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Hewlett-Packard is adding to its cloud computing services lineup, offering consulting designed to help enterprises speed up their ability to adopt the burgeoning computing model.
HP on Feb. 16 rolled out its Cloud Design Service, which gives businesses a way of designing and deploying scalable cloud computing environments and ensuring that the infrastructure can support both private and public clouds in a hybrid fashion.
Such consulting services can help businesses more easily move from wanting a cloud environment to deploying and managing one, according to Alan Wilson, vice president of the Solutions Infrastructure Practice of HP Technology Services.
“Organization of all types are struggling to understand how to build a cloud-specific infrastructure that is safe and effective while meeting their business objectives,” Wilson said in a statement.
With HP Cloud Design Service representatives learn about the needs and existing IT infrastructures of their clients, then create a “customized cloud infrastructure design blueprint and an implementation plan,” HP said.
That plan includes everything from cost estimates and deployment guidelines to testing, operational management and support. It takes into account such aspects as the people, workload migration issues and technologies involved.
HP uses its Reference Architecture for Cloud as the common framework for its services, treating it as a foundation that can be adapted to accommodate requirements specific to the client.
The new service also takes into account the current IT assets of the client business, identifying what can be used in the cloud environment.
Analysts are saying the move to cloud computing will continue as businesses see the cost and management benefits associated with the model. In December 2009, Gartner analysts predicted that through at least 2012 enterprises will invest more money in building private clouds while public cloud environments-such as those offered by Amazon.com, IBM and Google-mature.
Over time, though, businesses will use public clouds as well, and eventually will develop hybrid environments.
The Gartner analysts said what’s important for businesses now is to begin laying the groundwork for their migration to cloud computing.