IBM SoftLayer Acquisition Update: Cloud Meets MSPs

By samdizzy

IBM’s SoftLayer acquisition, announced last week, sets the stage for a $7 billion cloud services division at IBM. In addition to promoting SoftLayer and IBM SmartCloud services to enterprise customers, it’s a safe bet the company will more aggressively engage MSPs (managed services providers).

Indeed, an IBM MSP Summit is set for this week in Las Vegas. IBM sees at least five ways MSPs can transform their businesses to drive more monthly recurring revenues (MRR). Big Blue also sees new types of MSPs emerging — and intends to promote SmartCloud and PureFlex Systems to those MSPs. 

Among the names worth watching:

The SoftLayer acqusition, expected to close in Q3 2013, will report to Clementi.

Advani, meanwhile, is set to keynote the IBM MSP Summit on June 11 in Las Vegas. He can’t say too much about the SoftLayer deal since it’s yet to close. But it’s a safe bet Advani will paint with broad strokes — explaining how SoftLayer fits into the larger IBM cloud strategy for MSPs and enterprises, without diving down into the nitty gritty details.