Bick Group Acquires Cloud Consultants

Data center design/build firm Bick Group has announced the acquisition of Blue Mountain Labs (BML), a consulting firm focused on the adoption of cloud computing within enterprise and government organizations. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

BML was founded by David Linthicum, a well known thought leader in the cloud computing and service oriented architecture (SOA) space, and the author of the best selling cloud computing book Cloud Computing and SOA Convergence in your Enterprise…a Step-by-Step Guide. Linthicum will join Bick Group as CTO and focus on expanding Bick Group’s leadership within the emerging cloud computing space.

“In our 45-year history we have repeatedly adapted to technology evolution in the data center,” said Andrew Parham, Bick Group CEO. “The addition of BML to our existing IT Services Practice is a natural extension of our portfolio. We are excited about bringing BML into the Bick Group family and look forward to helping our clients exploit the advantages of true SOA combined with cloud computing.”

Bick Group designs and builds data centers for enterprises, government agencies and third-party data center operators worldwide.

Parham discussed Bick Group's growing interest in cloud computing in his keynote presentation at the fall 2009 Data Center World conference. “The cloud contains a storm, not a shower,” Parham said. “Your role as a data center professional will be completely turned upside down in this period of change.”

“Cloud computing models are the future of the data center,” said Bill Russell, Executive VP of IT Services for Bick Group. “Our clients have come to rely on our strategic insight and our ability to execute.  The acquisition of BML will allow us to deliver a set of offerings to cut through the hype and deliver on the promise of the cloud."

“I found the synergy between BML and Bick Group to be extremely compelling,” said Linthicum. “With the thought leadership and strategic guidance provided by BML, and Bick Group’s ability to execute, the combined organization will provide clients with a clear path to cloud computing and the ability to get them there to support the requirements of the business.”