IBM, Microsoft ‘Helping Eliminate Obstacles’ for Developers

Hybrid cloud represents the ideal computing model for most organizations. At least, that’s what most industry research indicates. And it’s what IBM and Microsoft are counting on.

The two companies already announced last week that they’ve built a new platform together to let developers migrate WebSphere workloads to Azure. Automation takes care of most of the standard resource provisioning, IBM and Microsoft said.

Now, Willie Tejada, chief developer advocate at IBM, is offering more details. (As you may recall, IBM and Microsoft came up with a way to run the traditional IBM WebSphere Application Server Network Deployment on Azure Linux virtual machines.)

IBM’s Willie Tejada

“The solution is jointly developed and supported by IBM and Microsoft, and a wonderful example of how we are building together across the ecosystem to give you more flexibility to accomplish your goals,” Tejada wrote in a blog that will publish on Tuesday.

“Together, we’re helping eliminate obstacles so you can focus on your core tasks: whether it’s through the option to modernize your existing Enterprise Java applications and move them to the Microsoft Azure Cloud, or deciding on the approach to develop and deploy your next-generation cloud-native application on Azure,” he added. “WebSphere products are key components in enabling enterprise Java workloads.”

IBM says hybrid cloud deployments are putting more demands on enterprise developers, so it continues to respond with platforms that ease the load.

“[Y]ou’re being asked to deliver the kinds of solutions that require you to consistently invest in your skill sets and to build together collaboratively in an ecosystem environment,” Tejada said. “To help ease this transformation, my team’s goal is to help you build together: increasing capabilities for developers and lifting burdens that have previously hindered your innovation.”

Hybrid Cloud Is King

IBM and Microsoft’s efforts come as hybrid stands out as the most popular cloud configuration.

In fact, an IBM Institute for Business Value report published last year found that a typical enterprise relies on nearly eight clouds from different vendors. Over the next three years, the IBM Institute for Business Value projects hybrid cloud adoption to rise by 47%. On average, each organization will have six clouds within its environment.

Those numbers mesh with other, similar findings from non-IBM sources. In short, analysts and other industry experts view hybrid cloud as ideal for most users.

To be sure, the majority of organizations require a combination of private and public clouds, offered by different providers. Each brand comes with its own strengths, capabilities and geographies. Putting that all together in a customized fashion gives enterprises the power to use technology to achieve strategic goals.

That’s why IBM, with its open architecture, sees itself playing a significant role in hybrid cloud. As it works across vendors – teaming with Microsoft, Google, Amazon Web Services and other providers – it can bring legacy workloads into the modern era and also create cloud-native applications.

Channel Investment

Of course, IBM isn’t just focused on working with other providers. The company is making good on that much-touted $1 billion partner investment. Besides fellow cloud vendors, IBM continues to join forces with system integrators and independent software vendors. The company also works value-added resellers and distributors, and other channel entities. These relationships help developers “meet the needs of the hybrid cloud era,” Tejada said.

One example of that assistance comes from the new Hybrid Cloud Build Team. The initiative features more than 100 cloud architects and data scientists who create platforms for partners and their clients. Cloud developers, security specialists and developer advocates are involved too. Furthermore, the Hybrid Cloud Build Team advises partners on speeding up the move to open hybrid cloud environments. That applies even in industries such as finance and telecommunications where change is hard to enact because of regulations.

Overall, expect to more news from IBM and Microsoft as they putting WebSphere products on Azure.