Securing a software future
IBM plans to integrate Guardium into its own Information Management Software portfolio. "The integrity of data is critical if an organisation is going to use data as a strategic asset," added Krishna.
Showing off its marketing-speak, IBM boasts its new toy will "also help clients streamline compliance processes for ever-changing industry and government mandates with centralised and automated controls for all major platforms." Indeed. Knock yourselves out.
Probably the most significant thing about the deal, however, is the fact that it bolsters IBM's investment in software even further, with Guardium being the Big Blue's 28th acquisition to slot into the firm's information management strategy and the sixth one this year.
IBM is predicting software profit will skyrocket by over 20 per cent in Q4 and says it expects to see some eight billion dollars in software group profits this year alone.
One has to wonder, therefore, how long IBM will continue cobbling together hardware and caring about foundries when its big profits are to be found in the software and services segments of the business.
