IBM Debuts Remote Data Center Management Service

IBM Global Services has unveiled a new IT outsourcing service, which will provide remote IBM support services to a customer's multiplatform data center, while allowing the customer to retain ownership of its systems and responsibility for employees.

Typical outsourcing arrangements with IGS previously had the integration arm of IBM owning and operating equipment and bearing responsibility for staffing at a customer. The new flexible support service, termed a "hybrid IT outsourcing model" by the company, uses IBM technology to remotely manage a client's data center and is based on Big Blue's Universal Management Infrastructure (UMI).

According to the company, the service helps customers become more attuned to business needs by using technology that automates, manages and supports data center functions. For instance, the service offers sense-and-respond server and storage provisioning. That can increase or decrease computing capacity as demand changes. The IBM flexible support service assists customers in determining which key infrastructure components best support an on-demand computing environment. The service is part of IBM's Infrastructure Management offerings (formerly code-named "Project Symphony"). Other new offerings include Infrastructure Management Assessment Services, Tivoli Intelligent Orchestrator software and Web Server Orchestration, a blade server-based Web and application server automation solution.