HP Steps Up Cloud Computing Strategy And Offerings

HP made some interesting announcements, during its largest enterprise software event this week in Hamburg, Germany, regarding its cloud computing strategy. The emphasis was on areas that are often perceived as weak links in cloud-based services. HP's latest offerings target three specific customer issues: scalable, automated provisioning, cost management and optimization, and automated risk mitigation. HP continues to build out its cloud computing portfolio in part to keep pace with rivals like IBM and Microsoft, as well as, to shore up its position with its existing installed base customers.

HP draws a lot of strength and revenue from its enterprise and mid-sized customers, so it shouldn't surprise anyone that they are taking cloud computing seriously. The company's latest announcements bear this out, as they seek to solve customer adoption issues related to elasticity, cost and risk mitigation.

Using HP software and services that are designed to address these issues, the company is attempting to reduce barriers to cloud adoption by playing the role of trusted advisor. Essentially, they're trying to get their current customers to look no further than them when it comes to adopting a cloud strategy within the enterprise. At the same time, they hope to grab a new set of customers along the way. In fact, HP also announced a new set of cloud offerings targeted at specifically at service providers.

"There is no doubt that the cloud is a disruptive technology, promising enterprises of all sizes the speed and agility of a startup with the resources and scale of an enterprise,” said Frank Gens, senior vice president and chief analyst, IDC. “Adoption, however, is limited by uncertainties surrounding risks and rewards. Customers want assurance and a safe path to cloud adoption that will address potential risks of security, performance and availability, while providing clear return on investment.”

To that end, HP made significant enhancements to two existing cloud computing offerings: HP Cloud Assure, which targets cost control; and HP Operations Orchestration, which provides automated provisioning of cloud-based infrastructure services.

At the same time, with HP Communications as a Service (HP CaaS), the company has put together a program that "enables service providers to offer small- and midsize businesses services delivered on an outsourced basis and priced like utilities. HP CaaS helps service providers grow enterprise-related revenue by offering customers a low-cost, low-risk way to adopt cloud services". HP says this segment alone is a $6.2 billion market and their aim is to help service providers grab a significant share of it.

To read more about HP's latest announcements go here.