BT is pushing to make it easier for organisations to connect to the applications and data they need with the launch of its ‘cloud of clouds’ vision.
It says it has a roadmap for future delivery of services and industry sector solutions delivered through its network.
BT will provide a service catalogue through its Cloud Management System to link customers to a wide range of services, such as IT infrastructure and "as a service" applications.
One of the key benefits of this is a wide range of choice for customers in the cloud, with partners such as AWS, Cisco, Equinix, HP, Interxion, Microsoft and Salesforce all available.
Customers will have also have access to apps from BT in addition to the control and security of customer data which meets global and local regulations, based on the BT Assure portfolio.
Luis Alvarez, CEO, BT Global Services, said: "In the future digital age, no business will be successful unless it makes the most of the cloud. CIOs ask for choice and flexibility, trusted security and the best know-how in the industry to meet their business challenges."
"This matches perfectly with our network-centric vision of the ‘cloud of clouds’ and leverages the experience gained through the cloud ecosystems we have already built for the global financial services and life sciences sectors."
"We’re investing with our partners to bring the widest possible range of options to connect our customers’ critical applications and data, wherever those are hosted, whenever they need them, on whatever device they use."
"We also aim to provide our customers with a strong end-to-end service level agreement guaranteeing performance, predictability and flexibility."
"And we have the expertise and capabilities required to defend and protect our customers, providing trust and confidence in the cloud. We aim to be the leading global cloud services integrator."
The cloud market has been shifting to a ‘cloud of clouds’ approach with HP being a leading proponent of this approach. The idea is that it will help to aid adoption and make the cloud market much more accessible and open.
Melanie Posey, Research Vice President at IDC said: "’One size fits all’ does not apply to cloud services. Enterprises will be operating in diversified IT environments and consuming more and more cloud-based services from a range of providers."
"Therefore, enterprise customers need heterogeneous cloud frameworks that support a range of solutions tailored to different business requirements. They will want a provider that can serve as a trusted broker — a partner capable of integrating and managing ‘multi-cloud’ IT estates in a secure fashion."
"Global network infrastructure and broad ecosystems of third-party solutions are key components of diversified IT environments. As such, BT with its ‘cloud of clouds’ vision is well positioned to guide enterprises into the next-generation of federated cloud IT."
