Aug. 26 — IBM today announced that SoftLayer, an IBM Company, plans to launch its first Australian data center in Melbourne in September. It will be the latest of 15 new data centers that IBM plans to open as part of a $1.2 billion dollar global investment to strengthen and extend its cloud services in Asia Pacific and around the world.  The new onshore SoftLayer data center will meet Australian organizations’ demands for secure, in-country enterprise-grade IBM cloud services that can deliver hybrid, private and public cloud environments.

The Melbourne data center offers the full portfolio of SoftLayer’s cloud services to include bare metal and virtual servers, storage, and networking, all in one integrated platform. Replicating the design of other SoftLayer data centers around the globe, the Melbourne facility will have capacity for more than 15,000 physical servers.  The onshore facility provides Australian customers with local residency for their data that is secure, resilient and can be easily integrated with existing infrastructure to provide a robust hybrid environment.  A second Australian SoftLayer data center is planned to open later this year.

As organizations look to achieve higher scalability, performance, transparency and security they are relying on IBM’s enterprise-grade cloud offerings.  Peter Bourke, the Director of Information Technology Scentre Group, owner and operator of Westfield inAustralia and New Zealand,  said a hybrid cloud approach will further enable Scentre Group to continue to deliver iconic retail experiences for customers.

“Our industry is rapidly transforming and we need to be ready to quickly respond to these changes. Today’s empowered consumer is looking for an integrated personalized shopping, lifestyle and entertainment experience. A hybrid cloud strategy will allow the flexibility and scalability to meet these needs.  The SoftLayer offering provides an interesting option for a hybrid cloud environment,” said Bourke.

“Australia is an important market for IBM and SoftLayer. We are seeing a strong appetite for cloud in this market, particularly towards the hybrid cloud model. We are investing in Australia, combining and strengthening our existing cloud capabilities.  We now offer customers high value, enterprise grade hybrid cloud environment,” said Lance Crosby CEO SoftLayer.  “IBM’s ability to offer Australian businesses in-country access to SoftLayer’s global cloud infrastructure will further accelerate cloud adoption amongst a new breed of organizations that is constantly ready and responding to change.”

Opening the new facility, the Victorian Minister for Technology Gordon Rich-Phillips welcomed the IBM announcement as another significant international investment in Victoria’s information and communications technology capabilities and skills; and a valuable addition to the state’s world-class technology ecosystem.

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Source: IBM