud strategy in March, [we have] made rapid progress, enlisting key technology partners, service and cloud providers."

Once the deal closes, which it expects to happen in the first quarter of its fiscal 2015, Metacloud staff will join Cisco's Cloud Infrastructure and Managed Services organisation.