IBM Corp has unveiled its latest offering, IBM Storage Ceph as a Service, expanding its range of flexible as-a-service solutions tailored for on-premises infrastructures. This addition complements existing services, including IBM Power delivered as a service, which features new form factors and flexible consumption methods.
Market Trends and Strategic Response
An IDC study projects that by 2028, 80% of IT decision-makers will favor as-a-service consumption for essential workloads. This shift is fueled by the need for optimized IT spending, enhanced operational efficiency, and sustainability goals. In response, IBM’s latest service empowers clients to seamlessly integrate cloud solutions within their existing on-premises environments.
Features of IBM Storage Ceph as a Service
IBM Storage Ceph as a Service is designed to provide a fully managed software-defined storage solution that unifies block, file, and object data. This service aims to eliminate data silos and modernize storage for data lakes and virtual machines (VMs). By offloading the management of Ceph clusters to IBM professionals, organizations can prioritize critical business functions over storage infrastructure management.
Operational Advantages
According to Sam Werner, VP of storage product management at IBM, the service addresses a critical pain point for IT teams struggling with complex storage management. “With IBM Storage Ceph as a Service, we’re alleviating the burden on our clients, accelerating provisioning and simplifying storage management,” he stated.
IBM Power Delivered as a Service
In addition to its storage solutions, IBM continues to enhance its Power offerings, focusing on business continuity and reliability. The Power Virtual Server Private Cloud integrates seamlessly with the IBM Cloud Catalog, supporting enterprise applications like SAP, IBM i, and Oracle. This service allows clients to efficiently scale their on-premises infrastructure while maintaining compliance and security.
Case Study: National Van Lines
National Van Lines, a client utilizing the Power Virtual Server, faced significant disruptions due to power outages affecting server availability. Partnering with IBM and Mainline Information Systems, they adopted the Power Virtual Server, which provides VMs as a service based on Power architecture. This transition improved their disaster recovery times from days to hours and reduced IT costs significantly.
Cost-Effectiveness and Scalability
Both IBM Storage Ceph and Power Virtual Server services are structured to be cost-effective, with clients billed only for resources consumed. This model aims to align operational costs with actual usage, facilitating on-demand scaling to meet fluctuating business needs.
IBM’s commitment to as-a-service offerings marks a strategic move to enhance operational efficiencies, reduce IT complexity, and support enterprises on their digital transformation journeys.