Cloud Roundup: VMware, IBM, Oracle

VMware launches vCloud Hybrid service for disaster recovery, The Hartford selects IBM to build private cloud infrastructure, and Oracle adds database backup and storage cloud services to its portfolio of Platform and Infrastructure services.

VMware delivers vCloud Hybrid service for disaster recovery. VMware (VMW) announced VMware vCloud Hybrid Service - Disaster Recovery, a new cloud-based disaster recovery (DR) service that provides a continuously available recovery site for VMware virtualized data centers.  The service is available immediately in all five vCloud Hybrid Service data centers in the U.S. and U.K. The service continuously replicates virtual machines to a virtual data center within vCloud Hybrid Service, with a recovery point objective (RPO) of up to 15 minutes. VMware partners can offer the new DR service as a value added solution to customers who already have deployed infrastructure, or offer a comprehensive solution for net-new deployments, creating the ability for bigger opportunities. "Everyone wants enterprise-class disaster recovery, but without the complexity and cost of traditional DR," said Jerry Sanchez, vice president of Hosting Operations, Planview. "We know how to administer vSphere, so the simplicity and familiarity of administering vCloud Hybrid Service - Disaster Recovery is just as easy, making this service a natural fit for us. Typically, DR services require expensive professional services to install and maintain. With the VMware solution, the data and applications are simply mirrored in vCloud Hybrid Service™, ready to go whenever trouble strikes, and with the benefits of a cloud-based economic model."

IBM selected by The Hartford to move IT to the cloud.  IBM announced a new six-year technology services agreement to implement a new service model that includes a private cloud infrastructure. The Hartford will move to a private cloud-based infrastructure on IBM’s PureFlex System. Under the $500 million agreement, IBM will also provide a number of other services related to mainframe, storage, backup and resiliency. The two companies will also partner on the creation of a joint innovation committee to foster collaboration on strategic initiatives. The project will leverage the expertise of both firms, market insights and research to build new business models and competitive capabilities that will enhance The Hartford’s ability to anticipate and meet the needs of customers and agents. “As The Hartford continues to execute on its strategic plan, we are making significant technology investments to increase operational effectiveness and improve our competitiveness,” said Andy Napoli, president of Consumer Markets and Enterprise Business Services at The Hartford. “The partnership with IBM will help The Hartford implement a strategic technology infrastructure that will provide us with greater agility and offer us more flexibility and transparency as we continue to grow our businesses.”

Oracle launches new backup and storage cloud services. Oracle (ORCL) announced the availability of Oracle Database Backup Service and Oracle Storage Cloud Service. As a part of its portfolio of enterprise-grade cloud solutions, the new services expand the portfolio of Platform and Infrastructure Services, all available on a subscription basis. Oracle Database Backup Service provides a simple, scalable, and low-cost Oracle Database cloud backup solution, and can be an integral part of multi-tier database backup and recovery strategies. It is tightly integrated with RMAN commands for seamlessly and securely performing backup and recovery operations between on-premises Oracle Databases and the Oracle Cloud.  Oracle Storage Cloud provides a secure, scalable, and reliable object storage solution that enables organizations to effortlessly store, access, and manage data in the cloud. It is API compatible with OpenStack Swift and provides access to data through REST and Java APIs. "To remain competitive in today’s highly connected business environment, organizations are increasingly adopting and building new cloud-based solutions. There is also a huge push to migrate existing on-premises workloads to the public cloud and support portability between on-premises and cloud environments,” said Chris Pinkham, senior vice president, Product Development at Oracle. “To help customers achieve these goals, Oracle has further expanded its comprehensive set of enterprise-grade infrastructure cloud services. The new services are based on open standards, integrated to work together seamlessly, and designed to support full portability between on-premises and cloud environments.”