Cloud and data second-quarter 2012: analysis and outlook

Table of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. Cloud
    1. IBM raises the bar on converged infrastructure
    2. SDN on a roll
    3. Cloud M&A and funding
  3. Big data
    1. Hadoop: What is it good for?
    2. Google launches BigQuery for public consumption
    3. Big-data M&A and funding
  4. Companies to watch
  5. Near-term outlook
  6. Key takeaways
  7. About Jo Maitland

1. Summary

In cloud and big data, the second quarter of 2012 featured several high-profile deals and product launches that could reshape the marketplace for everyone. Key highlights from the quarter include:

  • Google and Microsoft launched Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) offerings. These services have been a long time coming for Microsoft and Google, and the market is anticipating they will provide much-needed competition to market leader Amazon Web Services.
  • Converged infrastructure and software-defined networking (SDN) gained momentum. IBM took notice of the converged infrastructure trend and finally launched a product, PureSystems, to challenge Oracle, HP and VCE Company (VMware, Cisco and EMC). Meanwhile the emerging SDN field sees another new entrant, LineRate Systems.
  • Big data and analytics continued to steam ahead. This quarter saw VMware join the Hadoop party with plans to virtualize the big-data platform. And Google opened up its BigQuery data analytics service for public consumption.
  • Big-data startups were in demand. IBM went on a big-data-analytics buying spree in the quarter, acquiring Varicent Software, Vivisimo and Tealeaf Technology. Meanwhile VMware snapped up Cetas.

This quarterly wrap-up discusses these milestones and provides a near-term outlook for trends, technologies and companies to watch in the next 18 to 24 months.

 

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