HP’s three new software offerings are designed to make it easier for businesses to realize the benefits of cloud computing while reducing the risks and costs involved. The software allows for greater automation of services provisioning and a bridge between internal and public clouds, while also enabling businesses to right-size their cloud environments for their budgets. Telecom service providers also can offer SMBs outsourced communications services.
Hewlett-Packard wants to make it easier for businesses telecommunications service providers realize the desired benefits of cloud computing.
HP on Dec. 16 announced three new software offerings that officials say also will help reduce the challenge of keeping costs in line and decrease risks, such as non-compliance and human errors.
Cloud computing offers the promise of greater flexibility and scalability in a less expensive IT environment, according Thomas Hogan, executive vice president of HP’s Software and Solutions unit. But there are hurdles that need to be cleared.
“CIOs understand the potential business benefits of cloud computing, but are challenged with how best to manage the risks associated with adoption,” Hogan said in a statement.
According to research conducted for HP, 90 percent of corporate executives surveyed agreed that business cycles will continue to be unpredictable, and 75 percent said that would mean more demand for flexible and scalable technology, all of which play to the strengths of cloud computing, according to HP.
The new HP offerings are designed to mitigate the risk while ramping up the flexibility and cost controls.
HP’s Operations Orchestration brings automated provisioning to services within a business’ existing IT physical, virtual and cloud infrastructures. In addition, the software enables businesses in need of greater capacity to expand their internal environments to public clouds, such as Amazon’s EC2 (Elastic Compute Cloud).
Bridging internal and public clouds will be important as more businesses adopt cloud computing, according to analysts and vendors.
HP’s Cloud Assure for cost control gives businesses the ability to ensure their cloud environments meet their service level needs while staying within their budgets.
The CAAS (Communications as a Service) software will enable telecommunications providers to offer high levels of service to small and midsize businesses through a utility model, where the customer pays only for what hey use.
HP’s CAAS offering includes an aggregation platform, four integrated communications services from HP and other parties, and the ability to add other services.