Atos, EMC, VMware to form cloud computing alliance

ICT services provider Atos, IT supplier EMC and virtualisation and cloud infrastructure services provider VMware have formed an open cloud computing alliance. Atos plans to create a new company, Canopy, providing a range of cloud services. Based on technology from EMC and VMware, the offerings will include an open cloud platform that enables customers to choose, access and deploy cloud-based services for their enterprise IT needs. As part of the alliance, EMC and VMware also intend to invest alongside Atos to enable adoption of Canopy's services in the marketplace. The cloud offerings will be based on open standards so clients can always choose their preferred technology, whether to run the solution off- or on-premise and how to mix private, public and hybrid cloud solutions to best meet their business needs. They will be targeted at selected vertical markets. 

The cloud offerings include an Enterprise Application Store powered by EMC and VMware technologies that will enable clients to choose, access and download applications they require under the SaaS model. The store will include horizontal (cross-industries) and business applications. An Enterprise Platform as a Service (PaaS) powered by EMC and VMware technologies, and managed by Atos, will provide a secure enterprise Java development environment, incorporating a standard development framework where Canopy and its clients can design, create and test new cloud applications. A Private Cloud powered by EMC and VMware technologies will provide clients with a pre-configured, standardised, cloud stack for on-premise and off-premise deployments. Cloud strategy & transformation Journey Design consulting services will range from building customised cloud strategy to shaping a cloud transformation journey. 

The alliance will use the common channels of Atos and EMC to bring to the market this portfolio of cloud services. Thus, Canopy customers will gain from the EMC and VMware technologies, orchestrated, integrated, industrialised and delivered through the Atos worldwide datacentre network and know-how in cloud services. Headquartered in Europe, Canopy will propose cloud offerings from dedicated infrastructures in order to ensure its customers' data protection and security comply with all relevant regulations. The Canopy CEO will be appointed by Atos, its principal shareholder.