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IBM announced it is expanding its Direct Link services through new collaborations with Verizon, Equinix, and Digital Realty, among others, to help enterprises adopt a hybrid cloud infrastructure.
IBM Direct Link provides enterprises with a reliable and secure connection to the cloud by enabling them to directly plug into the IBM Cloud through private and secure IP network connections.
The enhanced services include new co-location capabilities, enabling companies to house their own infrastructure in a secure cabinet within an IBM Cloud data center while connecting directly into the IBM Cloud network from 13 global data center locations. They also can easily move workloads to and from the IBM Cloud as if they are part of their local area network, adding even more flexibility.
“Low latency, security and reliability are high priorities when implementing a hybrid cloud because they drive a positive user experience,” said Jack Beech, vice president of business development for IBM’s SoftLayer cloud infrastructure unit. “With help from providers such as Verizon, Equinix and Digital Realty, we’re giving clients more options for connecting to our cloud platform. Users can connect directly into our Infrastructure as a Service from their global data centers or offices using Direct Link, benefiting from a faster, more reliable and more secure connection than is typical through the public Internet.”
IBM said the new services help extend the life of existing IT investments—which means there is no need to rip and replace hardware when moving to the cloud—while giving users direct access to faster and more consistent network performance and higher data security. By adding more companies to the Direct Link network, IBM is simplifying the way customers can adopt and leverage a hybrid cloud model.
In addition to new co-location capabilities, Direct Link continues to provide companies with expanded global reach and added support to address auditing and reporting guidelines for a multi-cloud architecture. IBM’s offering includes Direct Link NSP, which is tailored for customers who need to adhere to the most stringent auditing and reporting guidelines, such as HIPAA. It provides a “single unified cloud” platform so that customers can meet their specific security compliance requirements.
The Direct Link Cloud Exchange enables customers to take advantage of multi-cloud architectures, including a mix of on-premises, private cloud and public cloud services. It is designed to offer optimal flexibility and choice.
Meanwhile, in addition to working with Verizon, Equinix and Digital Realty, these services are offered globally from InterXion and NextDC, as well as customers on the Colt network.
In other recent IBM cloud news, Big Blue announced the expansion of its hybrid cloud capabilities in China through the launch of Bluemix Local.
Bluemix Local is IBM’s behind-the-firewall cloud computing platform that enables enterprises to quickly and securely build apps and deploy them across public, private and on-premises environments.
The delivery of Bluemix Local brings Chinese enterprises and developers the speed and ease of hybrid app development on IBM’s Bluemix Platform as a Service behind an organization’s firewall. Built on an open architecture to provide increased flexibility, Bluemix Local frees up the time that organizations have traditionally spent managing infrastructure and moving data and apps between disparate cloud environments.