IBM launches business analytics cloud

IBM has unveiled a new cloud system designed to make it easier for companies to develop and roll out business intelligence services internally.

The Smart Analytics Cloud is based on an internal IBM network that can offer more than 1TB of data, or roughly the equivalent of 20 million four-drawer filing cabinets.

Pitched at the largest of enterprises, the Smart Analytics Cloud will provide business intelligence services, systems and software designed to improve the use of business analytics.

Included is IBM's Cognos 8 business intelligence system, and System Z, a highly scalable Linux-based virtualisation tool.

IBM Smart Analytics Cloud is based on Blue Insight, a similar platform designed to be used internally at IBM by developers and sales teams.

"This new cloud and the insights that our analytics will provide are the next step in the continuous transformation of our business to better serve our clients," said Pat Toole, chief information officer at IBM.

"I expect this first-of-its-kind approach will help drive new growth opportunities as well as have a significant impact in cost savings, which is exactly the kind of client-focused value that businesses are asking of their IT organisations."

Blue Insight runs on a System z10 mainframe computer with 48 processors.