Image via CrunchBase

Sometimes I feel really sorry for IBM and Microsoft. Both these companies face similar dilemma when it comes to Cloud Computing. Both these companies have a strong foothold in the traditional computing market. They have a strong cash cow from the previous era. They see the value in the upcoming Cloud Computing era but have difficulty prioritizing their business strategies. Faced with this dilemma, they tend to talk about Cloud Computing using their own language. Whether it is Microsoft’s Software + Service mantra or IBM’s reluctant support to Cloud based infrastructure at the enterprise level, it is quite obvious that they are struggling between protecting their existing cash cow and thinking about long term strategies for their future relevance.

Today, IBM made a series of announcements, under their blue cloud banner, to make us believe that they are serious about Cloud Computing. It includes

• A backup and recovery service for desktops and laptops in IBM’s Cloud (using Tivoli)
• A Secure platform to test Cloud Applications before putting into production systems (Skytap, beware)
• A partnership with Juniper networks to install public-private hybrid clouds. Depending on the resource needs, enterprises can extend their private clouds to public clouds with a click of a button
• A new IBM dashboard to manage cloud computing environment
• Appointment of enterprise cloud computing czar

Check out the techmeme discussions for analysis by different experts about this announcement from IBM. Today’s announcement is not earth shattering and, if you ask James Urquhart, disappointing. As I have mentioned in this space, if we want to push Cloud Computing into the enterprise space, we can only do it by taking along reluctant giants like IBM and Microsoft. We cannot ignore them and still succeed as it is happening in consumer and small business space.