IBM data centres to offer SAP HANA

IBM has clinched a global deal to sell SAP HANA as-a-service from its data centres, the services and hardware giant announced today.

The “milestone” deal will see SAP HANA Enterprise Cloud expand to major markets via the IBM cloud global footprint. The partnership will involve both IBM Cloud Managed Services and Softlayer.

As well as expanding SAP’s HANA cloud footprint, the partnership is being pitched as a way for customers to “more easily” comply with data residency laws.

IBM CEO Ginni Rometty described the deal a “significant milestone” in enterprise cloud computing. “Our secure, open, hybrid enterprise cloud platform will enable SAP clients to support new ways to work in an era shaped by big data, mobile and social,” Rometty said.

SAP began hosting cloud solutions in Australia in 2012 with Equinix, making a variety of solutions from CRM to supply chain management available.

Meanwhile IBM announced in August that the first SoftLayer cloud services would launch in Australia by the end of this year. This includes a $35 million facility being built in Melbourne as well as a Sydney centre, part of a worldwide rollout of 15 data centres.