Armonk (ip-192.com): IBM announced that it has acquired Mountain View based Cast Iron Systems, a company specializing in cloud integration software, appliances and services. IBM expects the global cloud computing market to grow at a compounded annual rate of 28 percent to $126 billion by 2012, according to a press release.
Integrating disparate systems running in data centers with new cloud based applications is a key challenge businesses face. "Through Cast Iron Systems, IBM is gaining the ability to help businesses rapidly integrate their cloud-based applications and on-premise systems," said IBM in a statement.
"The acquisition also advances IBM's capabilities for a hybrid cloud model, which is attractive to enterprises because it allows them to blend data from on-premise applications with public and private cloud systems."
The acquisition may help IBM to tap into the red-hot trend of offering programs as services hosted online. Cloud computing allows companies to "rent" software, storage, and processing power as needed to either complement an existing IT-infrastructure or rapidly deploy new services without investing in additional hardware and maintenance.
"The integration challenges Cast Iron Systems is tackling are crucial to clients who are looking to adopt alternative delivery models to manage their businesses," said Craig Hayman, general manager, IBM WebSphere. "The combination of IBM and Cast Iron Systems will make it easy for clients to integrate business applications, no matter where those applications reside. This will give clients greater agility and as a result, better business outcomes."
Cast Iron Systems' approximately 75 employees will be integrated into IBM’s 407,000 worldwide workforce. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
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