IBM still spending its way to cloud relevance with BoxBoat buy

New DevOps buy to support OpenShift push

IBM has splashed yet more cash on cloud after confirming it plans to acquire BoxBoat Technologies – the Maryland-based DevOps consultancy and enterprise Kubernetes certified service provider.

Financial details about the deal were not disclosed.

According to a statement, the acquisition will "extend IBM's container strategy and implementation services portfolio to further advance IBM's hybrid cloud strategy and accelerate Red Hat OpenShift adoption globally."

IBM has said OpenShift, which Big Blue bought along with Red Hat for $34bn in 2018, is an important part of its plan to increase revenue growth and profitability. Red Hat introduced new managed cloud services and expanded the OpenShift Kubernetes platform with new features including Edge deployment at its recent summit in April.

Founded in 2016, BoxBoat has customers in finance, higher education, government, online publishing, and ecommerce.

Once the deal is done and dusted, the biz will be squeezed into IBM Global Business Services' Hybrid Cloud Services business.

John Granger, senior veep, Hybrid Cloud Services at IBM, chipped in: "Our clients require a cloud architecture that allows them to operate across a traditional IT environment, private cloud and public clouds.

"No cloud modernization project can succeed without a containerization strategy, and BoxBoat is at the forefront of container services innovation."

Earlier this year, IBM completed its acquisition of San Jose-based consulting outfit Taos as well as Helsinki-based Nordcloud.

All of this comes at a time when IBM is battling with an email migration that sources told The Reg would potentially affect not only communication and productivity but may have revenue implications for the company's second quarter.

It will also be looking to steady the ship after former president and CEO of Red Hat Jim Whitehurst revealed he's quitting the biz less than two years after rocking up at Big Blue.

Whitehurst said last week he was stepping down with immediate effect, although he will remain on hand as an advisor. ®