The News: IBM and Amazon Web Services (AWS) signed a strategic collaboration agreement to run IBM’s broad software catalog as Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) on AWS. The agreement will provide clients with access to IBM’s software portfolio on cloud-native AWS. The multiyear deal also includes other join initiatives. Read the full Press Release from IBM.
IBM and Amazon Web Services Sign Collaboration Agreement to Run IBM Software-as-a-Service on AWS
Analyst Take: This collaboration agreement between IBM and AWS will be a boon for both customer bases. As organizations are looking to improve agility, flexibility, and scalability, having easy access to IBM’s SaaS on AWS’s infrastructure will be huge. Software products that will be available first include, IBM API Connect, IBM Db2, IBM Observability by Instana APM, IBM Maximo Application Suite, IBM Security ReaQta, IBM Security Trusteer, IBM Security Verify, and IBM Watson Orchestrate. Others will follow later this year, according to IBM. Uses that have existing licenses for these solutions can deploy the software on AWS with Bring Your Own License (BYOL).
These solutions will be sold on AWS Marketplace and customers will be able to get up and running with just a few clicks, delivering business value quickly. By building on Red Hat’s OpenShift Service on AWS (ROSA), businesses won’t have to worry about updating or managing any of the infrastructure. By deepening the partnership between IBM and AWS, customers can build and deploy modern and secure workflows that will allow them to better compete in today’s business environment.
Additionally, IBM and AWS will partner on integrated go-to-market activities across a variety of channels, offer developer enablement and training and other product or solution development for key verticals and industries. It’s clear that IBM and AWS are all in on this deepened partnership.
Overall Impressions of the Partnership
While IBM software users have always been able to take a “Bring your own License” approach to run software on AWS, this partnership highlights an important pivot to IBM making its software run cloud-native in the AWS environment further exemplifying the company’s commitment to hybrid and multi-cloud architecture. I also believe this is likely the first of at least a few of these types of partnerships as IBM will be looking to Microsoft Azure, Alibaba, and possibly the likes of Google, Tencent, and others to create similar partnerships.
As I see it, this partnership further highlights IBM’s strategic focus on hybrid cloud capabilities, which will create increased market clarity for its customers and should drive greater targeted demand for its software, AI, and consulting services. I also believe that it will help IBM leverage its software to increase revenue. As this collaboration agreement plays out, it will be interesting to see how the partnership is adopted in the market and how it impacts both revenue and customer demand as enterprises seek to accelerate IT modernization efforts.
Disclosure: Futurum Research is a research and advisory firm that engages or has engaged in research, analysis, and advisory services with many technology companies, including those mentioned in this article. The author does not hold any equity positions with any company mentioned in this article.
Analysis and opinions expressed herein are specific to the analyst individually and data and other information that might have been provided for validation, not those of Futurum Research as a whole.
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Image Credit: Amazon AWS
Author Information
Daniel is the CEO of The Futurum Group. Living his life at the intersection of people and technology, Daniel works with the world’s largest technology brands exploring Digital Transformation and how it is influencing the enterprise.
From the leading edge of AI to global technology policy, Daniel makes the connections between business, people and tech that are required for companies to benefit most from their technology investments. Daniel is a top 5 globally ranked industry analyst and his ideas are regularly cited or shared in television appearances by CNBC, Bloomberg, Wall Street Journal and hundreds of other sites around the world.
A 7x Best-Selling Author including his most recent book “Human/Machine.” Daniel is also a Forbes and MarketWatch (Dow Jones) contributor.
An MBA and Former Graduate Adjunct Faculty, Daniel is an Austin Texas transplant after 40 years in Chicago. His speaking takes him around the world each year as he shares his vision of the role technology will play in our future.
