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Tuesday, December 18, 2018

IBM – Aiming to be the #1 Enterprise Cloud supplier

By Rich Ptak










IBM recently provided us an in-depth review of their response to the explosion of enterprise interest in cloud, especially multi-cloud as the best model for IT operations. Sure, Amazon currently has the overwhelming cloud presence, but that’s in a segment dominated by consumers. IBM (and other serious contenders) are targeting the enterprise business. And, that is where a very big opportunity lies. IBM’s goal is to be the #1 supplier of the Enterprise Cloud.

IBM reported an estimated hybrid cloud spend of $1.0T by 2020 with Linux as the #1 app platform as the projected opportunity of what they are calling “the second chapter of cloud” or Cloud 2. The fact is that some 80% of existing enterprise workloads are potential targets for migration to the cloud. Beyond that are copious amounts of new cloud native applications.  IBM is convinced that contributing to faster Cloud 2 implementations built with on a fully open architecture will lead them to be the #1 Cloud provider and help clients to drive growth and unlock vast amounts of business value.

   © 2018 IBM Corporation
Figure 1 The Reality of Hybrid Multi-cloud today
IBM plans to deliver a unique solution and services set consisting of a multi-mode, multi-architecture, multi-cloud platform with a complete solution stack (including management and security) to speed their customers’ enterprise cloud transformation. See Figure 1.



Today, most enterprises use multiple different cloud environments; therefore, IBM will support connection and interactions (e.g. security, management, services, etc.) with the existing popular cloud platforms, e.g. AWS, et al. All IBM products will be offered as enterprise-grade services. We provide an overview of IBM’s plans.  

The BIG picture

Transformation is the term currently used to cover just about any offering by any vendor pursuing enterprise IT business. To IBM, transformation represents a metaphorical journey to the cloud. It can begin at any stage of enterprise cloud maturity from pre-cloud requirements analysis (analysis/planning) to full multi-cloud operations evolution, including governance /optimization /
automation/AI, etc. IBM addresses every step. T

The five principles that underlie IBM’s solution design and implementation are:
  • Hybrid – to address and be compatible with new and existing enterprise IT operating environments public, private and traditional IT.
  • Multi-cloud – be heterogeneous by design and able to securely leverage and manage other vendors’ clouds.
  • Open – continue IBM’s deep commitment to open computing, flexibility and reduced risk of “vendor lock-in”; the offerings are “open by design”. 
  • Secure – with open, extensive access, operational security is critical; therefore reliable, continuous security is essential.
  • Management – provide a solution stack enabling consistent, secure management and orchestration of services, operations support, event logging and delivery across all manner of cloud environments.  

All to be accessible via the IBM Cloud Platform on multiple hardware architectures, suitable for enterprise and hyperscale workloads. See Figure 2 for an architectural view.  
© 2018 IBM Corporation
Figure 2 IBM Cloud Architecture
Architecture and reality -- paths to the cloud
Great principles, but enterprises want and need more than tool sets and capabilities, however powerful and well-integrated. There exist multiple starting points on the path to cloud. Some need help in optimizing operations in complicated, existing multi-cloud environments. Or, applying new technologies such as AI (Augmented Intelligence) or Quantum Computing while managing infrastructure costs. Other enterprises need basic help just to get started. Others need to identify and understand their options to advance from where they are today. Support and guidance needs vary. They can be in the form of support services, on-line try before you buy, or detailed processes that help define the path to take to the cloud. 

IBM delivers accordingly by offering implementation choices that map to multiple entry points to provide an end-to-end solution. The major paths can involve migration (traditional “lift & shift” of apps and services), modernization (update DevOps tools and processes (introduce containers, microservices, etc.), innovation (create cloud native apps) and manage (integrate and automate operations and management to multi-cloud environments). 

Enterprise environments and tasks vary. There exists no “cookie-cutter” solution for enterprise migration to the cloud. Most will need help, not simply in negotiating the path, but even more fundamentally in selecting the right path. 

Capitalizing on expertise acquired working across 20 industries with 100K+ client migrations, IBM offers five entry-point practice areas to support clients wherever they happen to be in their journey to the cloud. These are:
1.    Advise on cloud – services and processes to identify and define requirements.
2.    Build for cloud – identify where and for what services, etc. cloud makes sense.
3.    Move to cloud – plan for moving environment, apps and services to cloud.
4.    Manage on cloud – management of the multi-cloud, mixed, etc. IT environment.  
5.    Govern & Optimize – analyze, review and revise cloud operations, architecture, processes, etc. to best meet enterprise needs. 
IBM provided client testimonials and case study examples of their successes in helping customers to faster migrations, as well as service improvements at lower cost in cloud migration.
It is important to understand that IBM is not simply offering a toolkit or simple point solutions. They have taken an end-to-end approach to deliver comprehensive solutions proven through successful application in usage cases with real clients. These include migrating existing on-premise workloads to more efficient cloud based (see Figure 3) environments. It includes speeding the introduction and successful application of technologies (Machine Learning) with multi-cloud access to AI tools that collect, organize and analyze data of every type from anywhere. Then, allow secure, transparent enterprise-wide (and beyond) access to results. See more here[1].
© 2018 IBM Corporation
Figure 3 App & Service Migration and Modernization
IBM allows clients significant access to services and tools that determine what needs to be done to move forward on the journey to Cloud 2. The options range from full consulting from IBM Cloud Services to on-line access to technologies and services that help the client identify how these can benefit your operations. Some free, others at relatively low cost. You can find out more here[2].
 Summing it all up
There was much more in IBM’s presentation. Areas worth looking into include the consulting services provided by IBM Cloud Services, IBM Cloud Private services, data and storage services leveraging AI and ML, the details on how IBM assures “security to the core”, multi-cloud integration and management, etc. 

Based on what we heard at and saw, IBM has a well thought out, clearly articulated strategy and plan. But then, their competition for the enterprise cloud also have plans. The battle for market share will be fierce.

There has been some recent criticism on the lack of interesting announcements from IBM - we believe that the details and very credible customer case studies in this announcement refute such assertions. To be perfectly clear, IBM's activities, support/consulting services and new products for enterprises pursuing a journey to the Cloud 2 environment are well worth investigating. 

IBM allows clients to educate themselves in more general terms about the cloud and its applications in the enterprise. Especially striking was the depth and breadth of expertise made available to clients to help them research and assess cloud capabilities at relatively little or no cost. This is especially helpful for potential customers that have limited in-house expertise.

IBM stands out in that they provide comparatively easy access to significant, powerful and very interesting technologies in the IBM cloud. And, acknowledging the multi-vendor, heterogeneous cloud environment they provide an extraordinary amount of shared access and capabilities among clouds. They support true open access with both technological contributions and by facilitating meaningful access through user-friendly APIs and interfaces to third-party resources.

IBM brings a depth and breadth of experience with live client installations that competitors lack. They also have a complete, integrated and well-tested stack that has no equivalent in the market.

In addition, IBM deliverables are sufficiently broad and flexible enough to amount to a near-customized solution for any individual enterprise. Clients can determine how much or how little they want to attempt on their own. The battle will be interesting.

We recommend you do further research into IBM offerings yourself and decide whether they are the right partner on your path to Cloud 2.


[1] This is a great starting point: https://www.ibm.com/cloud/