IBM Accelerates Momentum in the as a Service Space with Growing Portfolio of Tools Simplifying Infrastructure Management

Rhea-AI Summary

IBM has expanded its as-a-service portfolio with the introduction of IBM Storage Ceph as a Service, a fully managed software-defined storage solution for on-premises infrastructure. This new offering unifies block, file, and object data management while reducing operational complexity for IT teams.

The launch aligns with IDC's projection that by 2028, 80% of IT buyers will prioritize as-a-service consumption for key workloads. The portfolio includes IBM Power Virtual Server, which supports enterprise workloads like SAP, IBM i, Oracle, and AI.

A notable implementation case is National Van Lines, which adopted IBM Power Virtual Server to improve disaster recovery times from days to hours. The service allows enterprises to pay only for used computing resources, including memory, storage, and CPU, while IBM manages the infrastructure in their data centers.

Positive

• Introduction of fully managed IBM Storage Ceph as a Service reduces operational complexity and IT management burden
• Pay-per-use model helps reduce operational costs by aligning spending with actual usage
• On-demand scalability allows businesses to start small and grow based on needs
• Successful implementation at National Van Lines improved disaster recovery times from days to hours

Negative

• None.

• IBM Introduces New Software-Defined Storage Solution, IBM Storage Ceph as a Service
• National Van Lines Taps IBM as a Service for Workload Management

ARMONK, N.Y., March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- IBM (NYSE: IBM) has announced the addition of IBM Storage Ceph as a Service to its emerging portfolio of flexible as a service solutions for on-premises infrastructure. The portfolio includes IBM Power delivered as a service, which already offers the distributed compute platform in new form factors and flexible consumption options.

An IDC study underscores this shift, revealing that by 2028, 80% of IT buyers will prioritize as a service consumption for key workloads. This trend is driven by the demand for optimized IT spending, enhanced operational efficiency, and the attainment of critical sustainability metrics.¹ IBM is addressing this moment by providing IBM Storage Ceph via an as a service model, empowering clients to integrate cloud-based as a service solutions with on-premises environments.

"The need for seamless, automated operations is an increasing priority as organizations leverage AI capabilities, shift to digital infrastructure, and adopt new delivery models," said McLeod Glass, VP of Growth and Innovation Programs, IBM Infrastructure. "Delivering IT built on infrastructure as a service is key to unlocking the power of flexibility, speed, and ease of consumption."

Introducing IBM Storage Ceph as a Service

IBM has unveiled a new way of deploying IBM Storage Ceph via an as a service model so clients can leverage the software-defined unified storage solution as a cloud storage experience on-premises. IBM Storage Ceph unifies block, file, and object data to help organizations address data silos and modernize data lakes or virtual machines storage.

IBM Storage Ceph as a Service is a fully managed offering that is designed to deliver the scale, flexibility, availability, and cost efficiency of cloud storage to the data center, leaving the management and maintenance of Ceph clusters to IBM experts. With this solution, IT staff can focus resources on critical business priorities and emerging technologies, rather than the complicated task of managing storage infrastructure.

"With data being the lifeblood of any organization, data storage plays a critical role in every workstream, but it shouldn't be as challenging as it is for IT teams to manage," said Sam Werner, VP of IBM Storage Product Management. "With IBM Storage Ceph as a Service, we're taking on the headache for our clients, expediting the provisioning and streamlining the management of storage resources."

IBM Power Delivered as a Service

IBM has continued to innovate and invest in operating environments on IBM Power to help ensure business continuity, reliability, availability, serviceability, and security for clients. This includes the IBM Power Virtual Server Private Cloud integrated into the IBM Cloud Catalog, which supports enterprise workloads such as SAP, IBM i, Oracle, and AI. IBM Power Virtual Server is designed to help clients quickly adopt and expand their on-premises infrastructures both efficiently and economically while providing security and compliance capabilities.

