It started a few years ago with Cisco engaging with managed service providers to discuss their cloud computing ambitions, then came IBM and followed suit. This week, H-P also announced their intentions to be active within the cloud computing gold rush by pledging to invest more than $1 billion over a two year period.
H-P Announces Cloud Computing Intentions
It may not be earth shattering news that H-P is interested in keeping up with IBM and Cisco but it is worth noting that now there are three large vendors who are all vying for cloud computing dollars. While IBM and Cisco are undoubtedly interested in MSPs it is unclear as yet what level of interest H-P will have regarding the MSP channel as a source for recruiting cloud computing partners.
From a high level perspective, all three companies following a somewhat similar market strategy (i.e., servers, infrastructure, and private cloud capabilities) is to be expected. What we don’t know yet is which company will solve the private cloud riddle.
H-P Private Cloud?
In order for H-P (or IBM and Cisco for that matter) to tap into cloud computing channel they must first solve a financial problem: most MSPs are unwilling to take the risk to front load the costs of a private cloud infrastructure. While there are models like Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) that can lessen the financial impact to both provider and customer, many customers are demanding more transparency and control in their cloud computing environments. This often means private cloud.
There is another path for H-P to take, which is to acquire (as IBM did) a SoftLayer type of cloud hosting company. Even if they did, H-P would still need to have a message around private cloud infrastructure.
We will continue to monitor these companies as they progress but one thing remains clear; MSPs can expect to see a lot of competition for their cloud computing attention from now on.