IBM Acquires Cast Iron to Extend Cloud Offerings

IBM announced Monday the acquisition of cloud integration specialist Cast Iron for an undisclosed sum, reports Reuters.

Dana Gardner at ZDNet describes Cast Iron this way:

[It's] s not a cloud provider, but rather a hub enabler of other cloud and SaaS services providers. Cast Iron, through appliances, software and services, also provides an integration capability between on-premises data and applications in enterprises and the various emerging cloud services providers.

And VentureBeat quotes from IBM's press release:

With the addition of Cast Iron Systems to its portfolio, IBM will be able to offer clients a complete platform to integrate cloud applications from providers including Salesforce.com, Amazon, NetSuite and ADP with on-premise applications, such as SAP and JD Edwards. Using Cast Iron Systems' hundreds of pre-built templates and services expertise, expensive custom coding can be eliminated, allowing cloud integrations to be completed in the space of days, rather than weeks or longer. These results can be achieved using a physical appliance, a virtual appliance or a cloud service.

IT Business Edge's Loraine Lawson recently interviewed Cast Iron's Chandar Pattabhiram about the company's plans.