National Van Lines, an IBM Power Virtual Server client, is a moving, packing and service company that provides relocation services for both individuals and businesses. The impact of major weather events in recent years has led to power outages in the Chicago area impacting the availability of their servers for days. This created a major disruption in their operations. The importance of IBM Power architecture to their business drove them to seek out a way to improve their business continuity plan.

Working with IBM and IBM's Business Partner, Mainline Information Systems, National Van Lines adopted IBM Power Virtual Server, which provides virtual machines as a service on Power architecture designed to support mission-critical applications. With a consistent architecture across on-premises and cloud environments, workload migration helps eliminate the need for re-platforming. This allowed National Van Lines to reduce IT costs and improve disaster recovery times from days to hours by mitigating the need for physical backup tapes.

"IBM Power Virtual Server is a solid, secured, and reliable solution, so much so that we're now going through the same process with the National Forwarding business unit," said Greg Moore, VP of IT at National Van Lines. "It works and we're so confident in it that we're implementing it in other areas of our business."

Since Power Virtual Server is an as a Service offering, enterprises will only pay for the computing resources used such as memory, storage, and CPU managed by IBM in their data centers.

Similarly, IBM Storage Ceph as a Service is designed to reduce operational costs by aligning spending with actual usage, avoiding underutilization and overprovisioning. It can also scale on-demand so IT teams can start small and grow to adapt to business needs as priorities change. With as a service offerings emerging as one of the prominent solutions built for improved operational efficiency, lower IT costs, and reduced risk and complexity, IBM is dedicated to helping enterprises both accelerate and simplify this IT journey.

For more information on IBM Storage Ceph as a Service, visit: https://www.ibm.com/products/storage-ceph

For more information on IBM Power Virtual Server, visit: https://www.ibm.com/products/power-virtual-server

About IBM
IBM is a leading provider of global hybrid cloud and AI, and consulting expertise. We help clients in more than 175 countries capitalize on insights from their data, streamline business processes, reduce costs and gain a competitive edge in their industries. Thousands of government and corporate entities in critical infrastructure areas such as financial services, telecommunications and healthcare rely on IBM's hybrid cloud platform and Red Hat OpenShift to affect their digital transformations quickly, efficiently and securely. IBM's breakthrough innovations in AI, quantum computing, industry-specific cloud solutions and consulting deliver open and flexible options to our clients. All of this is backed by IBM's long-standing commitment to trust, transparency, responsibility, inclusivity and service. Visit www.ibm.com for more information.

Contact:
Alexandra Demetriades
IBM
Alexandra.Demetriades@ibm.com 

¹ IDC FutureScape: Worldwide Future of Digital Infrastructure 2024 Predictions, doc #US50401023, December 2023

 

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ibm-accelerates-momentum-in-the-as-a-service-space-with-growing-portfolio-of-tools-simplifying-infrastructure-management-302412553.html

SOURCE IBM

FAQ

What is IBM's new Storage Ceph as a Service offering and how does it benefit businesses?

IBM Storage Ceph as a Service is a fully managed storage solution that unifies block, file, and object data management on-premises, reducing IT complexity and operational costs through a pay-per-use model.

How did National Van Lines benefit from implementing IBM Power Virtual Server?

National Van Lines improved their disaster recovery times from days to hours and reduced IT costs by implementing IBM Power Virtual Server for their mission-critical applications.

What market trend is IBM addressing with its as-a-service portfolio expansion?

IBM is addressing IDC's projection that 80% of IT buyers will prioritize as-a-service consumption for key workloads by 2028, focusing on optimized IT spending and operational efficiency.

What payment model does IBM use for its Power Virtual Server service?

IBM Power Virtual Server uses a pay-per-use model where enterprises only pay for actual computing resources used, including memory, storage, and CPU managed by IBM in their data centers.

What enterprise workloads does IBM Power Virtual Server support?

IBM Power Virtual Server supports enterprise workloads including SAP, IBM i, Oracle, and AI through the IBM Cloud Catalog.