IBM, AWS to Bring More of Big Blue’s Software to Cloud Marketplace

IBM and AWS have made a big move. On Wednesday, Big Blue said it will soon offer its software on an as-a-service basis through Amazon Web Services.

IBM already provisions its software as a service through its hybrid-cloud platform, IBM Cloud. And IBM and AWS already work together — Big Blue has more than 30 software platforms on the AWS Marketplace; those are implemented manually.

Now, IBM is broadening its reach by bringing more software to the AWS Marketplace, via an AWS Strategic Collaboration Agreement. An AWS SCA calls on both AWS and the vendor partner to invest in areas such as sales and marketing; also, channel incentives, developer enablement and more. Through the SCA, the companies will take aim at verticals including oil and gas, and travel and transportation, among others.

Initially, IBM and AWS will deliver API Connect, Db2, Observability by Instana APM and Maximo Application Suite. They can also offer Security ReaQta, Security Trusteer, Security Verify and Watson Orchestrate. More will follow later this year. These all will work with AWS services out of the box and support API, CloudFormation and Terraform templates for workflow automation.

Consulting and Security

IBM’s consulting and security services teams further will offer custom help building and deploying IBM software on AWS. IBM says its experts hold more than 10,000 AWS certifications and specialize in 13 AWS competencies.

IBM’s Tom Rosamilia

“As hybrid cloud continues to become the reality for our clients, IBM is ready and willing to meet them with a flexible and cloud-native software portfolio wherever they are in the cloud or in data centers,” said Tom Rosamilia, senior vice president at IBM Software. “By deepening our collaboration with AWS, we’re taking another major step in giving organizations the ability to choose the hybrid cloud model that works best for their own needs and workloads, freeing them up to instead focus on solving their most pressing business challenges.”

More on the Significance of New IBM-AWS Deal on Organizations

Guilherme Ximenes is chief technology officer at Banco Inter, a Brazil-based bank. He said the approach from IBM and AWS comes at a welcome time.

Banco Inter’s Guilherme Ximenes

“Companies like ours are looking for faster time-to-value and to get up and running quickly,” Ximenes said. “Becoming an AWS cloud-first organization has set us on the path of a digital innovator. … The availability of IBM SaaS offerings on AWS will allow businesses like ours to focus on delivering our clients value without worrying about IT infrastructure management, helping us innovate at a faster clip.”

The new arrangement between IBM and AWS marks a significant strategic shift for the 110-year-old Big Blue. The company has fought in recent years to adjust to the cloud economy. IBM, of course, cemented its legacy as a provider of computers and other hardware, and some software. As it has struggled to compete in the cloud era, strengthening its partnership with the world’s largest public cloud provider (for now) makes sense. The timing seems beneficial for IBM. The company is fresh off a quarter of double-digit revenue growth — something it has strived for for a long time and seems at last to be achieving. Its cloud group, too, led by Red Hat, reported higher sales. And IBM has pledged to make doing business easier for the indirect channel, a key driver for any vendor seeking to increase adoption of its technologies.

For IBM, placing its software catalog on the AWS Marketplace will allow organizations to keep using the applications they rely on, in a cloud-based format. Users then can integrate with AWS services, which the companies say will offer a native AWS experience.

Clients who buy IBM SaaS Software in AWS Marketplace will be eligible to draw down against their AWS Enterprise Discount Program commitments.