Fujitsu launches new hybrid cloud solution
November 16, 2011
Fujitsu has announced the latest addition to its cloud computing portfolio today, launching a new hybrid cloud solution in partnership with Microsoft. The two IT giants previously came together back in October to launch Fujitsu’s private cloud Productivity Suite, and the new Hybrid Cloud Services will rely on Windows Azure for the public cloud element of the solution. According to the company’s principal consultant for UK and Ireland, David Leen, the new offering allows Fujitsu to “provide alternative data hosting for applications hosted on Windows Azure, meaning an application’s presentation layer and business logic are running on Microsoft’s Windows Azure platform and the application’s data is hosted on Fujitsu’s Public (FGCP) or Private Cloud platform (LCP).”…
Hybrid Cloud is thought to the next step for Fujitsu in their bid to provide global cloud services to both public and private sectors. However, government departments are still work in progress for the company, especially in the UK – Windows Azure is currently hosted out of Ireland and the Netherlands within Europe, and still holds no government security accreditation, something that would prevent its use with departments that hold any sensitive public information.
However, hybrid cloud solutions are still thought to be cloud of choice for many larger private sector organisationswhen they embark on a cloud strategy, allowing them to put their workloads and data wherever it is most appropriate for them –in a public, private, or mixed environment.
Fujitsu hope the new solution will help companies address the challenges of interoperability, data security, governance and compliance when delivering across multiple platforms. The service is being launched in five countries – the UK, USA, Australia, Spain and Canada, with more to follow.
“Hybrid cloud services provide another important addition to the Fujitsu Cloud Portfolio and we are excited that we can now provide customers with a higher level of cost saving and flexibility from multiple cloud integration,” said Cameron McNaught, Fujitsu SVP, Cloud.
“The service builds on our extensive experience in delivering Windows Azure services including the world’s first independently managed Microsoft Windows Azure cloud environment delivered from the Fujitsu Global Cloud platform in Japan.”
Doug Hauger, Windows Azure General Manager, from Microsoft Corporation said: “These new cloud options from Fujitsu demonstrate the potential for offering public cloud services with value-added service techniques to deliver sophisticated cloud solutions that meet customers’ specific needs.
“The hybrid cloud model from Fujitsu, which uses the Microsoft Windows Azure platform, shows how our work together will address key customer needs such as integration with on-premise systems or specific security requirements.”