IBM launches UK cloud computing lab

Business partners will be able to take advantage of technical advice on cloud services

IBM’s business partners will also be able to access the lab virtually from any of its network of 38 innovation centres worldwide

In response to the anticipated growth of cloud computing, IBM has launched a lab in the UK for its business partners. The lab will offer expertise around cloud technologies as well as softer skills they will need to take advantage of the market.

Based in the Hursley IBM Innovation Centre, the new lab will allow business partners to develop and test new cloud services, and build a marketing plan with industry experts.

“Partners will be able to explore a wide variety of cloud computing models and become cloud builders, application, technology and infrastructure providers, as well as cloud resellers and aggregators, depending on their individual business,” said John Easton, IBM UK & Ireland Cloud Computing Technical Leader.

“Because cloud means different things to different people it would be presumptuous to assume that any one cloud solution was right for every partner,” he added.

“Having a centre that allows us to bring all IBM's cloud capability together in one place, allows us to work closely with our partners."

IT business systems and managed services company Maxima has signed an agreement and developed a marketing plan with IBM to deliver cloud services to its 1,400 customers across Europe, the US and Asia.

“Businesses are looking for reliable performance and security in cloud services,” said Maxima CEO Graham Kingsmill.

“The combination of Maxima and IBM cloud services addresses these issues and can help our joint clients and resellers grow their business.”

In May this year IBM acquired Cast Iron, an integration-as-a-service company. Experts from the Cast Iron development team will be available at the lab to provide advice on cloud computing environments for clients in the finance, healthcare, telecommunications and energy industries.

IBM’s business partners will also be able to access the lab virtually from any of its network of 38 innovation centres worldwide.

Earlier this month an IBM developerWorks survey of 2,000 IT professionals from 87 countries found that 91 per cent of respondents anticipate cloud computing to overtake on-premises computing as the primary way organisations acquire IT by 2015.